Wild Cinnamon

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Wild Cinnamon

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cinnamomum nitidum var. iners
• Cinnamomum nitidum var. spurium
• Laurus caryophyllata
• Cinnamomum dasyanthum
• Cinnamomum eucalyptoides
• Laurus malabathrum
• Cinnamomum javanicum var. neglectum
• Cinnamomum nitidum var. subcuneatum
• Cinnamomum calyculatum
• Cinnamomum iners var. latum
• Cinnamomum nitidum var. oblongifolium
• Cinnamomum nitidum f. angustifolium
• Cinnamomum nitidum f. borneense
• Cinnamomum griffithii
• Laurus iners
• Laurus culillaban
• Camphora grifiithii var. lanceolata
• Cinnamomum nitidum var. curtisii
• Cinnamomum iners var. angustifolium
• Cinnamomum manillarum
• Cinnamomum neglectum
• Cinnamomum reinwardtii
• Cinnamomum rauwolfii
• Cinnamomum subcuneatum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Laurales, and the family Lauraceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cinnamomum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found growing in the South-Central and Southeast provinces, as well as in the high-altitude areas of Tibet. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, the species is notably present in the region of Assam. It also has a documented presence in Bangladesh, expanding its range across the subcontinent. Collectively, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where Cinnamomum iners thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cinnamomum iners is defined by its adaptability across a broad altitudinal gradient within tropical ecosystems. This species typically inhabits a diverse range of elevations, establishing itself in environments that span from as low as 140 m AMSL to heights reaching up to 1750 m AMSL. On average, the plant thrives at a mean elevation of approximately 570 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for lowland to mid-elevation tropical forest zones. This wide elevational distribution allows the species to occupy various ecological niches, responding to the shifting climatic and moisture conditions found between coastal lowlands and montane foothills.

Elevational range max:

1750 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

570 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

140 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cinnamomum iners is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its natural ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches well above the ground level, contributing to its structural complexity. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its lush foliage throughout the year without a regular seasonal shedding period. Its biological strategy as a phanerophyte further defines its growth habit, allowing it to establish a robust and enduring presence in its habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cinnamomum iners is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or vine. This species is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, and grows as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. The plant exhibits significant stature, reaching a maximum height of 24 m, with an average plant height of approximately 21.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

24 m

Plant height mean:

21.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cinnamomum iners is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The plant's vegetative structure exhibits significant morphological variation in its foliage, with leaf lengths typically ranging from a minimum of 12 cm to a maximum of 35 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 23.5 cm. The leaf width is similarly variable, spanning from a minimum of 5.5 cm to a maximum of 8.5 cm. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf length max:

35 cm

Leaf length mean:

23.5 cm

Leaf length min:

12 cm

Leaf width max:

8.5 cm

Leaf width min:

5.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cinnamomum iners is characterized by its specific flowering and fruiting structures, beginning with inflorescences that range in length from a minimum of 0.06 m to a maximum of 0.26 m. The individual flowers within these clusters are relatively small, with lengths measuring between 0.4 cm and 0.5 cm. Following pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruits that exhibit consistent dimensions, typically maintaining a width of 0.7 cm (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 0.7 cm) and a length that varies between 0.9 cm and 1 cm, with a mean length of 0.95 cm. The seeds produced are uniform in mass, recorded at a constant 0.262 g, and possess a seed volume that ranges from 190 mm³ to a maximum of 210 mm³, with an average volume of 200 mm³. The dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily distributed by animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower length max:

0.5 cm

Flower length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.95 cm

Fruit length min:

0.9 cm

Fruit width max:

0.7 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.26 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.06 m

Seed mass mean:

0.262 g

Seed volume max:

210 mm³

Seed volume mean:

200 mm³

Seed volume min:

190 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Cinnamomum iners has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiplasmodial, Anxiolytic, Sedative.

Antiplasmodial

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Anxiolytic

1. ACS omega

Sedative

1. ACS omega

Conditions

Cinnamomum iners has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include anxiety, insomnia.

Anxiety

1. ACS omega

Insomnia

1. ACS omega

Preparations

Cinnamomum iners has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include MECS hard capsules, lf/tw.

Mecs hard capsules

1. ACS omega

Lf/tw

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology