Cinnamomum is a genus of evergreen aromatic trees and shrubs belonging to the laurel family, Lauraceae.
The species of Cinnamomum have aromatic oils in their leaves and bark. The genus contains over 300 species,
distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of North America, Central America, South America, Asia, Oceania,
and Australasia. The genus includes a great number of economically important trees. Cinnamomum parthenoxylon
and Cinnamomum camphora are large evergreen trees that can grow to 30 m in height and 3 m in diameter, with
broadly ovate crowns. Terminal buds are broadly ovoid or globular, and covered with sericeous scales. Bark is
yellowish-brown with irregular vertical splits. Branches are light brown, cylindrical, and glabrous. Drawing of
Cinnamomum iners Reinwardt. ex Blume by J.C.P. Arckenhausen, ~1835 The inner bark of several species
is used to make the spice, cinnamon. Other notable species are C. tamala, used as the herb malabathrum
(also called tejpat and Indian bay leaf), and C. camphora, from which camphor is produced.