Cinnamomum verum
|
Taxon |
Family |
|
Cinnamomum verum J. Presl |
Lauraceae |
 |
|
| The tree in invaded habitat on a Pacific Island. Credit: Jim Space, PIER |
Common names: cinnamon tree, Ceylon cinnamon, true cinnamon, common cinnamon.
Synonyms: Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume, Laurus Cinnamomum L.
Life form: Tree
Biology/Ecology:
Dispersal: Birds disperse seeds by eating berries. Widely cultivated by humans for its bark, which yields cinnamon.
Reproduction: Produces berries about 10 mm in length which contain seeds.
Herbivores: No information available.
Resistant stages: No information available.
Habitat:
Native habitat: Tropical rainforest
Habitat occupied in invaded range: Forests, particularly secondary forests, and rock outcrops, riparian zones.
Habitat requirements:
| Altitude | No information available. |
| Light | Partial to full sun. |
| Temperature | No information available. |
| Annual rainfall | No information available. |
| Soil | Moist soil. |
Distribution:
Native to Sri Lanka and southern India.
Introduced range: Invasive in Seychelles, Fiji, American Samoa, Samoa, Hawaii, Cook Islands and Seychelles. Introduced but not considered invasive in Tanzania, the West Indies, Micronesia, French Polynesia and Madagascar.
Impacts:
Ecosystem: Tree produces dense canopy, blocking out sunlight for vegetation below. Grows fast and produces many seeds, becoming the dominant tree and eliminating native species. Capable of invading undisturbed forest due to shade tolerance.
Health, social and economic: The trees have considerable economic value as spice crops.
Management:
Mechanical: Seedlings and saplings can be dug out. Larger trees can be cut down and the stumps treated with herbicide.
Chemical: Specific control methods are not available for this species, but the similar species Cinnamomum camphora can be controlled using 2,4-D esters and 2,4,5-T. For larger plants, these herbicides can be applied to the cut stump or basal bark.
Biological: The similar species Cinnamomum camphora has been successfully controlled on cultivated ground by intensive grazing.
References:
Weber, E., 2003. Invasive Plant Species of the World: A Reference Guide to Environmental Weeds. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk, 2005. Available from http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/cinnamomum_verum.htm (Accessed August 2006).
Last updated October 2006
