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Blunting Effect Comments Common Names Common Uses Corrosive Properties Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Cinnamomum camphora Trade Name Camphor tree Family Name Lauraceae Synonyms Laurus camphorifera Common Names Camphor tree, Cinnamon wood, Dalchini, Formosan camphor, Genuine, Japan camphor tree, Japanese camphor, Kalingag, Kayu, Kusonoki, Ohez Regions of Distribution Africa, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Burma, China, India, Japan, Korea-North, Korea-South, Malaysia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United States Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Caskets, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Coffins, Figured veneer, Fuelwood, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Moldings, Musical instruments, Paneling, Plywood, Poles, Sporting Goods, Toys, Trunks, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Cinnamomum camphora occurs throughout much of Southeast Asia but its exact distribution and abundance are not known with any certainty. Large areas of wild trees once grew in Japan and Taiwan but these have largely disappeared through over-exploitation for camphor production in the years up to the Second World War. In the U.S., it is most commonly naturalized in north and central Florida, but also escapes cultivation in southern peninsula. Naturalized also in Georgia and west to Texas. Cultivated as well in other southern states: Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and the Carolinas, and in southern California. By 1997, documented as locally common in the flora from Texas to the Carolinas. Heartwood Color Red Green/grey Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Pale brown Light buff to yellowish brown Contains dark streaks Sapwood Color White Red Yellow Paler than heartwood Same as heartwood Grain Straight Figure Closed Interlocked Even Wavy Growth rings (figure) Other (figure) Straight Wavy Straight to interlocked Other figure Interlocked Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Medium Coarse Fine to medium Medium Fine Luster Medium Pronounced Lustrous High Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Non durable Heartwood resistant to decay Heartwood has little resistance to termites Odor Pleasant odor No distinctive taste Corrosive Properties Reacts with metals Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Severe collapse and honeycomb Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Product Sources Small quantities of Camphor-tree, almost entirely in veneer form, are available on the world market. For small projects, some material is available from tropical and sub-tropical regions, such as Florida, where the tree is planted and cut down when it becomes old. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Slight Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Stable Small Nailing Holds nails well Planing Good planing properties Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Sanding Good sanding finish Easy to sand Veneering Qualities Used for cabinets Easy to cut Painting Satisfactory results Polishing Good results Varnishing Satisfactory Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density = medium Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7178 10821 psi Density 31 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 5981 psi Shearing Strength 1883 psi Stiffness 1131 1321 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.38 Weight 33 26 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3.5 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 504 760 kg/cm2 Density 496 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 275 420 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 132 kg/cm2 Stiffness 79 92 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.38 Weight 528 416 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3.5 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Asano, I.,1956,Studies on the collapse of wood II,Journal of the Japanese Wood Research Society 2(3) pp104-7 Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. E.H. Walker,1954,Important Trees of the Ryukyu Islands,United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands Special Bulletin,No. 3 Gupta, V.K., Negi, Y.S.,1982,A note on physical and mechanical properties of Cinnamomm camphora,(cinnamon) from New Forest, Dehra Dun (U.P,Indian Forester 108(6) pp438-43 Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1 Kline, M. 1977. Cinnamomum camphora - Camphor-tree. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine, 1994. Page 117. Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory Lamb, G.N.,1960,Foreign Woods - Camphorwood, Coachwood,Wood, Chicago. 65(6) p24 Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Streets, R.J.,1962,Exotic Forest Trees in the British Commonwealth,Clarendon Press Oxford WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center - Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.