Camphora officinarum

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Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens only. View county names by placing the mouse cursor over a particular county.

Species Distribution Map
Family:LAURACEAE
Species:Camphora officinarum Nees
Common Name:Camphor Tree
Habitat:Various disturbed and wetland habitats in the Coastal Plain.
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Tree
Duration:Perennial
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:**
Plant Notes:Camphor Tree is an introduced evergreen tree in the Laurel family (Lauraceae). A native of Asia, it was introduced into the United States in the late 1800’s. It occurs in vacant lots, disturbed woodlands, along fence rows, and in wetlands. In Alabama it is found in the southern tier of counties. In addition to those indicated on the Plant Atlas map, it has recently been documented in Covington, Crenshaw, and Houston counties. The compound Camphor is obtained by steam distilling wood or leaves of Camphor Tree. Camphor is a white crystalline substance that is used in medicine, incense, as an insect repellent, and as a spice in cooking. Camphor Tree has elliptical evergreen leaves that are alternately arranged on the stems. The leaves are dark green with an entire margin. The young stems are green. All parts of the plant are aromatic when bruised and smell like camphor. Although it can become a large tree, in Alabama Camphor Tree is usually a small multi-trunked tree or shrub. Small white flowers are produced in the spring. The fruit is a drupe. At maturity it turns black in color. Fruit are produced in large quantities and are readily consumed by birds which spread the seed. Although still available from nurseries, Camphor Tree is invasive. It is considered a Class 1 invasive species in Florida.
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Not Native, FACU- (NWI)
References:**
Specimen: View specimen details in the Alabama Herbarium Consortium Specimen Database

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilyLAURACEAE - Laurel family
Genus Camphora
Species Camphora officinarum Nees - Camphor Tree

Citation

Citation Camphora officinarum Nees, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 72. 1831.
Basionym: REPLACED: Laurus camphora L. 1753.
Type: Without data (lectotype: LINN 518.7). Lectotypified by Kostermans, in Bosser et al., Fl. Mascareignes 163: 12. 1982.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

SynonymFull CitationBasionymType
Cinnamomum camphora var. glaucescens Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl, var. glaucescens Nakai, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 41: 919. 1927.  
Cinnamomum camphora var. nominale Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl, var. nominale Hayata ex Matsumura & Hayata, J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 22: 349. 1906.  
Cinnamomum camphoroides Cinnamomum camphoroides Hayata, Icon. Pl. Formos. 3: 158. 1913.  
Cinnamomum nominale Cinnamomum nominale (Hayata ex Matsumura & Hayata) Hayata, Icon. Pl. Formos. 3: 116. 1913.Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl, var. nominale Hayata ex Matsumura & Hayata 1906. 
Cinnamomum camphoriferum Cinnamomum camphoriferum Saint-Lager, Ann. Soc. Bot. Lyon 7: 122. 1880, nom. illegit.Laurus camphorifera Salisbury 1796, nom. illegit.; Laurus camphora Linnaeus 1753. 
Laurus camphora Laurus camphora Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 369. 1753. Without data (lectotype: LINN 518.7). Lectotypified by Kostermans, in Bosser et al., Fl. Mascareignes 163: 12. 1982.
Laurus camphorifera Laurus camphorifera Salisbury, Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton 343. 1796, nom. illegit.Laurus camphora Linnaeus 1753. 
Persea camfora Persea camfora Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 2: 268. 1825, nom. illegit.Laurus camphora Linnaeus 1573. 
Camphora camphora Camphora camphora (Linnaeus) H. Karsten, Deut. Fl. 504. 1881, nom. inadmiss.Laurus camphora Linnaeus 1753. 
Cinnamomum camphora Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl, Prir. Rostlin 2: 47. 1825.Laurus camphora Linnaeus 1753.Without data (lectotype: LINN 518.7). Lectotypified by Kostermans, in Bosser et al., Fl. Mascareignes 163: 12. 1982.

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Baldwin, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Geneva, Houston, Mobile

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AUA, JSU, TROY, UNA, USAM, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1965 - 1965

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.		 Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used		 Image
ALNHS00002517 Mobile 22 Jan 2014 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#1285		 ALNHS
Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Resl
USAM000007946 Mobile 07 Aug 1981 LeLong, Michel G.
12218		 USAM
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
TROY000006694 Mobile 23 Jun 2004 Spaulding, Daniel D.
12144		 TROY
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
UWAL0016052 Covington 16 Jan 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
24745		 UWAL
Camphora officinarum Nees
USAM000007945 Baldwin 16 Nov 1975 Miller, Brenda
s.n.		 USAM
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
USAM000007947 Mobile 07 Aug 1981 LeLong, Michel G.
12218		 USAM
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
TROY000006691 Baldwin 24 Jun 2004 Spaulding, Daniel D.
12137		 TROY
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
UWAL0006569 Geneva 28 Jan 2010 Diamond, Alvin R.
21131		 UWAL
Camphora officinarum Nees
AUA_ACC_2336 Baldwin 21 Apr 1933 G.R.J.
 AUA
CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA (L.) J. PRESL
UWAL0002910 Baldwin 02 Sep 2010 Diamond, Alvin R.
21556		 UWAL
Camphora officinarum Nees
USAM000007950 Mobile 07 May 1968 LeLong, Michel G.
4487		 USAM
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
UWAL0045761 Baldwin 13 Apr 2013 Bryson, Charles T.
23954		 UWAL
Camphora officinarum Nees
JSU128664 Baldwin 14 Apr 1973 Ponder, William
121		 JSU
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
AUA_ACC_65035 Mobile 23 Jun 2004 SPAULDING, DANIEL D.
12144		 AUA
CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA (L.) J. PRESL
TROY000032414 Baldwin 02 Sep 2010 Diamond, Alvin R.
21556		 TROY
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
UWAL0019821 Houston 30 Jul 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
26675		 UWAL
Camphora officinarum Nees
UNA00065102 Baldwin 24 Jun 2004 Spaulding, Daniel D.
12137		 UNA
Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl
TROY000042729 Houston 30 Jul 2015 Diamond, Alvin R.
26675		 TROY
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
UNA00029537 Mobile 26 Aug 1965 Deramus, Rebecca
D702		 UNA
Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl
UWAL0044419 Baldwin 12 Mar 2009 Larsen, Harry S.
1673		 UWAL
Camphora officinarum Nees
TROY000038879 Covington 16 Jan 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
24745		 TROY
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
UWAL0045571 Mobile 04 Sep 2017 Horne, Howard E.
4205		 UWAL
Camphora officinarum Nees
TROY000006692 Baldwin 27 Sep 2003 McCarty, Joseph
9		 TROY
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
TROY000038881 Houston 12 Jan 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
24739		 TROY
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
TROY000054070 Houston 11 Nov 2023 Parrish, Fisher W.
98		 TROY
Cinnamomum officinarum Nees
AUA_ACC_58958 Crenshaw 6 Sep 1998 DIAMOND, JR., ALVIN R.
11395		 AUA
CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA (L.) J. PRESL
TROY000006693 Conecuh 13 Feb 1999 Diamond, Alvin R.
11564		 TROY
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
UWAL0015859 Houston 12 Jan 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
24739		 UWAL
Camphora officinarum Nees
UWAL0054283 Mobile 27 Mar 2021 Keener, Brian R.
12141		 UWAL
Camphora officinarum Nees
TROY000030673 Baldwin 20 Apr 1923 F., G.R.
s.n.		 TROY
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
TROY000053508 Mobile 27 Mar 2021 Keener, Brian R.
12141		 TROY
Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl
UWAL0049440 Baldwin 12 Apr 1923 J., G.R.
70		 UWAL
Camphora officinarum Nees
AUA_ACC_72595 Baldwin 21 Feb 2008 BARGER, T.WAYNE
PERD-144		 AUA
CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA (L.) J. PRESL
JSU128665 Mobile 3 Jun 1970 Kral, Robert
39632		 JSU
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
USAM000007948 Mobile 07 Aug 1981 LeLong, Michel G.
12218		 USAM
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
USAM000007949 Mobile 03 May 1969 LeLong, Michel G.
5095		 USAM
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
TROY000030592 Geneva 28 Jan 2010 Diamond, Alvin R.
21131		 TROY
Cinnamomum camphora (Linnaeus) J. Presl
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