Cinnamomum parthenoxylon

Cinnamomum parthenoxylon is an evergreen tree in the genus Cinnamomum, 10 - 20 m tall. It is native to South and East Asia (Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam).

In English, C. parthenoxylon is known as Selasian wood, saffrol laurel, or Martaban camphor wood. It has the outdated heterotypic synonym Laurus porrecta (Roxb.). The species name parthenoxylon derives from parthenos xylon, meaning "virgin wood". The common name in Spanish is alcanforero amarillo ("yellow camphor") and it is thought to be the tree known as ម្រះព្រៅភ្នំ (mreah prew phnom).

Description
Cinnamomum parthenoxylon is an evergreen tree, which grows up to 50 metres tall. with a trunk to 60 cm in diameter. The tree has gray to brown bark. Its leaves are glossy green ovals 7–10 cm long with a point at the end. Like many plants in the Lauraceae, the leaves give off a pleasant smell when crushed. The flowers appear in clusters and are green and very small. The fruits are blackish drupes.

Range and habitat
Cinnamomum parthenoxylon ranges from Nepal and the eastern Himalayas through Assam, Indochina, southern China, Hainan, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and the Lesser Sunda Islands. The species' estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) is very large at 8,025,973 km2, and its estimated area of occupancy (AOO) is 520 km2.

It grows in primary and secondary lowland and montane tropical and subtropical humid forests, from sea level to 2,000 metres elevation. It can grow on sand, sandstone, or granite substrates.

In Borneo it is found in Sarawak (Kuching and Lundu districts), Sabah (Keningau, Kota Belud, Lahad Datu, Pensiangan, Ranau, Sandakan, Tambunan, Tawau, and Tenom districts), and East Kalimantan, where it grows in lowland and montane rain forest to 2000 metres elevation, and is often found in secondary vegetation.

Uses
The aromatic bark of the plant is used for flavoring, not unlike many other Cinnamomum species.

The tree is of special concern, as it is being harvested at a high rate to obtain safrole, a precursor to the pesticide synergist piperonyl butoxide, the flavorant and fragrance piperonal, and the psychoactive drug MDMA. Much of this illicit harvesting is happening in the Cardamom Mountains and Botum Sakor National Park in Cambodia at the moment. The documentary film "Forest of ecstasy" (Vanguard 2009) is investigating the issue on location.

An extract from the bark has been shown in rats to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia.

In Indonesia, the flowers of C. parthenoxylon symbolize love and connection between the living and the dead. Traditionally, in the Kudus Regency on the island of Java, the flowers were scattered on tombs by family members.

Conservation
In 2004, the Cambodian government classified C. parthenoxylon as a rare species and prohibited any logging of this tree. In addition, the production, import, and export of safrole rich oils has been illegal in Cambodia since 2007.

In Vietnam the tree is considered critically endangered.