Calycanthus

Real spice bush ( Calycanthus floridus )

The spice bushes ( Calycanthus ) are a genus of the family of spice shrub species that occurs exclusively in North America and China. The genus is attributed to two or three species.

Description

There are deciduous, woody plants that grow into small shrubs that reach a height of two to four meters. The leaves are opposite, five to six inches long and two to six inches wide. The flowers appear in early summer after the leaves. They have a diameter of four to seven centimeters. The flowers appear singly at the ends of leafy short shoots. The hermaphrodite flowers are spirally constructed with a distinctly hollow, so sunken flower axis, also known as flower cup ( hypanthium ) refers. The fragrant flowers have a relatively original construction. Pollination is mainly by beetles ( Cantharophilie ).

The dark reddish - brown, cylindrical, hairy fruit is five to seven inches long. They contain numerous seeds. The bark has a strong camphor -like odor, especially noticeable when the branches are injured. Branches keep this smell even if they are kept for several years in a dry environment.

Terms and Ingredients

Spice shrubs are used as ornamental plants for parks and gardens. Calycanthus species contain a strychnine -like alkaloid, calycanthine, which is toxic.

The bark of Calycanthus floridus is used as a dried spice, it is a substitute for cinnamon. It should be noted that the Calycanthus species are toxic. Since the leaves of Calycanthus floridus contain some camphor used to repel insects, as a perfume and for disinfection. Calycanthus occidentalis from a dye is obtained from the flowers, and are made from the branches baskets. Spice bush oil, which is extracted from the flowers is used in some perfumes.

Species

The following species belong to the genus of spice bushes:

• Real spice bush ( Calycanthus floridus L., syn. Calycanthus glaucus Willd, Calycanthus fertilis Walter, Calycanthus nanus ( Loiseleur - Deslongchamps ) Small, Calycanthus brockianus Ferry & Ferry f, Calycanthus mohrii (Small) Pollard ), deciduous shrub. Other German trivial name: Karolina allspice, Blossom rich spice bush, strawberry shrub.
• Californian spice bush ( Calycanthus occidentalis Hook. & Arn. )

In addition, if Sinocalycanthus is included in Calycanthus, as a third way still:

• Chinese spice bush ( Calycanthus chinensis (WC Cheng & Chang SY ) PT Li ( Syn: Sinocalycanthus chinensis (WC Cheng & Chang SY ) WC Cheng & Chang SY ) ).