Aquilaria malaccensis

Agarwood

The agarwood ( Aquilaria malaccensis, Syn: .. Agallochum malaccense ( Lam.) Kuntze, Aquilaria agallocha Roxb, Aquilaria secundaria DC, Aquilaria malaccense Thiegh ), also called Agarbaum, provides the wood with the names: Eagle, Paradise, roses -, aloe, Agallocheholz, Oudh or Calambac, which is an extremely rare and precious Smokewood and available in India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The woods of some other Southeast Asian species of the family of Thymelaeaceae, especially of the genera Aquilaria and Gyrinops be called equal and used, for example, of Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lecomte (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia), Aquilaria microcarpa Baill. (Malaysia, Indonesia), Aquilaria sinensis Gilg. (Taiwan), Aquilaria beccariana Tiegh. (Indonesia, Malaysia); Aquilaria subintegra Ding Hou (Thailand), Gyrinops versteegii ( Gilg ) Domke (East Indonesia, Papua ), Gyrinops ledermannii Domke (East Indonesia, Papua ) and Aquilaria filaria Oken (East Indonesia, Papua ). In addition, some surrogates nor traded from woods other plant families in the world market (eg from the Mexican kind Elaphrium graveolens Knuth. Burseraceae, balsam tree crops) and in particular of Excoecaria agallocha Linn., A Southeast Asian mangrove of the family Euphorbiaceae.

Information on plant species

The agarwood is achieved from 1.5 to 2.5 m, a large, evergreen broadleaf tree, the growth heights of up to 40 m and trunk diameter. The alternate, simple leaves are 5-11 cm long and 2-4 cm wide and have a smooth margin. In doldigen inflorescences, the yellowish-green flowers are borne. The first flowers and fruits are formed at the age of seven to nine years. Are formed woody 2.5 to 3 cm long capsule fruits. All agarwood species carry in their lignin botanical particularity to form a so-called included phloem. This is the primary tissue that forms ( oleoresin ) after wounding and / or pathogen attack an aromatic resin and sesquiterpenreiches. The healthy wood has a density of 0.2-0.4 g/cm3 depending on the species. Only by the intense impregnation of wood with the aromatic oleoresin, the density increases to 1.2-1.7 g/cm3. That is why the Japanese ( Jinko ,沉香) and Chinese ( Chén - xiang ,沉香) translation for agarwood is also declining fragrance, which is a quality criterion in the classification of agarwood today.

Agarwood grows in mixed forests at altitudes up to 1000 m above sea level. All agarwood species of the genera Aquilaria and Gyrinops covered by the CITES. The trade in plant parts and wood of this species is subject to the matters governed by this Convention CITES standards ( Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) for the import and export of animals and plants endangered species.

History

The estimated since ancient times in India, Egypt, Israel and Arabia essential oil may have a pheromone- like effect. Called The wood Agallochon or Xyloaloe ( aloe wood ), is recommended by Dioscorides Pedanios against laxity, weakness and heat of the stomach, as well as side and liver pain, dysentery or colic ( Dioscorides I, 21). It is identical to the ahloth of the Hebrews, is mentioned in the Song of Songs 4:14 and in Psalm 45.9. In Pliny says Tarum and was one of the most valuable fumigant. In China it is known at least since the 4th century.

Use

Agarwood comes in a very large range between balsamic smell sweet, spicy, bitter and woody- animalic. The essential oil, which is obtained from agarwood is a complex mixture of various sesquiterpenes and their derivatives (mainly epoxies ). High quality agarwood oil has both a woody- animal, spicy, bitter and a sweet balsamic odor component and comes as Grade A in the trade. Lack one or more components or smell are marked off notes present, there is a gradation in Class B, C or D. There are different qualities, all in upper price classes.

The wood comes from trees of the genera Aquilaria and Gyrinops whose core has been infected by the fungus Phialophora parasitica, for example. Not the wood itself is used, but its resin ( aquilariae Phomopsis and Phomopsis spp. ) In response to violations of the cambium layer of the tree or a fungal infection arises. With prices of up to 50,000 euros per kilogram purified resin from well fermented pieces of the resin of this tree is one of the most expensive natural resins. The recovered from such resin essential oil is one of the most expensive in the world.

The cut paths toba - batakschen ( sumatrischen ) Cast priests used the tribe of the eagle tree to produce their oracle books.

In Arabia, the Smokewood, which is there called Ud or oud, offered at markets and bazaars. It is smoky in small chips and not infrequently, women make up over the censer and perfume in this way her whole body and her clothes with this fragrance.

The Japanese term for agarwood or its resin is Jinko (沉香), meaning " sinking wood ", but also " fragrant wood " or " the overflowing fragrance" means. The Japanese differ six types of Jinko, the more expensive resins are traded at prices that are far above the price of gold. The most valuable is the Kyara, which is in turn divided into the qualities yellow, black, green and iron. Other types of Jinko are: Manaban, Sasora, Sumontara (referring to the island of Sumatra ), Managa (referring to Malacca ).

One of the most valuable and historic pieces Jinko is the so-called Ranjatai, which was presented to the Todai -ji Temple in Nara in 756. Today it is one of the Imperial Family of Japan.

As a drug, it says the Aquilaria Lignum Lignum Agallocha or aquilariae resinatum. The Chinese medicine is called Jin Kou Chen Xiang.