Cinnamomum impressinervium
Meissner
Sissi
gbif· cc0
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
gbif· cc0
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
gbif· cc0
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Description
A subtropical tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae) found in Sikkim at elevations of 1,000-2,000 m. It has aromatic bark and leaves used for culinary purposes.
Edible Uses
The bark is used as a spice or flavouring. The leaves are used as a substitute for bay leaf.
Traditional Uses
The bark is used as a spice or flavouring. The leaves are used as a substitute to bay leaf.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
One to two teaspoonfuls of the dry leaf powder is given orally twice a day as a traditional treatment for diabetes
Distribution
It is a subtropical plant. In Sikkim it grows between 1,000-2,000 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim,
Cultivation
Species in this genus generally prefer an acidic soil with ample moisture in the growing season and a position with some shade. Species in this genus are generally able to resprout from basal wood if the top is damaged, and will soon recover from any damage.
Propagation
Seed - the seed of species in this genus generally has a short viability and is best sown as soon in containers as it is ripe. Remove the fruit pulp since this can inhibit germination. Soaking the seeds for 24 hours in lukewarm water hastens germination, which can take 1 - 6 months at 20°c. The germination rate of fresh seed is about 50%, falling to 25% for seed 6 months old, and zero for those 1 year old. Stored seed should be sown as soon as possible in containers. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions when 10cm or more tall. Cuttings of semi-ripe side shoots, 7cm with a heel, in a frame with bottom heat.
Other Uses
The essential oil obtained from the leaves has been shown to be an effective fungicide in treating pathogenic fungi on the cultivated plant Jatropha curcas.
Notes
There are about 250 Cinnamomum species.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Kara-way, Karawe, Nak-zik, Sisi, Sissi
References (13)
- Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 125
- Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 557
- Chettri, N. & Sharma, E., Non-timber Forest Produce: Utilization, Distribution and Status in the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim, India.
- Dc. Prodr. 15(1):21. 1864
- Seidemann J., 2005, World Spice Plants. Economic Usage, Botany, Taxonomy. Springer. p 101
Show all 13 references Hide references
- Sharma, G., et al, 2016, Agrobiodiversity in the Sikkim Himalaya. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, ICIMOD Working Paper 2016/5 p 21
- Sundriyal, M., et al, 1998, Wild edibles and other useful plants from the Sikkim Himalaya, India. Oecologia Montana 7:43-54
- Sundriyal, M., et al, 2004, Dietary Use of Wild Plant Resources in the Sikkim Himalaya, India. Economic Botany 58(4) pp 626-638
- Sundriyal, M. & Sundriyal, R. C., 2004, Structure, Phenology, Fruit Yield, and Future Prospects of some Prominent Wild Edible Plant Species of the Sikkim Himalaya, India. Journal of Ethnobiology 24(1): 113-138
- Tyagi, R. K., et al, 2004, Conservation of Spices Germplasm in India. Indian J. Plant Genet. Resour. 17(3): 163-174
- Uprety, Y., et al, 2016, Traditional use and management of NTFPs in Kangchenjunga Landscape: implications for conservation and livelihoods. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2016) 12:19
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Yeshi, K. et al, 2017, Taxonomical Identification of Himalayan Edible Medicinal Plants in Bhutan and the Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Plants. TBAP 7 (2) 2017 pp 89 - 106
