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Blunting Effect
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Corrosive Properties
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Luster
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Cinnamomum camphora

Trade Name
Camphor tree

Family Name
Lauraceae

Synonyms
Laurus camphorifera

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Camphor tree, Cinnamon wood, Dalchini, Formosan camphor, Genuine, Japan camphor tree, Japanese camphor, Kalingag, Kayu, Kusonoki, Ohez

Regions of Distribution
Africa, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Australia, Burma, China, India, Japan, Korea-North, Korea-South, Malaysia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United States

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Caskets, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Coffins, Figured veneer, Fuelwood, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Moldings, Musical instruments, Paneling, Plywood, Poles, Sporting Goods, Toys, Trunks, Veneer, Veneer: decorative

Environmental Profile

Status has not been officially assessed

Distribution Overview
Cinnamomum camphora occurs throughout much of Southeast Asia but its exact distribution and abundance are not known with any certainty. Large areas of wild trees once grew in Japan and Taiwan but these have largely disappeared through over-exploitation for camphor production in the years up to the Second World War. In the U.S., it is most commonly naturalized in north and central Florida, but also escapes cultivation in southern peninsula. Naturalized also in Georgia and west to Texas. Cultivated as well in other southern states: Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and the Carolinas, and in southern California. By 1997, documented as locally common in the flora from Texas to the Carolinas.

Heartwood Color

Red

Green/grey

Brown

Yellow to golden-yellow to orange

Reddish brown

Pale brown

Light buff to yellowish brown

Contains dark streaks

Sapwood Color

White

Red

Yellow

Paler than heartwood

Same as heartwood

Grain

Straight

Figure

Closed

Interlocked

Even

Wavy

Growth rings (figure)

Other (figure)

Straight

Wavy

Straight to interlocked

Other figure

Interlocked

Clear growth rings (figure)

Texture

Medium

Coarse

Fine to medium

Medium

Fine

Luster

Medium

Pronounced

Lustrous

High

Natural Durability

Perishable

Non-durable

Non-resistant to powder post beetles

Susceptible to insect attack

Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)

Durable

Non durable

Heartwood resistant to decay

Heartwood has little resistance to termites

Odor

Pleasant odor

No distinctive taste

Corrosive Properties

Reacts with metals

Drying Defects

Slight twist/warp

Severe collapse and honeycomb

Moderate twist/warp

Ease of Drying

Moderately Difficult to Difficult

Easy

Tree Identification

Bole/stem form is misshapen

Tree Size

Tree height is 10-20 m

Tree height is 0-10 m

Tree height is 30-40 m

Tree height is 20-30 m

Product Sources
Small quantities of Camphor-tree, almost entirely in veneer form, are available on the world market. For small projects, some material is available from tropical and sub-tropical regions, such as Florida, where the tree is planted and cut down when it becomes old.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect

Slight

Cutting Resistance

Easy to saw

Gluing

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Movement in Service

Stable

Small

Nailing

Holds nails well

Planing

Good planing properties

Easy to plane

Resistance to Impregnation

Heartwood is highly resistant

Response to Hand Tools

Easy to Work

Easy to machine

Sanding

Good sanding finish

Easy to sand

Veneering Qualities

Used for cabinets

Easy to cut

Painting

Satisfactory results

Polishing

Good results

Varnishing

Satisfactory

Strength Properties

Max. crushing strength = medium

Shrinkage, Tangential = very small

Shrinkage, Radial = very small

Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low

Hardness (side grain) = soft

Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.

Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.

Bending strength (MOR) = medium

Bending strength (MOR) = low

Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium

Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low

Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low

Density = medium

Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.

Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low

Numerical Data

Item	Green	Dry	English

Bending Strength	7178	10821	psi
Density		31	lbs/ft3
Hardness		995	lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength	3916	5981	psi
Shearing Strength		1883	psi
Stiffness	1131	1321	1000 psi
Specific Gravity		0.38
Weight	33	26	lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage	3.5		%
Tangential Shrinkage	6		%
Volumetric Shrinkage	10		%

Item	Green	Dry	Metric

Bending Strength	504	760	kg/cm2
Density		496	kg/m3
Hardness		451	kg
Maximum Crushing Strength	275	420	kg/cm2
Shearing Strength		132	kg/cm2
Stiffness	79	92	1000 kg/cm2
Specific Gravity		0.38
Weight	528	416	kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage	3.5		%
Tangential Shrinkage	6		%

References
Asano, I.,1956,Studies on the collapse of wood II,Journal of the Japanese Wood Research Society 2(3) pp104-7

Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

E.H. Walker,1954,Important Trees of the Ryukyu Islands,United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands Special Bulletin,No. 3

Gupta, V.K., Negi, Y.S.,1982,A note on physical and mechanical properties of Cinnamomm camphora,(cinnamon) from New Forest, Dehra Dun (U.P,Indian Forester 108(6) pp438-43

Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1

Kline, M. 1977. Cinnamomum camphora - Camphor-tree. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine, 1994. Page 117.

Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory

Lamb, G.N.,1960,Foreign Woods - Camphorwood, Coachwood,Wood, Chicago. 65(6) p24

Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi.

Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London

Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1

Streets, R.J.,1962,Exotic Forest Trees in the British Commonwealth,Clarendon Press Oxford

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center - Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

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