Cinnamomum tenuifolium

Cinnamomum tenuifolium, commonly known as Japanese cinnamon, is an evergreen tree in the genus Cinnamomum. It is a small- or medium-sized tree up to 15 m (49 ft) tall that occurs in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and eastern China (Anhui, Fujian, Sichuan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces).^[2] In China it is under second-class national protection.^[3]

Cinnamomum tenuifolium
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Laurales
Family:	Lauraceae
Genus:	Cinnamomum
Species:	C. tenuifolium
Binomial name
Cinnamomum tenuifolium (Makino) Sugim.
Synonyms
Cinnamomum brevifolium Miq. Cinnamomum japonicum Sieb. Cinnamomum pedunculatum Nees

Range and habitat

Cinnamomum tenuifolium is known from 40 to 50 localities in southern Japan, southern Korea, Taiwan, and Anhui, Fujian, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces of eastern China. The species has a large extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1,235,974 km², and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 68 km².^[1]

Its typical habitat is lowland evergreen forest between 300 and 1,000 meters elevation.^[1]

Conservation and threats

Cinnamomum tenuifolium is affected by habitat loss from deforestation and conversion of forests to agriculture and plantations. The species' extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are declining. Despite declining habitat, the species' conservation status is assessed Least Concern in consideration of its wide extent of occurrence and large number of locations.^[1]

Uses

The timber is hard and durable, and is used for furniture and house construction.^[1]

Volatile oil from the bark and leafy branchlets is used as perfume. Oil and fat from fruit kernels is used to make soap.^[1]