Common name: camphor laurel
Cinnamomum camphora (L.) T.Nees & C.H.Eberm. APNI* 
Description: Large trees, bark greyish brown, rough.
Leaves alternate or pseudowhorled, ovate to elliptic, 5–10 cm long, 2.5–5 cm wide, apex abruptly acuminate, upper surface glossy green, lower surface glaucous; smelling of camphor when crushed; 3-veined from base with domatia in axils, reticulum areolate; petiole 2–4 cm long.
Panicles usually slightly shorter than leaves. Flowers c. 3 mm long.
Fruit globose, 10 mm diam., black, seated on shallow cupular receptacle; ripe Apr.-June.
Distribution and occurrence: Widely planted as an ornamental or shade tree. It is extensively naturalized in coastal areas where it often hinders the regeneration of native rainforest species; especially common in the Richmond-Tweed and Bellinger areas. Native of China and Japan. Camphor is obtained by distillation; timber used for clothes storage boxes, turnery etc.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *LHI
Other Australian states: *Qld
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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