Results of DNA analysis in various studies (see, for example, R.B. Figlar & H.P. Nooteboom, Blumea 49: 87-100. 2004) have supported the concept that the various genera comprising the subfamily Magnolioideae would be more consistently treated as a single genus, Magnolia. This is the treatment followed here, though it is still not universally accepted[].

Common Name: Champaca

General Information

Magnolia champaca is a large evergreen tree with a close tapering conical to cylindrical crown composed of ascending branches[, ]. It can grow 33 metres or more tall, with some specimens attaining 50 metres[, ]. It has a long straight bole that can be 18 - 21 metres long more and, under ordinary forest conditions, 80 - 120cm in diameter[].
The tree has a wide range of uses, being harvested locally as a source of food, medicines and a range of commodities. It is particularly valued for its essential oil and timber, and is sometimes cultivated for these[]. The tree is also used in reforestation projects[]. Champaca is commonly cultivated as an ornamental and wayside tree throughout the tropics, being valued especially for its fragrant flowers, which are often used in religious ceremonies[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia.

Habitat

Scattered in primary lowland to montane rain forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Pollinators	Beetles
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the wet tropics and subtropics, also able to be grown in the warm temperate zone. It is found growing at elevations from near sea level to 2,100 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 30 - 37°c, but can tolerate 10 - 47°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about °c, but young growth can be severely damaged at °c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,000 - 4,000mm, but tolerates 2,200 - 5,100mm[].
Requires a sunny position in a moist but well-drained, deep, fertile, loamy to sandy soil[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 5.5, tolerating 4 - 6[].
Trees propagated from seed take 8 - 10 years to flower, whereas asexually propagated trees flower in 2 - 3 years[].
In Java the mean annual increment of 10 - 27-year-old trees is 1 - 1.8 metres in height and 1.5 - 2 cm in diameter[].
A rotation of 50 years is recommended to produce sawn timber[].
The tree responds well to coppicing[]
The tree is susceptible to fire[].
The tree flowers and fruits throughout the year[].
Vesicular-arbuscular nitrogen-fixing mycorrhizae have been observed on the roots[].

Edible Uses

The aromatic, bitter bark is sometimes used for the adulteration of cinnamon[, ].

The fruit is said to be edible[].

Medicinal

The bark is used as a febrifuge[]. A decoction of the bark and leaves is given after childbirth[].

The flowers are used to treat leprosy[].

The leaves are used as a treatment against colic[].

The seeds are used to treat badly chapped skin[].
Fatty oils extracted from the seeds show antibacterial activity against Bacillus pumilus, B. Subtilis, Salmonella typhosa, S. Paratyphi, Micrococcus pyogenes var. Albus and Staphylococcus aureus[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is used to reforest badly eroded areas in Java[].
Soil under tree cover shows an increase in pH, soil organic carbon and available phosphorus[].

Other Uses

The flowers yield an essential oil known as champa or champaca oil[, ]. It is used in perfumery[, ].
Another essential oil, known as Michelia leaf oil, is extracted from the leaves[].
The sweetly scented flowers are used in India for hair adornment[].

A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[].

Analyses of seeds showed a low kernel content of around 20%. However, the oil content of each kernel is fairly high at 32.2%, which gives it potential for commercial exploitation for oil production for various uses[].

The leaf extract is toxic to the rice fungus, Pyricularia oryzae[].

The heartwood is olive-brown turning to dark brown with a greenish tinge upon exposure, it is clearly differentiated from the pale brown, up to 8 cm wide sapwood[]. The wood is soft, light and even-grained.[]. The heartwood is strong, durable, and capable of taking a high polish[]. The grain is straight or slightly interlocked, texture fine to moderately fine and even[]. Michelia wood is nicely figured and is used for furniture, cabinetwork, carvings, turnery and pattern making; it has also been used for cement-bonded wood-wool board[].
In India it has been recommended to ring girdle trees about 3 years before felling to prevent possible warping and checking of the wood[].
The tree is used as fuel wood, the gross energy value of the heartwood is about 21 070 kJ/kg[].

Propagation

The seeds are oily and quickly lose their viability, so should be sown as soon as possible after harvesting[] It is best sown in a shady position then moved into more light when the seed has germinated[]. Germination takes from 5 weeks to 4 months[]. The germination rate of the seed is generally poor[]. The seedlings are pricked into containers when 2 to 4 cm tall and left to grow for 1 year in the nursery. They can be planted out when they are 30 to 40 cm in height[].
Seed storage behaviour is probably orthodox. Seed viability can be maintained by moist storage at 5°c for about 7 months or in pits at 13°c for about 4 months[].
Grafting.
Cuttings. Extracts of girdled and etiolated shoots contained a higher level of root-promoting substances than shoots that were only girdled or fresh shoots[]. The best rooting (93.3 percent) and survival of rooted layers (92.1 percent) were obtained with pregirdled and etiolated layers treated with indole butyric acid at 5000 ppm[].

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