Common Name: Indian Cassia

General Information

Cinnamomum tamala is an evergreen tree growing 10 - 20 metres tall. The bole can be 20cm in diameter[].
A popular spice and medicine in northern India and Pakistan, where the plant is harvested in large quantities from the wild[]. The bark and leaves, which are sources of essential oils, are the parts mainly used[]. The leaves are often sold as a spice called 'tamala patra' in local markets in Pakistan[], and the tree is cultivated for its leaves and essential oils in parts of India[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Nepal, Bhutan.

Habitat

Mountain slopes, evergreen broad-leaved forests in valleys, watersides at elevations of 1,100 - 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cinnamomum tamala is a plant of tropical and subtropical areas in the Himalayas, where it is found at elevations from 300 - 2,400 metres[].
Prefers a fertile, sandy, moisture-retentive but freely draining soil in full sun or partial shade[]. Young plants benefit from some shade, but older trees do well in full sun[].
The ease with which essential oils can be obtained from this plant’s material makes it ideal for cash crop farming[].
The leaves are ready for harvesting when trees are 10 years and the tree can be cropped for about 100 years[]. Leaves are collected every year from vigorous plants and in alternate years from old and weak ones. Continuous rain diminishes the aroma of the leaves. Small branches with leaves are dried in the sun for 3 - 4 days and tied up into bundles for marketing[].
The average annual yield per tree is 40 - 100 kilos (this is presumably the leaves[])[].

Edible Uses

The bark is used as a spice like the true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), and is commonly added to the bark of that species as an adulterant[, , ].

The aromatic leaves are dried and used as a flavouring, known as 'tejpat', in various Indian dishes[, , ]. The dried leaves are often fried first, to release a strong, woodsy flavour[]. The leaves are sometimes used as a substitute for betel leaves (Piper betle) in the masticatory preparation 'paan'[].

Medicinal

The dried bark is used to treat stomach-ache[].

The leaves are used in the treatment of colic and diarrhoea[].

Leaf extracts produce a hypoglycaemic effect in experimental rats[].
The hydrodistilled essential oils, when screened for their anti-fungal activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum microsporum audounil ( which cause ring worm diseases in animals and humans), exhibited fungicidal or fungistatic toxicity and were more effective than the synthetic antifungal agents, clotrimazole, griseofulvin or nystatin[].

Other Uses

The leaves yield around 2% essential oil with a specific gravity of 1.025[, ]. It is soluble in 1.2 volume of 70% alcohol. The oil resembles cinnamon leaf oil and contains phellandrene and 78% eugenol[].
The essential oil from the bark, known as 'cassia oil', is pale yellow, and contains 70 - 85% cinnamic aldehyde. The oil is used in perfuming soap and in medicine. However, trade in cassia oil has declined appreciably with the advent of synthetic cinnamic aldehyde[, ].
An extract from the leaves is an ingredient of commercial cosmetic preparations, where it is used as a skin conditioner[].
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[].

The leaf extracts are used as clarifiers in dyeing procedures with myrobalans or kamala[].

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[].

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