Litsea mollis
Hemsl.
Lauraceae
Common Name:
General Information
Litsea mollis is a deciduous shrub or a small tree that can grow from 1.5 - 6 metres tall[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
931- Title
- Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) No. 39
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thawatchai Santisuk (Editor)
- Publisher
- The Forest Herbarium (BKF); Chatuchak, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 0495-3843
- Description
- A botanical journal, publishing papers on taxonomy (especially vascular plants), nomenclature, phylogeny, systematics, plant geography, and floristics; also morphology, palynology, cytotaxonomy, chemotaxonomy, anatomy and other relevant disciplines.
]. Some reports say that it can reach a height of 30 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of oil and essential oil. It has potential for use as a pioneer species in reforestation programmes.
Litsea mollis is threatened on a local level by deforestation and habitat destruction through conversion to agriculture and plantations. However, the species is widespread and abundant, and also occurs in several protected areas and so is not considered threatened on a global level. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
931- Title
- Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) No. 39
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thawatchai Santisuk (Editor)
- Publisher
- The Forest Herbarium (BKF); Chatuchak, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 0495-3843
- Description
- A botanical journal, publishing papers on taxonomy (especially vascular plants), nomenclature, phylogeny, systematics, plant geography, and floristics; also morphology, palynology, cytotaxonomy, chemotaxonomy, anatomy and other relevant disciplines.
Range
E. Asia - southern China, Myanmar, northern Thailand (probably naturalized), Vietnam.
Habitat
Thickets or broad-leaved forests on mountain slopes;at elevations from near sea level to 2,800 metres[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Deciduous Shrub |
| Height | 2.50 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Litsea mollis is a plant mainly of warm temperate and subtropical areas, though it is also found in northern Thailand (where it is probably naturalized).
The leaves and fruits are aromatic when crushed, and resemble the smell of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus)[
931- Title
- Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) No. 39
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thawatchai Santisuk (Editor)
- Publisher
- The Forest Herbarium (BKF); Chatuchak, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 0495-3843
- Description
- A botanical journal, publishing papers on taxonomy (especially vascular plants), nomenclature, phylogeny, systematics, plant geography, and floristics; also morphology, palynology, cytotaxonomy, chemotaxonomy, anatomy and other relevant disciplines.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
2011- Title
- A revision of Litsea (Lauraceae) in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore
- Publication
- Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 73(1): 81-178. 2021
- Author
- Kok R.P.J. de
- Website
- http://10.26492/gbs73(1).2021-07
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very detailed treatment of the species
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The roots and fruit are used medicinally[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
The fruits tonify the spleen and are used for, treating dyspepsia[
2009- Title
- The genus Litsea in traditional Chinese medicine: An ethnomedical, phytochemical and pharmacological review
- Publication
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 164, 22 April 2015, Pages 256-264
- Author
- Kong, D.-G., et al.
- Website
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.020
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2015
- ISBN
- 0378-8741
- Description
-
].
Applied externally, the fruits are used in the treatment of chronic eczema[
2009- Title
- The genus Litsea in traditional Chinese medicine: An ethnomedical, phytochemical and pharmacological review
- Publication
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 164, 22 April 2015, Pages 256-264
- Author
- Kong, D.-G., et al.
- Website
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.020
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2015
- ISBN
- 0378-8741
- Description
-
].
Agroforestry Uses:
A pioneer species, usually found growing in the open, especially in montane regions in the tropics[
931- Title
- Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) No. 39
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thawatchai Santisuk (Editor)
- Publisher
- The Forest Herbarium (BKF); Chatuchak, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 0495-3843
- Description
- A botanical journal, publishing papers on taxonomy (especially vascular plants), nomenclature, phylogeny, systematics, plant geography, and floristics; also morphology, palynology, cytotaxonomy, chemotaxonomy, anatomy and other relevant disciplines.
]. The plant could be used in reforestation projects[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Other Uses
The fruit is processed for its essential oil. Yields of 3 - 5% are obtained[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
The seeds contain around 25% of a fixed oil and are used asa main ingredient in soaps[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
