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BarnetteR_Cinnamomum_zeylanicum

Page history last edited by PBworks 16 years ago

 

 

Cinnamomum Zeylanicum

Cinnamomum zeylanicum, or more commonly known as the Cinnamon Tree, is native to Sri Lanka as well as India. Here, the tree is used not only for practical purposes, but also for landscaping. The species, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, is regarded as “true” cinnamon and is said to be one of the spices responsible for world trade. Because of this, cinnamon has become a significant part of human life and history.

 

 

 

Cinnamon has long been used throughout history by many ancient empires and civilizations. Cinnamomum zeylancium dates back to 2800 B.C., found in early Chinese writings. It has been the subject of wars, used as currency, and also prized for its aphrodisiacal powers. It was not only used as a spice during these times, but also to scent garments and bedding, as well as the embalming process in Ancient Egypt. Cinnamon was extremely popular among ancient Rome and China and was commonly used at funerals and to treat coughing and sore throats.

 

Cinnamomum zeylanicum grows natively in Sri Lanka(red) but can also be grown in many other parts of Asia(pink). (Apple #288: Cinnamon... [updated 2007]

 

 

The Cinnamon Tree is a perennial that blooms in the late fall to early winter, sometimes with pale yellow blooms that is part of the laurel family. The tree is considered to be small or medium size growing only about 20-40 feet in height. These trees like to grow in full sun and part shade and like moderate amount of water throughout the year. This specific species is subtropical or tropical. Although it can survive short frosts, it does not thrive in long-term freezes or cool weather. The Cinnamon Tree propagates by seed like many other trees. To plant them yourself, you should use a direct seed method after the last frost. In order to collect these seeds, you should allow unsullied fruit to ripen and then clean and dry the seeds.

 

Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cinnamon… [updated 2008]

 

Today, the Cinnamon Tree is widely cultivated for its cinnamon, although much of the commercially used cinnamon is Cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum), a related species. The commercial version of cinnamon is the dried inner bark of the shoots. This cinnamon is “strongly aromatic, sweet, pleasant, warm and but hardly bitter or astringent. Compared to its relatives, cinnamon has a fresh or “lively” tone that is missing in all other cinnamon species… The essential oil of cinnamon bark (max. 4%) is dominated by the two phenylpropanoids cinnamaldehyde (3-phenyl-acrolein, 65 to 75%) and eugenol (4-(1-propene-3-yl)-2-methoxy-phenol, 5 to 10%). Other phenylpropanoids (safrole, coumarin [max. 0.6%] cinnamic acid esters), mono- and sesquiterpenes, although occurring only in traces, do significantly influence the taste of cinnamon. Another trace component relevant for the quality is 2-heptanone (methyl-n-amyl-ketone). The slime content of the bark is rather low (3%)”(Ceylon Cinnamon…[updated 1999].

 

Cinnamon(left) and Cassia quills. (Cinnamon… [updated 2008]

 

Although cinnamon is mainly used today as a spice throughout the world, it is also being used for medicinal purposes like that of ancient times. Cinnamon is used as an antibiotic to help prevent tooth decay (toothpastes) and is also utilized as a supplement to prescription drugs such as clindamycin. “The essential oil of Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark enhanced the bactericidal activity of clindamycin” (Shahverdi et al. 2007). These properties also allow it to also be useful for soothing a sore stomach, clearing urinary-tract infections, and can allow diabetics to use less insulin.

 

Cinnamomum zeylanicum has been an important species for thousands of years, contributing a significant amount to human history. The natural properties of the plant have contributed to a plethora of aspects to human life from medicine to a household condiment, and will continue for years to come.

 


 

Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests

Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests are home to the species of cinnamon tree, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, which are native to such areas as Sri Lanka and India. Cinnamomum zeylanicum requires a moderate amount of rainfall throughout the year which it receives in these broadleaf forests and prefers a base of almost purely sand. These forests are located at tropical and subtropical latitudes, are warm year-round and receive a significant amount of rain annually. Although they receive large amounts of rain, they have long dry seasons that fluctuate with the specific geographic area. Deciduous trees dominate these forests and therefore have a leafless period during the drought. 

 

Every type of forest has its own particular threats that correlate with the conditions within each. Many tropical and subtropical forests are subject to deforestation which not only destroys plant species but also removes a habitat for a variety of other living organisms. This is typically due to conversion to agriculture or cleared to make room for a growing human population. For dry broadleaf forests alone, “the percentage of forested area in 2001 relative to the total area delineated varies from c. 16% in dry forests of South and Southeast Asia to more than 40% in the case of Latin America” (Miles et al. 2006). Because there is a dry season in dry broadleaf forests, they are also highly prone to fires both natural and those set by man.

 

Aside from the obvious threats to dry broadleaf forests, there are many others that may not typically be considered. Climate change is among one of many of these threats where the temperature has risen within these forests by as much as 2.5 degrees Celsius and decreased rainfall by as much as 50mm per year. Dry broadleaf forests were found to be at much greater risk of severe climate change than other types of forests in proportion to the area. Some exotic species that have been introduced into the habitat have also caused a disturbance to the balance of life. Forest fragmentation is also increasingly problematic due to energy companies and building new roads for transportation. All of these threats have caused dry forests to become the most endangered tropical and subtropical forest in the world.

 

            Rainforests in general are declining rapidly. “Rainforests used to cover 14% of the Earth's surface. This percentage is now down to 6% and it is estimated by some that the remaining natural rainforests could disappear within 40 years” [Degredation…(cited 2008). Because of this, it is estimated that many species are being driven to extinction (potentially more than 50,000) because of the destruction of habitats.

 

            Although Cinnamomum zeylanicum is grown for aesthetic purposes as well as to harvest the cinnamon, it still grows wild in the tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests of Sri Lanka and India. While this species itself is not in immediate danger of extinction, many others who make their habitat in these broadleaf forests are. Therefore, as a growing population, we must take into account the ever shrinking population that occurs in our forests which essentially effects everything living and will have consequences in the future.

 

 


 

Bibliography

 

Apple #288: Cinnamon [Internet]. [updated 2007 Dec 16]. The Daily Apple; [cited 2008 Feb16]. Available from: http://dailyapple.blogspot.com/ 2007/12/apple-288-cin...

 

Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) [Internet]. [updated 1999 Jan 11]. [cited 2008 Feb 15]. Available from:http://www.unigraz.at/~katzer/engl/ Cinn_zey.html

 

Cinnamon [Internet].[updated 2008 Feb 16]. Wikipedia; [cited 2008 Feb 17]. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon

 

Degredation of the Rain Forests [Internet]. [cited 2008 March 4]. Available from: http://www.backorders.com/Degradation-of-the-rainforests.htm

 

Filippone, P.Cinnamon History [Internet]. About.com:Home Cooking [cited 2008 Feb 17]. Available from: http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/ a/cinnamonhistory.htm

 

Miles, Lera; Newton, Adrian C.; DeFries, Ruth S.; Ravilious, Corinna; May, Ian; Blyth, Simon; Kapos, Valerie; Gordon, James E. 2006. AddedA global overview of the conservation status of tropical dry forests. Journal of Biogeography. [Internet]. [cited 2008 Mar 3] 1365-2699.2005.01424. Available from: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/results?vid=3&hid=8&sid=d8fc5c9b-ea98-42a1-bb2e-d17854c748f4%40SRCSM2

 

PlantFiles: Ceylon Cinnamon Tree Cinnamomum zeylanicum [Internet]. Dave’s Garden; [cited 2008 Feb 16]. Available from: http://davesgarden.com /guides/pf/go/70370/

 

Shahverdi AR, Monsef-Esfahani HR, Tavasoli F, Zaheri A, Mirjani R. 2007. Trans-cinnamaldehyde from Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark essential oil reduces the clindamycin resistance of Clostridium difficile in vitro. Journal of Food Science [Internet]. [cited 2008 Feb 17]. Available from:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17995898?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSu

Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forest Ecoregions [Internet]. [updated 2006 Jan 11]. [cited 2008 Mar 3] Available from: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/ecoregions/about/habitat_types/selecting_terrestrial_ecoregions/habitat02.cfm

 

 

 

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