Cinnamomum rhynchophyllum Miq., Fl. Ned. Ind. i, 1 (1858?)
Latin for 'beaked or pointed leaves'.
Synonyms
Cinnamomum rhynchophyllum var. lampongum Miq.
Diagnostics
Understorey tree up to 16 m tall and 17 cm dbh. Stipules absent. Leaves
(sub)-opposite, simple, tripli-veined, glabrous. Flowers ca. 6 mm diameter,
yellow, placed in panicles. Fruits ca. 8 mm long, red, fleshy drupes placed on
slightly swollen flower base with persistent calyx lobes.
Description
Small tree to 16 m tall, to 17 cm diameter. Bark smooth or lenticellate, greyish brown; inner bark light
brown to reddish, fragrant; sapwood yellowish or whitish. Twigs terete, 2-3 mm diameter, apically angular,
appressed hairy or glabrous, brown to light brown. Terminal buds not perulate, conical, c. 4 mm long,
densely covered with straight appressed hairs. Leaves opposite or subopposite, trinerved, thinly
coriaceous, sparsely straight appressed hairy below; blade not bullate, without domatia, elliptic or
oblong, 13.5-20 by 3.5-6.5(-8) cm, base narrowly cuneate, shortly attenuate, apex caudate, abruptly
constricted, forming a slender and appendage-like acumen, 0.5-1.5(-2.5) cm long; midrib c. 1 mm broad,
distinctly raised on both sides, distinctly angular below; lateral veins distinctly raised on both sides,
extending to the base of acumen; major intercostal veins scalariform to subscalariform, 1-2(-3) mm apart,
less prominent than midrib; minor intercostal veins indistinct, reticulate; petiole 1-2 cm long, 1-2 mm
diameter, appressed hairy, flattish or inconspicuously grooved above. Inflorescences axillary and/or
subterminal, paniculate-cymose with second or third order branching, appressed hairy, 14-20 cm long.
Flowers hairy, pedicel 3-5 mm long ; hypanthium c. 1 mm high; perianth lobes elliptic, broadly elliptic
or ovate, c. 2 mm long, appressed hairy on both sides; fertile stamens 1.5-2 mm long, anthers 2-locular,
ovoid with truncate or obtuse tip, filaments c. 3/4 the length of stamen, appressed hairy; glands shortly
stalked and attached at the middle of filaments; staminodes c. 1 mm long, hastate; ovary subglobose, c. 1
mm across, stigma peltate. Fruits ellipsoid, c. 1 by 0.8 cm; cupule shallow, c. 1 mm high, c. 3 mm
diameter; perianth lobes persistent, elliptic, c. 3 by 2 mm; pedicel c. 3 mm long. [from Wild Cinnamon of
Borneo]
Ecology
In undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forests up to 600 m altitude. Mostly along
rivers, but also found on ridges. Sandy soils.
Distribution
Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo.
Uses
The bark is used as a spice and a decoction of the leaves is used to treat stomach ache and food
poisoining.
Local names
Borneo: Jang loweng, Medang, Teje.
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