cinnamon
Cinnamomum Schaeff.
A genus overview; characteristics vary between its species.
Cinnamomum includes aromatic trees and shrubs whose bark, branches and leaves are often strongly scented when crushed. The genus belongs to the laurel family. Among the spice-producing members of this genus, Cinnamomum verum is cultivated for cinnamon in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Kew POWO: Cinnamomum; Trees of New Guinea
Botanical name
Kew accepts Cinnamomum Schaeff. in Lauraceae. Kew POWO: Cinnamomum; Trees of New Guinea
Recognizing the plant
The New Guinea account describes leathery leaves, often opposite or nearly opposite, with three veins. Other members have alternate, feather-veined leaves. Small yellow or white flowers form branched clusters at shoot tips or in leaf axils. Each flower has six similar perianth lobes and usually nine fertile stamens. The fleshy fruits become bluish-black or purple, with a cup of floral tissue remaining beneath them. Shoots may end in naked buds or buds protected by scales. Kew POWO: Cinnamomum; Trees of New Guinea
Native range
Kew places the native genus from tropical and subtropical Asia into the western Pacific. In New Guinea, members grow in rainforest and mountain forest, extending from sea level to 2,500 metres elevation. Kew POWO: Cinnamomum; Trees of New Guinea
Botanical sources
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.