NHD53/21

Chinese Cinnamom Tree

Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl; Lauraceae family

Original inscriptions: 桂皮 (front lower left in ink)

Further inscriptions: H. Sh. (front lower left in ink)

Flowering branch of a Chinese Cinnamon tree, showing greyish main branch, with secondary green twigs branching out on the left side. Opposite and alternate leaves on the full length of each twig, different colours of leaves present on each twig, ranging from dark to light green, to pale reddish-orange. Leaves are elliptic, pointy with entire margins; three main basal veins along the length of the leaves, from which dense opposite small veins depart, covering the entire surface of the leaves. Small cyme inflorescence sprout close to the leaves' nodes; the inflorescences are mostly composed of small, light green, globular buds, and only a few open flowers. These are front facing, with stellate white petals and gold edges, numerous green stamens with pale yellow anthers. Lower left: dissected view of the pedicel and small stellate green five-lobed sepal, numerous stamens clustered in two, three, four, or five and arranged in a circle; five petals.

Any further details: The same plant is depicted in a different format in NHD53/20.