Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Ornamental- Commonly cultivated as an ornamental and wayside tree throughout the tropics, being valued especially for its fragrant flowers. Medicine- The bark is used as a febrifuge. The flowers are used to treat leprosy. The leaves are used as a treatment against colic. The seeds are used to treat badly chapped skin. Cosmetics/Essential oils- The flowers yield an essential oil known as champa or champaca oil. It is used in perfumery. Another essential oil, known as Michelia leaf oil, is extracted from the leaves. Cultural/Religious-The sweetly scented flowers are often used in religious ceremonies in India and also for hair adornment. Eco-restoration-The tree is used to reforest badly eroded areas in Java. Soil under tree cover shows an increase in pH, soil organic carbon and available phosphorus.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal
Wet tropical biome, at altitude 600-1300m
Evergreen tree 50m tall.
Leaf-stalks are 2-4 cm, leaves elliptic or ovate, 10-20 x 4.5-10 cm, slightly puberulous below, base broadly wedge-shaped or rounded, tip long-pointed tp falling off.
Flowers are fragrant, tepals 15-20, yellow, inverted-lanceshaped, 2-4 x 0.4-0.5 cm. Staminal connective is protruding and forming a long tip.
Fruit is 7-15 cm; mature carpels obovoid-ellipsoid, 1-1.5 cm, tuberculate. Seeds 2-4 per carpel, rugose.Obovoid-ellipsoid carpels, splitting open to release red seeds.
Flowering: June-July.