The camphor tree is Cinnamomum camphora. An evergreen broadleaf tree that produces white and yellow flowers in May, it grows up to 20 meters tall and 2 meters in diameter. It is native to Korea (Jeju), China, Taiwan, Japan, and elsewhere.
Dosundong Camphor Tree Habitat
The camphor tree habitat in and around Dosundong, Seogwipo, Jeju, has been designated a Natural Monument and is protected. Groups of camphor trees grow along a stream southeast of a small volcanic cone north of the village, and a natural habitat has also been identified in the lower reaches of Gangjeongcheon Stream.
Camphor Trees in Australia
Camphor trees brought to Australia by people around the nineteenth century spread rapidly because the climate suited them well. As they began placing a burden on ecosystems outside their original range, large-scale logging was carried out, and much of this timber is now imported into Korea.
The Scent of Camphor
The camphor tree is also called the camphorwood tree because of its strong camphor scent. Camphor oil, obtained by steam-distilling the wood, is used as a raw material for insect repellents and fragrances. Most of the compounds people worry about when using it for cutting boards evaporate during the drying process, leaving only a very small amount.
Text: Woodway Wood Department Store, Wood Study, “Camphor Tree” (November 2021).
