Korpur or Camphor, Cinnamomum camphora

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Korpur or Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora, family: ‎Lauraceae) is an evergreen small or medium-sized aromatic tree from cinnamomum family, up to 10 to 15 m high with profuse branches. Trunk is short. Its bark is blackish and rough. Camphor, which is volatile and has a strong aroma, extracted from its bark and wood. 


Its original home is China, Japan and Malay. In Bangladesh it is found in Sylhet area. As an ornamental tree, it is also found in the parks and botanical gardens in the country. 


Leaves are small, elliptic-ovate, entire, veins and midrib are very clear; glabrous, alternate, bearing scent of camphor.


Flowers are brownish white, borne on axillary inflorescence. Female flowers are the bigger than males. Petals 6, arranged in two rows. 


Flower buds with the young shoots are derived from a kind of mound, which is unusual to floral kingdom. Flower blooms in February-March.


Fruit is a berry. The plant is propagated by seeds and air layering.


4-5 kg camphor can be aggregated from a tree. The extract is stimulant, narcotic and antibiotic. It works against cancer, strangury, rheumatism, poisonous wound, fever, toothache, gonorrhea, asthma, urinal and menstrual disorder. 


It is often used to make food and other stuffs aromatic. Camphor oil is used in the last bath of a dead body somewhere.

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