Litsea pungens
Hemsl.
Lauraceae
Litsea kangdingensis H.S.Kung
Common Name:
General Information
Litsea pungens is a small, deciduous tree growing around 3 - 10 metres tall[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
The plant is a commercial source of oil and essential oil and is harvested from the wild for this purpose and also for local medicinal use.
Litsea pungens has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
Range
E. Asia - central and southern China, Myanmar
Habitat
Streamsides, weed-tree forests or forest margins on sunny slopes; at elevations from 800 - 2,300 metres[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Deciduous Tree |
| Height | 7.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
An essential oil obtained from the fruits is used as a food flavouring and source of vitamin A[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Medicinal
The fruits and leaves are used for strengthening the spleen, as well as for treating dyspepsia, diarrhoea, and sunstroke[
2009- Title
- The genus Litsea in traditional Chinese medicine: An ethnomedical, phytochemical and pharmacological review
- Publication
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 164, 22 April 2015, Pages 256-264
- Author
- Kong, D.-G., et al.
- Website
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.020
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2015
- ISBN
- 0378-8741
- Description
-
].
Externally they are used for treating sores[
2009- Title
- The genus Litsea in traditional Chinese medicine: An ethnomedical, phytochemical and pharmacological review
- Publication
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 164, 22 April 2015, Pages 256-264
- Author
- Kong, D.-G., et al.
- Website
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.020
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2015
- ISBN
- 0378-8741
- Description
-
].
The stems are used for treating stomach distension[
2009- Title
- The genus Litsea in traditional Chinese medicine: An ethnomedical, phytochemical and pharmacological review
- Publication
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 164, 22 April 2015, Pages 256-264
- Author
- Kong, D.-G., et al.
- Website
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.020
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2015
- ISBN
- 0378-8741
- Description
-
].
The roots are used for relieving pain, treating stomachache and arthralgia[
2009- Title
- The genus Litsea in traditional Chinese medicine: An ethnomedical, phytochemical and pharmacological review
- Publication
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 164, 22 April 2015, Pages 256-264
- Author
- Kong, D.-G., et al.
- Website
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.020
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2015
- ISBN
- 0378-8741
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
The fruit contains an essential oil (dry fruit 2% - 6%, fresh fruit 3% - 4%). Its main ingredients are citral (60% - 90%) and geraniol (5% - 19%). The oil is used in foods and cosmetics and is also widely used as a component of high-grade spices, vitamin A, and ionone[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
The seeds contain around 48% of a fixed oil, which may be used in industry and for making soap[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
