Magnolia champaca
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Magnoliaceae
Genus: Magnolia
Subgenus: Magnolia subg. Yulania
Section: Magnolia sect. Michelia
Subsection: Magnolia subsect. Michelia
Species:
M. champaca
Binomial name
Magnolia champaca
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Champaca michelia Noronha
    • Magnolia membranacea P.Parm.
    • Michelia aurantiaca Wall.
    • Michelia blumei Steud.
    • Michelia champaca L.
    • Michelia euonymoides Burm.f.
    • Michelia rheedei Wight
    • Michelia rufinervis DC.
    • Michelia sericea Pers.
    • Michelia suaveolens Pers.
    • Sampacca euonymoides (Burm.f.) Kuntze
    • Sampacca suaveolens (Pers.) Kuntze

Magnolia champaca, known in English as champak (/ˈtʃʌmpək/),[3] is a large evergreen tree in the family Magnoliaceae.[4] It was previously classified as Michelia champaca.[4][5] It is known for its fragrant flowers, and its timber used in woodworking.

Etymology

The species epithet, champaca, comes from the Sanskrit word चम्पक campaka (pronounced [tɕɐmpɐkɐ]).[6]

Vernacular names

Other vernacular names in English include joy perfume tree,[5] yellow jade orchid tree and fragrant Himalayan champaca.[7][8]

Distribution and habitat

The tree is native to the Indomalayan realm, consisting of South Asia, Southeast Asia−Indochina, and southern China.[9]

It is found in tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregions, at elevations of 200–1,600 metres (660–5,250 ft).[4] It is native to the Maldives, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.[4] In China it is native to southern Tibet and southern/southwestern Yunnan Provinces.[4][10] In 2021, an isolated, presumably native population of M. champaca was identified in Yemen, making M. champaca the only species in the Magnoliaceae known to inhabit the Arabian Peninsula.[11]

Description


In its native range Magnolia champaca grows to 50 metres (160 ft) or taller. Its trunk can be up to 1.9 metres (6.2 ft) in diameter. The tree has a narrow umbelliform crown.[4]

It has strongly fragrant flowers in varying shades of cream to yellow-orange which bloom during June to September.[4] The obovoid-ellipsoid carpels produce 2−4 seeds during September to October.[4]

Varieties—hybrids

Magnolia champaca varieties and hybrids include:

  • Magnolia (Michelia) champaca var. champaca — Huang lan (yuan bian zhong), (黄兰(原变种)) in Chinese. To 30 metres (98 ft) tall, documented in China.[12]
  • Magnolia (Michelia) champaca var. pubinervia — Mao ye mai huang lan (毛叶脉黄兰) in Chinese. To 50 metres (160 ft) tall or taller, documented in China.[13]
  • Magnolia × alba — white-flowered hybrid of Magnolia champaca and Magnolia montana.[5]

In Thailand, there are other purported hybrids cultivated with other species, including with Magnolia liliifera and Magnolia coco.

Cultural aspects

Orange coloured variety flower at over bloom

In Theravada Buddhism, champaca is said to have been used as the tree for achieving enlightenment, or Bodhi, by the fourteenth Buddha called "Aththadassi - අත්ථදස්සි". According to Tibetan beliefs, the Buddha of the next era will find enlightenment under the white flower canopy of the champaca tree.[8]

Uses

Fragrance

The flowers are used in South Asia, especially India, for several purposes. They are primarily used in worship ceremonies, whether at home or out in temples, they are also more generally worn in hair by girls and women as a means of beauty ornament as well as a natural perfume. Flowers are floated in bowls of water to scent the room, as a fragrant and colourful decoration for bridal beds, and for garlands.[14]

The tree was traditionally used to make fragrant hair and massage oils. Jean Patou’s famous perfume, 'Joy', the second best selling perfume in the world after Chanel No. 5, is derived in part from the essential oils of champaca flowers. The vernacular name "Joy perfume tree" comes from this.[5] Many niche perfumers are now once again using Champaca Absolute as single note fragrances.

A scent similar to the scent of this plant is said to be emitted by a civet in Sri Lanka, Paradoxurus montanus. Because all the other civets are known to emit very unpleasant odours, this species is renowned for emitting a pleasant odour similar to this plant's scent.[15]

Timber

Fruits of the champak tree

In its native India and Southeast Asia, champaca is logged for its valuable timber.[5] It has a finely textured, dark brown and olive-colored wood, which is used in furniture making, construction, and cabinetry.[5]

The species is protected from logging in some states of India, especially in the Southwestern region, where certain groves are considered sacred by Hindus and Buddhists.[5]

Cultivation

Magnolia champaca is cultivated by specialty plant nurseries as an ornamental plant, for its form as an ornamental tree, as a dense screening hedge, and for its fragrant flowers.[8] It is planted in the ground in tropical and in subtropical climate gardens, such as in coastal Southern and Central California.[5][8] It is planted in containers in cooler temperate climates.[5] It requires full sun and regular watering.

Ecology

The fragrant flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.[8] Its aril-covered seeds are highly attractive to birds.[16]

References

  1. ↑ Khela, S. (2014). "Magnolia champaca". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T191869A15267603. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T191869A15267603.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Magnolia champaca (L.) Baill. ex Pierre". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "CHAMPAK". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Michelia champaca Linnaeus". Flora of China. eFloras. n.d. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pacific Horticulture Society: "Striving for Diversity: Fragrant Champaca" . accessed 7.12.2015
  6. ↑ Monier-Williams, Monier (1981). "चम्प campa". A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Delhi, Varanasi, Patna: Motilal Banarsidass. p. 388.
  7. ↑ "PlantFiles". Dave's Garden. Retrieved 2015-08-02.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fragrant Himalayan Champaca". Monrovia Nurseries. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Magnolia champaca". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  10. ↑ efloras.org: Annotated Checklist of the Flowering Plants of Nepal − Michelia (Magnolia) champaca
  11. ↑ Al-Sagheer, Nageeb A. (2021-05-01). "Magnolia champaca (L.) Baill. ex Pierre (Magnoliaceae): A first report and a new record in the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen)". Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences. 20 (4): 243–247. doi:10.1016/j.jssas.2021.02.003. ISSN 1658-077X.
  12. ↑ efloras.org: Flora of China treatment of Michelia (Magnolia) champaca var. champaca
  13. ↑ "Flora of China FOC Vol. 7 pg 51, 80. — Michelia (Magnolia) champaca var. pubinervia".
  14. ↑ Minter, Sue (2005). "Fragrant Plants". In Prance, Ghillean; Nesbitt, Mark (eds.). The Cultural History of Plants. London, England, UK: Routledge. p. 242. ISBN 9780415927468.
  15. ↑ "Sri Lankan Brown Palm Civets (Paradoxurus montanus): Non-Ringtails of Sri Lanka".
  16. ↑ FRISCH, J.D. & FRISCH, C.D. - Aves Brasileiras e Plantas que as atraem, São Paulo, Dalgas Ecotec, 3rd. edition, 2005, ISBN 85-85015-07-1, page 374

Further reading

  • Fernando, M. Thilina R., et al. "Identifying dormancy class and storage behaviour of champak (Magnolia champaca) seeds, an important tropical timber tree." Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 41.2 (2013): 141-146.
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