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Magnolia champaca (L.) Figlar
| Family Name: | Magnoliaceae |
| Synonyms: | Michelia champaca |
| Common Name: | Champaca, Champak, Cempaka Merah, Yellow Champaka, Orange Chempaca, Chempaca Merah, Sapu, Cempaka Kuning, Orange Champak, Cempaka Putih, Orange Champaka, 黄兰 |
A charismatic tall tree that produces fragrant yellow flowers throughout the year. These flowers are rich in essential oil, often used for perfumery and religious offerings.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Conical |
| Maximum Height | 50 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | From India, southwestern China, Indochina to Malesia (Sumatra, Malay Peninsula, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands). |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It can a free flowering tree, up to 30 – 50 m tall, and 183 – 190 cm diameter. Trunk is straight and columnar with smooth grey bark. Crown is cylindrical or conical. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaf is elliptic or narrowly ovate (10 – 35 cm long by 4 – 11 cm wide), spirally arranged and slightly hairy on the underside. Leaf tip is short while leaf base is cuneate to rounded. There are 14 – 23 pairs of secondary veins which can be seen more visibly on the underside of the leaf. Petiole 1.5-3.5 (4) cm long. Stipules (up to 6.5 cm long) is hairy and attached to petiole for at least 0.7 – 3.9 cm long, leaving a ring-like stipular scar on the branches when it fallen. |
| Flowers | Occurring singly on leaf axils or pseudo-axillary on brachyblasts, flower is fragrant, light yellow when young and becoming orange-yellow as it matures. Each flower is about 2 - 4.5 cm long, comprising of 5 tepals in several inconspicuous whorls where the outermost tepals are obovate and innermost tepals are narrower. Brachyblast is densely pubescent, with 2 (-3) nodes (0.5-) 1-1.8(-2.5) cm long. Stamen is 0.6 - 0.8 cm long, with connective appendages up to 0.1 cm long. |
| Fruit | Fruit are borne on a spiral cluster (6 – 30 cm long) which hangs down. Each cluster consist of 6 – 40 individual fruit. Each fruit is 1.5 – 2 cm long, woody and pale brown with large cream coloured lenticels. Ripe fruit splits open to reveal 2 – 6 seeds inside. Seed is covered with red or pink flesh and hang freely on a thin white thread. |
| Habitat | It is found in evergreen forest, up to 800 m altitude. |
| Associated Fauna | Flowers are pollinated by beetles, and seeds are dispersed by birds and mammals. |
| Taxonomy | There are two varieties, namely Magnolia champaca var. champaca and Magnolia champaca var. pubinervia. The former usually grow up to 2 – 5 (-30) m tall and 50 cm wide, while the latter usually grow up to 50 m tall and 180 cm wide. |
| Etymology | Latin Magnolia, commemorates Pierre Magnol (1638 – 1715), a French professor of Botany. Latin champaca, refers to its Sankrit name Campaka. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, an infusion of bitter bark is consumed to reduce fever while leaves made into tea to relieve cough and tonsillitis Flowers and buds are believed to have antiseptic properties and are applied externally to wounds or inflammation. Timber & Products: Wood is light and durable, and can be used as timber for furniture, door panels, cabinets, sacred cravings such as bead chains, as well as coffins too. Cut - Dried Flower: Flowers are rich in essential oil and used for perfumes and hair oil. Cultural / Religious: The flowers are also used for Hindu and Buddhist religious offerings. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Flowers) (Time Independent, Day) |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Roadside Tree / Palm |
| Thematic Landscaping | Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird Attracting |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting, Air-Layering |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Hairy / Hirsute |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Acute, Rounded / Obtuse |
| Typical Foliar Area | Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Mature Bark Texture | Smooth |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | Orange, Yellow / Golden |
|---|
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
References
| References | Gardner, S., Sidisunthorn, P., & Chayamarit, K. (2016). Forest Trees of Southern Thailand. Volume 1. Bangkok. Kobfai Publishing Project. 792pp. Nooteboom, H.P. (1985). Notes on Magnoliaceae with a revision of Pachylarnax and Elmerrillia and the Malesian species of Manglietia and Michelia. Blumea 31(1): 65-121. Nooteboom, H.P. & Chalermglin, P. (2009). The Magnoliaceae of Thailand. Thailand Forestry Bulletin (Botany) (37): 111-138. Nooteboom, H.P. (1988). Magnoliaceae. Flora Malesiana series 1 vol 10 (3): 561-605 |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1732 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3025 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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