Few of us may know that the white pungent-tasting, strongly-smelling camphor crystal that is burnt in the Puja aarti thali has been traditionally obtained from the woody parts of a tree called the – well – the Camphor tree, of course*! Although a few other species of the Cinnamomum genus also yield the white crystal, it is C. camphora from Indo-China native range that is most popular.
The essential oil component of camphor has high medicinal potency and it has seen centuries of usage in the households of its native range as balm or cream to treat chest/nasal congestion and inflammation.
This tree is an incredible Butterfly Magnet. At least ten different species of these colourfully winged insects lay eggs on the leaves of this tree, so their larvae can feed on them. These include the Tawny Rajah, Glassy, Common and Narrow-banded Bluebottles, Tawny, Common, Lesser and Blue-striped Mimes and the Spangle butterflies.