Camptotheca acuminata is a species of tree in the Camptotheca genus that is native to north Vietnam and southern China.[1] It is also cultivated in the southern United States.[2]
| Camptotheca acuminata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Trunk of the tree | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Cornales |
| Family: | Nyssaceae |
| Genus: | Camptotheca |
| Species: | C. acuminata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Camptotheca acuminata Decne.
Bull. Soc. Bot. France 20: 157 (1873) | |
A eudicot,[3] it is a flowering deciduous tree with light gray bark.[4] It can grow to a height of 20 metres (66 ft). Its large, papery leaves are somewhat oval in shape, usually 12 to 28 cm (5 to 10 in) long and 6 to 12 cm (2 to 5 in) wide.[4] The flowers, which bloom from May through July, produce a gray-brown fruit with one seed in September.[4]
Uses
editCamptotheca acuminata is a source of camptothecin chemicals, which have been tested for potential use as treatments for cancer and HIV.[2] The modern chemotherapy drugs topotecan and irinotecan are derived from it, though now the molecules are produced in a lab environment rather than extracted from the leaves and bark of the tree.[5] Because of this, it is sometimes called the "cancer tree".[5]
In traditional Chinese medicine, the tree is called xi shu ("tree of joy" or "happy tree") and was considered a relatively unimportant[5] medicinal plant.[2][5]
The tree is also grown for shade and ornamental value.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Camptotheca acuminata Decne. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ a b c Lewis, Walter H.; Elvin-Lewis, Memory P. F. (2003-09-04). Medical Botany: Plants Affecting Human Health. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 205–206. ISBN 978-0-471-62882-8.
- ^ "Camptotheca acuminata". NCBI. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ a b c "Camptotheca acuminata". World Flora Online.
- ^ a b c d e Foster, Steven; Johnson, Rebecca L. (2008). National Geographic Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine. National Geographic Books. pp. 202–203. ISBN 978-1-4262-0293-3.
Further reading
edit- Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne.
- Govaerts, R. (2003). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Database in ACCESS: 1-216203. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- Wu, Z., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D. (eds.) (2007). Flora of China 13: 1-548. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
- Wu Chi-Jun (1848). Zhi Wu Ming Shi Du Gao [Illustrated Investigations of the Names and Natures of Plants], Beijing.