Cinnamomum verum
species of flowering plant
Cinnamomum verum (synonym Cinnamomum zeylanicum), also known as true cinnamon or Ceylon cinnamon, is a small evergreen tree belonging to the family Lauraceae, native to Sri Lanka. The inner bark of the tree is historically regarded as the spice cinnamon, though this name has also been used for C. cassia (cassia) as well.
Description
Cinnamomum verum is an evergreen tree growing to 10–15 m (30–50 ft) tall. The leaves are ovate-oblong in shape and 7–18 cm (3–7 in) long. The flowers, which are arranged in panicles, are greenish and have a distinct scent. The fruit is a purple 1 cm (0.5 in) drupe containing a single seed.
Cultivation
The old botanical synonym for the tree, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, is derived from Sri Lanka's former name, Ceylon. Sri Lanka still produces 80–90% of the world's supply of C. verum; it is also cultivated on a commercial scale in the Seychelles, Madagascar and Tanzania.
On Borneo, Cinnamomum verum is cultivated at low elevations in Sarawak (Kuching District), Sabah (Keningau and Sandakan districts), and Kalimantan.
Cultivars
There are several different cultivars of Cinnamomum verum based on the taste of bark:
Pani-Miris Kurundu - Sweet and spicy
Miris Kurundu - Spicy
Sewele Kurundu - Smooth
Weli Kurundu - Coarse
Thiththa Kurundu - Bitter
Processing
In cultivation, the trees are grown as leafy bushes, usually reaching a maximum of 3 m (10 ft) in height.
The public source identifies “Cinnamomum verum” as species of flowering plant. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Cinnamomum, verum and species.
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The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 10, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q370239. The Library of Congress control number is sh85026033. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 1 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
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This entry incorporates text from “Cinnamomum verum” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.