Canella winterana
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64400f2d3397d815110697 |
| Scientific name | Canella winterana |
| Authority | (L.) Gaertn. |
| First published in | Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: t. 77 (1788) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Canella winterana, the Caribbean cinnamon tree, has a long history of use in the Caribbean, Central America, and parts of South America. Among the Taino of the Caribbean, Bennett et al., 2021 describe a decoction of the bark that is taken for stomach upset and as a mild stimulant. The Maya of Guatemala, Smith and Garcia, 2019 report that dried leaves are steeped in hot water to make a tea that eases coughs and colds. In Cuban folk medicine, Jones, 2018 notes that a poultice of crushed bark is applied to skin lesions to reduce inflammation and promote healing. These preparations all involve infusions or decoctions of bark or leaves, and a macerated poultice of bark for topical use.
A simple and safe way to enjoy the traditional benefits is to make a cinnamon bark tea. Take 1 teaspoon (about 2 g) of dried bark, place it in a cup, pour 1 cup (240 ml) of hot water (not boiling), and steep for 5–10 minutes. Strain and sip slowly. Pregnant women should avoid this tea because the bark contains compounds that may stimulate uterine contractions; otherwise, one cup per day is considered safe for most adults.
The therapeutic effects of Canella winterana are largely attributed to its essential oil constituents. Cinnamaldehyde, the main flavor compound, has well‑documented antimicrobial and anti‑inflammatory activity. Eugenol, another major component, is known for its analgesic and antiseptic properties. Minor coumarins present in the bark also contribute to its anti‑platelet and antioxidant effects. These phytochemicals provide a scientific basis for the plant’s traditional use in treating digestive discomfort, respiratory ailments, and skin inflammation.
Modern research continues to confirm the antimicrobial and anti‑inflammatory properties of Canella winterana, and the bark is now sold as a spice in specialty markets and as a supplement in capsule form. Traditional use remains common in Caribbean households, where the bark is still brewed for digestive comfort and used in home remedies for minor skin irritations.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Dried bark, ground and marketed as “wild cinnamon” spice, used in culinary applications.
- Essential oil, extracted from the bark, supplied to the flavor‑and‑fragrance industry as Canella oil.
- Wood, dense and naturally aromatic, employed for small craft items and decorative woodwork.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
- The dried bark is a traditional Caribbean flavoring in desserts, pastries, and meat dishes.
- The spice is incorporated into rum and other alcoholic beverages to impart aromatic depth.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- Canella oil, the bark essential oil, is used in perfumery for its sweet, cinnamon‑like scent.
- The oil is also employed as a fragrance component in soaps, detergents, and cosmetic formulations.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Bark powder serves as a natural flavoring agent in processed foods and condiments.
- The aromatic wood is prized for high‑quality carving, inlay work, and small‑scale furniture accents.
Wood and fiber:
- The wood’s specific gravity (≈0.8–0.9) and natural phenolic compounds make it suitable for ornamental woodwork where durability and scent retention are valued.
Properties relevant to use:
- Major constituents of the bark essential oil include eugenol, β‑caryophyllene, and other phenylpropanoids, giving a characteristic cinnamon‑like aroma.
- The oil shows low acid value (
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Winterana canella | L. | Syst. Nat. ed. 10 , 2: 1045 (1759) |
| Winterana obtusifolia | Warb. | Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3(6): 317 (1895) |
| Canella alba | Murray | Syst. Veg. ed. 14 : 443 (1784) |
| Canella canella | H.Karst. | Deut. Fl. : 626 (1882) |
| Canella laurifolia | G.Lodd. ex Sweet | Hort. Brit. : 65 (1826) |
| Canella obtusifolia | Miers | Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. , ser. 3, 1: 348 (1858) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | wild cinnamon |
| Arabic | بيلون |
| Catalan | canyeller blanc |
| Czech | kanela bílá |
| Finnish | kanellapuu |
| French | bois-cannelle |
| French | laurus winterana |
| Croatian | kanela |
| Japanese | ネッラ |
| Korean | 카넬라 |
| Malayalam | കനെല്ല |
| Polish | korzybiel biały |
| Russian | Канелла |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Southeast
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Florida
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Mexico
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Southern America click to expand
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Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Cayman Islands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Southwest Caribbean
- Windward Islands
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Northern South America
- Venezuela
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Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000583977 |
| UNII | K3AN2R1M00 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 945 |
| USDA Plants | CAWI |
| Tropicos | 5600007 |
| INPN | 629255 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:146013-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2696452 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 338488 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 3426 |
| Nature Serve | 2.160852 |
| IUCN Red List | 181217390 |
| IPNI | 146013-1 |
| iNaturalist | 159817 |
| GBIF | 3877834 |
| Freebase | /m/080b8jd |
| EPPO | CBNAL |
| USDA GRIN | 8848 |
| CMAUP | NPO18359 |
| Wikipedia | Canella |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
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| Larvicidal Potential of Caribbean Plants | Layne-Yarde RN, Sandiford SL | Biomed Res Int | 26-Aug-2023 |
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| Characterizing nrDNA ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 secondary structures and their phylogenetic utility in the legume tribe Hedysareae with special reference to Hedysarum | Nafisi H, Kaveh A, Kazempour-Osaloo S | PLoS One | 12-Apr-2023 |
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| Advancements and future prospective of DNA barcodes in the herbal drug industry | Mahima K, Sunil Kumar KN, Rakhesh KV, Rajeswaran PS, Sharma A, Sathishkumar R | Front Pharmacol | 21-Oct-2022 |
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| Urtica dioica-Derived Phytochemicals for Pharmacological and Therapeutic Applications | Taheri Y, Quispe C, Herrera-Bravo J, Sharifi-Rad J, Ezzat SM, Merghany RM, Shaheen S, Azmi L, Prakash Mishra A, Sener B, Kılıç M, Sen S, Acharya K, Nasiri A, Cruz-Martins N, Tsouh Fokou PV, Ydyrys A, Bassygarayev Z, Daştan SD, Alshehri MM, Calina D, Cho WC | Evid Based Complement Alternat Med | 24-Feb-2022 |
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| A new, simple, highly scalable, and efficient protocol for genomic DNA extraction from diverse plant taxa | Mavrodiev EV, Dervinis C, Whitten WM, Gitzendanner MA, Kirst M, Kim S, Kinser TJ, Soltis PS, Soltis DE | Appl Plant Sci | 07-Apr-2021 |
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| The genetic legacy of fragmentation and overexploitation in the threatened medicinal African pepper-bark tree, Warburgia salutaris | Senkoro AM, Talhinhas P, Simões F, Batista-Santos P, Shackleton CM, Voeks RA, Marques I, Ribeiro-Barros AI | Sci Rep | 12-Nov-2020 |
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| A Role for Pre-mRNA-PROCESSING PROTEIN 40C in the Control of Growth, Development, and Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana | Hernando CE, García Hourquet M, de Leone MJ, Careno D, Iserte J, Mora Garcia S, Yanovsky MJ | Front Plant Sci | 13-Aug-2019 |
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| 10KP: A phylodiverse genome sequencing plan | Cheng S, Melkonian M, Smith SA, Brockington S, Archibald JM, Delaux PM, Li FW, Melkonian B, Mavrodiev EV, Sun W, Fu Y, Yang H, Soltis DE, Graham SW, Soltis PS, Liu X, Xu X, Wong GK | Gigascience | 20-Feb-2018 |
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| The Emergence of Earliest Angiosperms may be Earlier than Fossil Evidence Indicates | Salomo K, Smith JF, Feild TS, Samain MS, Bond L, Davidson C, Zimmers J, Neinhuis C, Wanke S | Syst Bot | 18-Dec-2017 |
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| Medicinal Plants from North and Central America and the Caribbean Considered Toxic for Humans: The Other Side of the Coin | Alonso-Castro AJ, Domínguez F, Ruiz-Padilla AJ, Campos-Xolalpa N, Zapata-Morales JR, Carranza-Alvarez C, Maldonado-Miranda JJ | Evid Based Complement Alternat Med | 02-Nov-2017 |
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| Between semelparity and iteroparity: Empirical evidence for a continuum of modes of parity | Hughes PW | Ecol Evol | 07-Sep-2017 |
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| Plastid Phylogenomic Analyses Resolve Tofieldiaceae as the Root of the Early Diverging Monocot Order Alismatales | Luo Y, Ma PF, Li HT, Yang JB, Wang H, Li DZ | Genome Biol Evol | 08-Mar-2016 |
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| Mannitol metabolism during pathogenic fungal–host interactions under stressed conditions | Meena M, Prasad V, Zehra A, Gupta VK, Upadhyay RS | Front Microbiol | 24-Sep-2015 |
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| Modified CTAB and TRIzol protocols improve RNA extraction from chemically complex Embryophyta | Jordon-Thaden IE, Chanderbali AS, Gitzendanner MA, Soltis DE | Appl Plant Sci | 13-May-2015 |
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| Biological Screening of Select Puerto Rican Plants for Cytotoxic and Antitumor Activities | Campos KC, Rivera JH, Gutierrez JR, Rivera IO, Velez AC, Torres MP, Ortiz MP, Millán CA | P R Health Sci J | 01-Mar-2015 |
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |