Golden Champaca
(Magnolia champaca (L.) Baill. ex Pierre)
Golden Champaca
(Magnolia champaca (L.) Baill. ex Pierre)
The yellow cempaka originates from India and is widely distributed throughout southwest China, Indochina, and Malesia (Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Java, and the Lesser Sunda Islands). It is often grown as an ornamental plant, a reforestation plant, a furniture material, and as an essential oil for perfumes and hair oils. Cempaka is also frequently used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, generally to reduce fever, relieve coughs, and soothe tonsillitis. Its flowers are also used in Hindu and Buddhist religious ceremonies.
It grows in tropical climates in lowlands up to an altitude of 1,600 m above sea level. It prefers open conditions with temperatures of 30-37 °C, rainfall of 3,000-4,000 mm/year, a soil pH of 4.5-5.5, and a clay to sandy soil texture.
The taproot is brown.
The stem is round, straight, with smooth, grayish-brown bark, and reaches a diameter of 80-120 cm.
The leaves are oval-shaped and elongated with pointed tips and bases, approximately 10-28 cm long and 4.5-11 cm wide.
The flowers are solitary, orange-yellow, and very fragrant.
The fruit is an elongated, slightly curved ball, initially green and then pale gray.
The seeds are brown when fresh and dark red when ripe.
Propagation is carried out generatively (from seeds) and vegetatively (from cuttings and grafting).
Choose healthy mother plants with abundant flowers that are more than 3 years old.
Treats kidney stones, fever, gonorrhea, bad breath, irregular menstruation, increases appetite, vaginal discharge, coughs, tonsillitis, rheumatism, skin softener (demulcent), diuretic, carminative.
Tanin, flobatanin, saponin, flavonoid, antrakuinon, polifenol, glikosida, triterpenoid, steroid dan asam lemak.
Socfindo Conservation. 2023. Cempaka Kuning. https://www.socfindoconservation.co.id/plant/514 (20-06-2023)