Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. & Thomson

Roxburgh, W. in Carey, W. (ed.) (1820) Flora Indica 1: 130.

Perfume Tree; Ylang-Ylang; Woolly Pine; Macassar Oil Tree; Cananga

Fibrous stripes forming a lace-like pattern in the blaze but a corresponding pattern or grain not apparent in the wood. Brown bundles of fibres visible in the blaze.

Leaf blades about 8-22 x 5-9 cm. Fine oak grain in the twigs. Scattered or sparsely scattered small oil dots visible with a lens.

Flowers very fragrant. Petals about 5-9 cm long, much larger than the calyx. Anther connective acute and projecting above and covering the anthers. Ovaries 6-13. Ovules 4-8 per ovary. Stigmas +/- fused to form a domed mass.

Fruiting carpels about 20-25 x 10-15 mm on stalks about 10-15 mm long. Seeds about 8 x 5 mm, 3-15 per carpel. Embryo minute, about 0.6-0.8 mm. Cotyledons slightly longer than the radicle.

Cotyledons ovate to elliptic, about 20-25 x 12-15 mm, apex obtuse, base cuneate to obtuse. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves hairy on both the upper and lower surfaces, mainly along midrib and lateral veins; oil dots very small, visible only with a lens. Seed germination time 116 to 170 days.

Occurs in CYP and NEQ, widespread in the area. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 500 m. Grows in lowland rain forest. Also occurs in Malesia and SE Asia.

The flowers of this species produce a perfumed oil in glands near the base. This oil can be extracted and has been used in perfumery. Corner (1952).

Fruit eaten by Cassowaries and Fruit Pigeons. The flowers of this species are pleasantly perfumed and are sold in Malaysian markets. Cooper & Cooper (1994).