Cananga odorata

's Flora de Filipinas Cananga odorata is a fast-growing evergreen tree reaching up to in height, usually with a straight cylindrical trunk. The compound evergreen leaves are pinnate; the leaflets are ovate and pointed and with wavy margins. They measure up to long and wide with 8–11 pairs of lateral veins. The inflorescences occur in the leaf axils or on the branches, and take the form of a or . The very fragrant flowers are held on stems up to long. They have a small green calyx and six yellow petals up to long. The pollen grains are large (up to 107 μm), and shed as permanent tetrads. ==Taxonomy==

The species was first described as Uvaria odorata in 1785 by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, and published in the book Encyclopédie Méthodique. In 1855, British botanists Joseph Dalton Hooker and Thomas Thomson transferred it to the current genus in their book Flora Indica. The genus Cananga is placed in the family Annonaceae, subfamily Ambavioideae, with sister genera Ambavia, Cleistopholis, Cyathocalyx, Drepananthus, Lettowianthus, Meiocarpidium, Mezzettia and Tetrameranthus. Cananga contains only two species, the subject species and Cananga brandisiana. Two varieties are recognised: C. odorata var. fruticosa, and the autonym C. odorata var. odorata. Etymology The name Cananga is derived from the Malay word kananga. 'Ylang-ylang' is the Spanish spelling of the Tagalog name for the tree, . A common mistranslation is 'flower of flowers'. Common names In English, it is also called perfume tree, Macassar oil tree, or fragrant cananga. It is called *kanaŋa in Malay, Ngaju Dayak, Makassarese, Sundanese, Old Javanese, Buruese and Manggarai. Polynesian names include mataoi or motooi (Cook Islands), mohokoi (Tonga), mosooi (Samoa), motooi (Hawaii), and mokosoi, mokasoi or mokohoi (Fiji). Other traditional names include sampangi (Telugu). ==Distribution and habitat==

The plant is native to Vietnam, Thailand, Peninsula Malaysia, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, the Lesser Sunda Islands, the Philippines, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the Australian state of Queensland. It has been introduced to other tropical parts of Asia from India to Taiwan, as well as parts of Africa, central America and the Caribbean. It grows in full or partial sun, and prefers the acidic soils of its native rainforest habitat. Ylang-ylang has been cultivated in temperate climates under conservatory conditions. ==Ecology==

Its clusters of black fruit are an important food item for birds, such as the collared imperial pigeon, purple-tailed imperial pigeon, Zoe's imperial pigeon, superb fruit dove, pink-spotted fruit dove, coroneted fruit dove, orange-bellied fruit dove, and wompoo fruit dove. The Sulawesi red-knobbed hornbill serves as an effective seed disperser for C. odorata. ==Uses==

The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. The oil from ylang-ylang is widely used in perfumery for oriental- or floral-themed perfumes. Ylang-ylang blends well with most floral, fruit, and wood scents. The aroma of ylang-ylang is described as "sweet, floral, balsamic, green, spicy, animal, woody, waxy, leathery". In Indonesia, ylang-ylang flowers are spread on the bed of newlywed couples. In the Philippines, its flowers, together with the flowers of the sampaguita, are strung into a necklace (lei) and worn by women and used to adorn religious images. Ylang-ylang's essential oil makes up 29% of the Comoros' annual export (1998). Ylang-ylang is grown in Madagascar and exported globally for its essential oils. Ylang-ylang essential oil is one of the basic ingredients of macassar oil. ==Ylang-ylang essential oil==

Characteristics The fragrance of ylang-ylang is rich and deep with notes of rubber and custard, and bright with hints of jasmine and neroli, thus it is sometimes described as heavy, sweet, and carries a slightly fruity floral scent. The essential oil of the flower is obtained through steam distillation of the flowers and separated into different grades (extra, 1, 2, or 3) according to when the distillates are obtained. The main aromatic components of ylang-ylang oil are benzyl acetate, linalool, p-cresyl methyl ether, and methyl benzoate, responsible for its characteristic odor. Chemical constituents Typical chemical compositions of the various grades of ylang-ylang essential oil are reported as: • Linalool • Germacrene • Geranyl acetate • Caryophyllene • p-Cresyl methyl ether • Methyl benzoate • Sesquiterpenes ==See also==