Description

A medium to large-sized tree, native of southeast Asia, Tenasserim to Australia, widely introduced to the Region and to many tropical countries for cultivation for its perfumed flowers. The generic name comes from various Malesian vernaculars. The trade name ‘ylang-ylang’ occurs in some Philippine languages and is said to mean something which flutters, from the flag-like petals of the flower (1).The timber is white to grey and not durable, and is used in SE Asia for small household objects. It has a resonance making it suitable for tom-toms. Trees have been planted in Ghana as a village shade tree (2).The bark yields a fibre made into coarse ropes in Celebes. The leaves are aromatic and are rubbed on the skin for itch in Malaya and the bark against scurf in Java (1).Wherever the tree is grown the flowers are valued by women for preparing a scent. In several countries commercial production of oil distilled from the flowers has been undertaken. Two fractions are normally obtained, a light one known as Ylang-ylang oil which is the more valuable, and a heavy fraction called Cananga oil. Climate may possibly have some influence on the value of the oils obtainable. West African material needs investigation.

Description

A medium to large-sized tree, native of southeast Asia, Tenasserim to Australia, widely introduced to the Region and to many tropical countries for cultivation for its perfumed flowers. The generic name comes from various Malesian vernaculars. The trade name ‘ylang-ylang’ occurs in some Philippine languages and is said to mean something which flutters, from the flag-like petals of the flower (1).The timber is white to grey and not durable, and is used in SE Asia for small household objects. It has a resonance making it suitable for tom-toms. Trees have been planted in Ghana as a village shade tree (2).The bark yields a fibre made into coarse ropes in Celebes. The leaves are aromatic and are rubbed on the skin for itch in Malaya and the bark against scurf in Java (1).Wherever the tree is grown the flowers are valued by women for preparing a scent. In several countries commercial production of oil distilled from the flowers has been undertaken. Two fractions are normally obtained, a light one known as Ylang-ylang oil which is the more valuable, and a heavy fraction called Cananga oil. Climate may possibly have some influence on the value of the oils obtainable. West African material needs investigation.