Malabathrum, also known as Malabar leaf is the name used in classical and mediaeval texts for the leaf of the plant Cinnamomum tamala. In ancient Greece and Rome, the leaves were used to prepare a fragrant oil, called Oleum Malabathri, and were therefore valuable. The leaves are mentioned in the 1st century Greek text Periplus Maris Erytraei as one of the major exports of the Tamil kingdoms of southern India. The name is also used in mediaeval texts to describe the dried leaves of a number of trees of the genus Cinnamomum, which were thought to have medicinal properties.
The word "Malabathrum" is thought to have been derived from the Sanskrit तमालपत्त्रम् tamālapattram, literally meaning "dark-tree leaves".
See also
