Cinnamomum cassia Cinnamomum cassia Cinnamomum cassia, called Chinese cassia or Chinese cinnamon, is an evergreen tree originating in southern China, and widely cultivated there and elsewhere in southern and eastern Asia (India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam). It is one of several species of "Cinnamomum" used primarily for their aromatic bark, which is used as a spice. In the United States, Chinese cassia is the most common type of cinnamon used. The buds are also used as a spice, especially in India, and were once used by the ancient Romans. The tree grows to tall, with greyish bark and hard,
Cassia (genus) to prevent desertification. "Cassia" species are used as food plants by the caterpillars of many lepidopteran taxa. For example, the skipper "Astraptes fulgerator" and the pierids "Catopsilia pomona" and "C. pyranthe" are all seen on "Cassia fistula". The latter utilizes several other cassias, as well. The plant pathogenic viruses cassia yellow blotch bromovirus and cassia yellow spot potyvirus were first described from "Cassia". Because the name "Cassia" is not precise, it is sometimes difficult to know what is meant by references to plants known as "cassias". Cassia gum, for example, is made from "Senna obtusifolia", a species formerly included in