Abstract: 'Xia-ye-gui' is a valuable plant of Cinnamomum recently discovered in China. The main constituent of its leaf essential oil is safrole whose content is up to 97%~ 99%. As an impor-tant source of safrole, its exploitation and utilization are in prospect. But its botanical name is confusing now. It is regarded sometimes as a variety or even a form of Cinnamomum burmannii (C. G. & Th. Nees) Bl. We prefer to regard it as a distinct species based on its morphology, habitat, phenology and chemical constituents in comparision with those of C.burmannii. 'Xia-ye-gui' is evidently an ancient riparian relic closely related to C.burmannii, but its botanical name is C. heyneanum Nees.

Key words: 'Xia-ye-gui'

摘要： ‘狭叶桂’是我们近年来在樟属植物资源调查中发现的一种富含黄樟油素的新资源，其叶油富含黄樟油素（safrole），含量高达97％～99％。黄樟油素是合成洋茉莉醛（heliotropine）等的主要原料，在调香上用途甚广，常作化妆品、香水、皂用香精调合时的主剂或定香剂，很有开发价值。但过去对其植物学名的处理比较混乱，或认为是阴香 Cinnamomum burmannii（C.G ＆Th.Nees）Bl.的一个变种或甚至是一个变型，有时也认为是一个独立的种，莫衷一是。为此，我们认真把狭叶桂与阴香从形态、生境、物候以及精油化学成分上各方面进行对比，根据对比结果，我们认为狭叶桂无疑是一独立的种，与阴香有较密切的亲缘关系，但它是一个较古老的河岸残遗种，其正确学名应为 C.heyneanum Nees。

关键词: ‘Xla－ye－gui’, Botanicalname, Discussion