Camphor laurel Root-systems

According to Buchanan (1989, Sydney) camphor laurel has a 'coarsely divided root system', but in many or most instances, some greater or lesser taproot.

Historically, but especially in Taiwan (Hiraizumi, 1950) camphor laurel tree roots were preferentially harvested for their chemical contents, particularly camphor and safrole.

That camphor laurel roots are also more toxic than leaves and stems or fruit was recently confirmed by CSIRO Analysts (Advanced Analytical Chemistry, 2000) proving they were 25% more toxic against the cosmopolitan waterborne microbe Vibrio fisdneri.

Rainforest Regeneration

According to Buchanan (1989) Camphor laurel is one of just four weeds (lantana, anredera and cats claw creeper) to most 'worry about' in trying to keep regeneration areas moving up and ahead.

There can be little doubt that Camphor laurels enmasse, in multi-facetted, multi-stemmed infestations around the edges of rainforest remnants, make those natural ecosystems more prone to burning and fire-damage in serious drought years.