- Camptotheca
Taxobox
name = Happy tree
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Cornales
familia =Cornaceae (Nyssaceae )
genus = "Camptotheca"
genus_authority = Decne.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Camptotheca acuminata"
"Camptotheca lowreyana""Camptotheca" (happy tree) is a genus of medium-sized
deciduous tree s growing to 20 m tall, native to centralChina . They are usually included in thetupelo familyNyssaceae , but sometimes included (with the tupelos) in thedogwood familyCornaceae . Camptotheca is used to makeIrinotecan ,Topotecan ,9-Aminocamptothecin , andcamptothecin -1 (CPT-1).There are two species:
*"Camptotheca acuminata" Decne.
*"Camptotheca lowreyana" S.Y.LiThe name 'happy tree' is a direct translation of the Chinese name xi shu. An extract from the tree (
camptothecin ) is used as an anti-cancer treatment.References
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050115094522/http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/mss/volume13/Nyssaceae-AGH_coauthoring.htm Flora of China - draft text]
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