Camphor: A Familiar Tree in Quarter-Sawn Veneer

Wood Dictionary

Kusu is the timber name for kusunoki, the camphor tree often seen in streets and parks. Known as a source of camphor, it has also been used in buildings and furniture. MORI KOUGEI's Kusu is a quarter-sawn A4 sheet, separate from the figured Camphor Burl product called Kusu-kobu.

The photographs are examples of the color and grain associated with each wood or figure. Every piece of natural wood is different; the sheet you receive will not have exactly the same color or grain as the photographs.

Names and identification

Japanese and trade names: Kusunoki / Kusu / Camphor Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute: Kusunoki / MORI KOUGEI: Camphor A4 veneer sheet
Classification: Family Lauraceae Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute: Kusunoki / Kew Plants of the World Online: Camphora officinarum
Botanical name associated with the common name: Camphora officinarum. Kew treats the widely used name Cinnamomum camphora as a synonym. Kew Plants of the World Online: Camphora officinarum
Available cuts: Quarter-sawn. Sold under a separate name from Camphor Burl. MORI KOUGEI: Camphor A4 veneer sheet / MORI KOUGEI: Camphor burl A4 veneer sheet

A familiar large tree and a material for everyday life

The camphor tree is a tall evergreen whose spreading branches form a rounded crown. Planted in parks and along streets, large specimens sometimes become local landmarks. Its trunk wood has been used in buildings, furniture and implements. It is a species that connects the shade of a living tree with wooden surfaces indoors. Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute: Kusunoki

Although Cinnamomum camphora appears frequently in reference works, Kew currently accepts Camphora officinarum. In this case, the two names do not mean different trees; they reflect a change in botanical nomenclature. Kew Plants of the World Online: Camphora officinarum

A history of fragrance and the role of veneer

The camphor tree has also been used as a source of camphor. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology's tree guide discusses both camphor's history as an important resource and the wood's uses in building and carving. This background helps explain its reputation as an aromatic tree. Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute: Kusunoki / Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology: Campus Trees No. 14, Kusunoki

A thin, backed veneer sheet is not offered as a replacement for a camphor product or insect repellent. Choose it as a surface material for the appearance of the wood, rather than for the perceived strength or persistence of its scent. MORI KOUGEI: Camphor A4 veneer sheet

Kusu and camphor burl invite different grain choices

MORI KOUGEI's Kusu A4 is a brown-toned, quarter-sawn product, while Camphor Burl is sold in the figured category. Both names connect with the camphor tree, but straight grain and complex patterns associated with a burl call for different ways of composing a surface. MORI KOUGEI: Camphor A4 veneer sheet / MORI KOUGEI: Camphor burl A4 veneer sheet / Japan Wood Research Society: Glossary of Wood Quality Terms

Quarter-sawn Kusu is a useful starting point when grain should run along a narrow surface or align with surrounding wood. If a larger pattern should take the lead, compare Camphor Burl as well. Check the product's cut and figure category, not only its tree name. MORI KOUGEI: Camphor A4 veneer sheet / MORI KOUGEI: Camphor burl A4 veneer sheet

Using MORI KOUGEI's camphor veneer

The sheet measures 210 × 297 mm and is approximately 0.25 mm thick, combining natural wood veneer with industrial washi paper. It can be used for furniture edges, repairs and resurfacing on flat wooden substrates, and wood inlay. Rather than carrying a structure like a thick board, it adds a visible wood face to a substrate. MORI KOUGEI: Camphor A4 veneer sheet

For repairs, compare the grain direction and color against the original furniture. Test the bonding method and finish on a small area. For layouts over larger surfaces or particular size requirements, please contact us with the intended use. MORI KOUGEI: Camphor A4 veneer sheet

View camphor A4 sheets ↗

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This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.

References