Malabathrum

This article is about the ointment historically known as malabathrum, and the leaves from which it was prepared. For one of the plants which was a source of those leaves see Cinnamomum tamala

Malabathrum, malabathron, or malobathrum, is the name used in classical and medieval texts for certain cinnamon-like aromatic plant leaves and an ointment prepared from those leaves. Cinnamomum tamala (sometimes given as Cinnamomum tejpata), grown most commonly in the eastern Himalayas, are thought to be notable sources of these leaves, although other species of Cinnamomum and even plants in other genera may also have been used. In ancient Greece and Rome, the leaves were used to prepare a fragrant oil, called Oleum Malabathri, and were therefore valuable.