Happy Tree

At a glance

Origin / distribution: China, TW

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Cancer

Science studied: BETULIC-ACID, CAMPTOTHECIN, GALLIC-ACID, 20-HEXANOYLCAMPTOTHECIN

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Cornaceae

Scientific name: Camptotheca acuminata

Common names: Happy Tree, Cancer tree, Chinese happy tree, Happy tree, Tree of life, kamptotéka končistá, lyckoträd, Камптотека остроконечная, カンレンボク, 喜树, 喜樹

POWO: 271482-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in China, TW.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Cancer

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• China
• TW

Documented cultural uses

• Cancer

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Cancer · China · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Welan gum promotes camptothecin production in Camptotheca acuminata by activating multiple signaling pathways · 2026 source ↗
• Welan gum promotes camptothecin production in Camptotheca acuminata by activating multiple signaling pathways. · 2026 source ↗
• Enhancing camptothecin biosynthesis in Camptotheca acuminata through CrLAMT transfer from Catharanthus roseus · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• BETULIC-ACID
• CAMPTOTHECIN
• GALLIC-ACID
• 20-HEXANOYLCAMPTOTHECIN
• 10-HYDROXYCAMPTOTHECIN
• 11-HYDROXYCAMPTOTHECIN
• QUERCETIN
• TRIFOLIN
• VENOTERPENE
• VINCOSIDE-LACTAM
• DEOXYCAMPTOTHECIN
• 20-HEXANOYL-10-METHOXYCAMPTOTHECIN
• TRIMETHYLELLAGIC-ACID
• BETULINIC-ACID

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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