Ylang-ylang
<p><b>Ylang-ylang</b> (<a title="International Phonetic Alphabet" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet">IPA</a>: <span class="IPA" title="Pronunciation in IPA">[ˈilɔŋ ilɔŋ]</span>) (ee-lahng ee-lahng) <i>Cananga odorata</i>, is a small, beautiful flower of the <a title="Cananga" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cananga">cananga</a> tree. It is a fast-growing tree that exceeds 5 meters per year and attains an average height of 12 <a title="Meter" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meter">meters</a>.
It grows in full or partial sun, and prefers the acidic soils of its
native rainforest habitat. The leaves are long, smooth and glossy. The
flower is greenish yellow (rarely pink), curly like a <a title="Starfish" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfish">starfish</a>, and yields a highly fragrant <a title="Essential oil" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_oil">essential oil</a>. A related species is <i>Cananga fruticosa</i>,
which is a dwarf ylang-ylang that grows as small tree or compact shrub
with highly scented flowers. Ylang-ylang has been cultivated in
temperate climates under conservatory conditions. Its fruit are an
important food item for birds, such as the <a title="Collared Imperial-pigeon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collared_Imperial-pigeon">Collared Imperial-pigeon</a>, <a title="Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple-tailed_Imperial-pigeon">Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon</a>, <a title="Zoe's Imperial-pigeon" class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zoe%27s_Imperial-pigeon&action=edit">Zoe's Imperial-pigeon</a>, <a title="Superb Fruit-dove" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superb_Fruit-dove">Superb Fruit-dove</a>, <a title="Pink-spotted Fruit-dove" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink-spotted_Fruit-dove">Pink-spotted Fruit-dove</a>, <a title="Coroneted Fruit-dove" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coroneted_Fruit-dove">Coroneted Fruit-dove</a>, <a title="Orange-bellied Fruit-dove" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange-bellied_Fruit-dove">Orange-bellied Fruit-dove</a>, and <a title="Wompoo Fruit-dove" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wompoo_Fruit-dove">Wompoo Fruit-dove</a> (Frith <i>et al.</i> 1976).</p>
<p>The name <i>ylang-ylang</i> is derived from <a title="Tagalog language" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagalog_language">Tagalog</a>, either from the word <i>ilang</i>, meaning "wilderness", alluding to its natural habitat, or the word <i>ilang-ilan</i>, meaning "rare", suggestive of its exceptionally delicate scent. The plant is native to the <a title="Philippines" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines">Philippines</a> and <a title="Indonesia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia">Indonesia</a> and is commonly grown in <a title="Polynesia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polynesia">Polynesia</a>, <a title="Melanesia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanesia">Melanesia</a> and <a title="Micronesia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronesia">Micronesia</a>.</p>
<p>The <a title="Fragrance" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fragrance">fragrance</a> of ylang-ylang is rich and deep with notes of <a title="Rubber" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber">rubber</a> and <a title="Custard" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custard">custard</a>, and bright with hints of <a title="Jasmine" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmine">jasmine</a> and <a title="Neroli" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neroli">neroli</a>. The <a title="Essential oil" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_oil">essential oil</a>
of the flower is obtained through steam distillation of the flowers and
separated into different grades (extra; 1; 2; 3) according to when the
distillates are obtained. The main aromatic component of ylang-ylang is
<a title="Methyl anthranilate" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_anthranilate">methyl anthranilate</a>.<sup class="reference" id="_ref-0"><a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ylang-ylang#_note-0">[1]</a></sup></p>
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<p>The <a title="Essential oil" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_oil">essential oil</a> of ylang-ylang is used in <a title="Aromatherapy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatherapy">aromatherapy</a>. It is believed to relieve <a title="High blood pressure" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_blood_pressure">high blood pressure</a>, normalize <a title="Sebum" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebum">sebum</a> secretion for skin problems, and is considered to be an <a title="Aphrodisiac" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodisiac">aphrodisiac</a>.<sup class="reference" id="_ref-1"><a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ylang-ylang#_note-1">[2]</a></sup> According to <a title="Margaret Mead" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Mead">Margaret Mead</a>, it was used as such by South Pacific natives such as the <a title="Solomon Islands" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Islands">Solomons</a> where she did much of her research. The oil from ylang-ylang is widely used in <a title="Perfume" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfume">perfumery</a> for oriental or floral themed perfumes. Ylang-ylang blends well with most floral, fruit and wood smells. In <a title="Indonesia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia">Indonesia</a>, ylang-ylang flowers are spread on the bed of <a title="Marriage" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage">newlywed</a> couples. In the <a title="Philippines" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines">Philippines</a>, its flowers, together with the flowers of the <a title="Sampaguita" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampaguita">sampaguita</a>, are strung into a necklace and worn by women and used to adorn religious images.</p>
<p>Ylang-ylang's essential oil makes up 29% of the <a title="Comoros" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comoros">Comoros</a>' annual export (1998).</p>
