The clove tree is a bushy, tropical evergreen woody plant native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The preferred growing condition for this tree is a mixed maritime forest in the tropics. The tree is grown commercially for the flower buds, which are picked soon after they appear and then dried, yielding the clove. The fruit matures about 9 months after flowering, and each flower yields one seed. The seeds are viable for only a week or two and are cultivated in nursery beds protected from direct sunlight. Harvesting of the flowers is not done until a tree is at least 4 years old, and the trees can live up to 100 years. The clove tree is monoecious, producing both male and female flowers on the same plant.
Uses (Ethnobotany): Used for centuries as a spice, the distilled essential oil is used for flavoring foods, cigarettes, perfume, and a variety of pharmaceutical uses.
