Cinnamomum cassia, called Chinese cinnamon, is a perennial evergreen tree that is native to southern China, and later spread there and elsewhere in southern and eastern Asia (India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam) .[2] The plant is one of several species of Cinnamomum commonly used for their aromatic bark, which is used as a spice. In the United States, Chinese cinnamon is the most commonly used type of cinnamon. Its buds were also used as a spice, particularly in India, and were used by the ancient Romans.