Bastard Bough
Picrasma excelsa (Sw.) Planch.
Picrasma excelsa is a tree species in the Simaroubaceae family, commonly known as Bastard Bough. It is distributed across several regions including Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela. The species is threatened by habitat loss.
Description
Picrasma excelsa (Sw.) Planch. belongs to the genus Picrasma and is part of the Simaroubaceae family. It is native to parts of the Caribbean and northern South America, including Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela. This species was first described in 1846. Due to deforestation and habitat degradation, P. excelsa is considered to be under threat. Its conservation status highlights the need for protection of its natural habitats to ensure its survival.
Other common names
bitter-ashquassiaJamaica quassiaJamaica quassiawoodbitterwoodBitter AshWild CoffeeBastard Bough
Distribution
Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de la Macarena · Meta, Risaralda, Valle · Global · Bolivia · Colombia · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Haiti · Jamaica · Leeward Is. · Nicaragua · Puerto Rico · Venezuelan Antilles · Venezuela · Windward Is. · Archipiélago de Cuba
Synonyms
Rhus antillanaMuenteria excelsaPicrasma antillanaPicraena antillanaPicraena excelsaPicrita fraxineaSimarouba excelsaAeschrion antillanaAeschrion excelsaAeschrion excelsa var. microcarpaAeschrion medicaQuassia excelsaQuassia pentandraQuassia polygama