bitterwood
Quassia amara L.
Quassia amara L., commonly known as bitterwood, is a species in the family Simaroubaceae. It is found in regions including Antioquia, Bolívar, Chocó, Magdalena, and Sucre in Colombia, as well as in parts of Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, and other areas. The plant is used as an insecticide, in traditional medicine, and as an additive in the food industry.
Description
Quassia amara is a plant species native to the Neotropics, with a distribution that includes parts of Colombia, Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, and other regions. It belongs to the family Simaroubaceae and is the namesake of the genus Quassia, which was named by Carl Linnaeus in honor of Graman Quassi, a Surinamese botanist. The plant has a range of uses, including as an insecticide, in traditional medicinal practices, and as a food additive. Its common names include bitter-ash and amargo, in addition to bitterwood.
Other common names
quassiaquassia-woodSurinam quassiabitterwoodquassia wood
Distribution
Atlántico: Hacienda Río Dulce y La Gloria (Parque Natural Regional Los Rosales), Bolívar: Hacienda El Ceibal · Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Cesar, Chocó, Magdalena, Santander · BR · Barrancas | Distracción | Hatonuevo | Luruaco | Riohacha · Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona | Parque Nacional Natural Los Katíos · SC · Núcleo Palmaceites · IN · GY · ST · PH · GF · Antioquia, Bolívar, Chocó, Magdalena, Sucre · Global · TW · VE · Belize · Brazil Northeast · Brazil North · Caroline Is. · Colombia · Congo · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominican Republic · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Gulf of Guinea Is. · Guyana
Synonyms
Quassia amara f. paniculataQuassia amara var. paniculataQuassia amara var. grandifloraQuassia pumila