Simarouba amara, commonly known as bitterwood, is a tree species in the family Simaroubaceae. It is native to the rainforests and savannahs of South and Central America and the Caribbean. First described by Aubl. in 1775, it is one of six species in the genus Simarouba. The tree is evergreen and produces a new set of leaves annually. It requires high light levels for growth and develops quickly under these conditions, though it has a relatively short lifespan. The species is dioecious, with separate male and female trees. Flowering occurs during the dry season in regions with distinct dry periods, such as Panama, and later in regions without a dry season, like Costa Rica. The small yellow flowers are insect-pollinated, and the fruits are dispersed by animals and leaf cutter ants.
Description
Simarouba amara is found in several protected areas across South and Central America, including national parks and reserves in Colombia, as well as in countries such as Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, and Ecuador. The tree's flowers are unisexual, with male and female flowers on separate trees. The fruits are dispersed by animals such as monkeys, birds, and fruit-eating bats, and the seeds are also carried by leaf cutter ants. This species is adapted to high-light environments and grows rapidly in such conditions. Its distribution spans a wide range of ecosystems, including rainforests and savannahs.
Other common names
bitterwood
Distribution
BR · Reserva Nacional Natural Puinawai | ReservaNacional Natural Nukak | Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete | Parque Nacional Natural Yaigojé Apaporis | Parque Nacional Natural Alto Fragua Indi Wasi | Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de la Macarena · Distrito Regional de Manejo Integrado (DRMI) Laguna de Sonso, municipio de Guadalajara de Buga, Valle del Cauca, Colombia · Parque Nacional Natural Tinigua · Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Caquetá, Chocó, Córdoba, Guainía, Guaviare, Meta, Putumayo, San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, Valle, Vichada · Departamentos del Caquetá y Guaviare: Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete · Amazonia nororiental de Colombia, departamento del Guainía, municipio de Inírida. · Global · TomoGrande, 4.856823|-70.223777 · Cuenca de Río Claro · Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete (PNNSCh) · Belize · Bolivia · Brazil Northeast · Brazil North · Brazil Southeast · Brazil West-Central · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ecuador · El Salvador · French Guiana · Guatemala · Guyana · Honduras · Leeward Is. · Mexico Central · Mexico Gulf · Mexico Southeast · Mexico Southwest
Synonyms
Pistacia americanaSimarouba amara var. opacaSimarouba amara var. puberulaQuassia alatifoliaQuassia dioicaQuassia officinalisQuassia simarubaQuassia simaroubaSimarouba opacaSimarouba amara var. typica
