bitterwood
Simarouba glauca DC.
Simarouba glauca, known as bitterwood, is a flowering tree native to Florida, South America, and the Caribbean. It thrives in warm, humid tropical climates with a temperature range of 10 to 40 °C and can grow from sea level to 1,000 m elevation. The tree reaches 40 to 50 ft in height with a spread of 25 to 30 ft. It produces yellow flowers and purple, elongated, oval fleshy fruits.
Description
Simarouba glauca is a member of the Simaroubaceae family and is found in regions including Florida, the Caribbean, and parts of Central and South America. The species was first described in 1811. It is adapted to tropical environments and its growth is influenced by rainfall, soil water retention, and sub-soil moisture. Common names for the tree include paradise-tree and dysentery-bark. The tree's distribution spans several countries in the Americas, including Mexico, Central American nations, and the Caribbean islands.
Other common names
dysentery-barkparadise-treebitterwoodparadisetree
Distribution
IN · CO · Global · Bahamas · Belize · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominican Republic · El Salvador · Florida · Guatemala · Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico Central · Mexico Gulf · Mexico Southeast · Mexico Southwest · Nicaragua · Archipiélago de Cuba
Synonyms
Simarouba officinalisSimarouba officinalisSimarouba medicinalisQuassia glaucaSimarouba glauca var. latifoliaSimarouba officinalis f. glabraSimarouba glauca var. typicaSimarouba glauca subsp. latifolia
