Quassia amara

Bitter wood tree ( Quassia amara ), illustration

The Quassia amara, Brazilian Quassiabaum, Quassiabaum, Quassiaholzbaum, Bitterquassia or as some other species also known as Bitter Wood, a flowering plant in the family of bitter ash plants is ( Simaroubaceae ). It is widespread in the Neotropics. As Quassia be referred to both the tree and the extracts obtained from the wood. It is also used as an ornamental tree in the tropics.

Description

Quassia amara grows as a small tree that reaches the stature heights of up to 6-6 meters. The alternate arranged leaves are pinnate. At the winged, light purple Blattrhachis ganzrandige, pointed leaflets are arranged. He has standing in racemose inflorescences red or flesh-colored, tubular flowers. The red when ripe stone fruit contains black seeds.

Use

Are used medicinally, the leaves, the wood and the bark.

Because of the various ingredients (eg quassin ) Quassia is used both as a remedy for loss of appetite, indigestion, stomach, intestine and gall bladder problems. On the other hand it is also used as an insecticide ( pesticides). The trivial name "flying wood " comes from this area of ​​application.

Occurrence

Quassia amara is native to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Suriname, Colombia, Argentina, French Guiana, Guyana and Trinidad. It thrives in the rainforest.

It is cultivated in some tropical areas of the world, for example, in West Africa.

Taxonomy

The first publication of Quassia amara was made in 1762 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, 2nd Edition, Vol 1, p 553 It is the type species of the genus Quassia. Synonyms for Quassia amara L. are: Quassia alatifolia Stokes, Quassia amara fo. paniculata ( Engl ) Cronquist, Quassia amara var grandiflora Hemsl. , Quassia amara var paniculata Engl, Quassia officinalis Rich .. The specific epithet is amargo Spanish and means bitter, this refers to the very bitter taste.

Swell

• Amargo ( Quassia amara ) at Raintree Nutrition.
• Gerhard Madaus: Textbook of Biological Remedies, 1938: Quassia amara. Bitter wood. Simarubaceae. Text found online at Henriette's Herbal.