Paradise Tree, Bitterwood, Dysentery-bark
Simarouba glauca
Family: Simaroubaceae
What it is like
Simarouba glauca, otherwise known as Paradise Tree or Bitter Wood, is an evergreen, small to medium-sized tree growing up to 15 m in height, with a narrow crown, well-developed root system, and straight, cylindrical bole thank can be at least 30 cm in diameter. It can be found in Central America. It is shade tolerant. The leaves and bark are used in the treatment of malaria, fevers, and dysentery, to stop bleeding, and as a tonic. The oval fruits can be eaten raw but are of inferior quality. The seed produces edible oil used in the preparation of bakery products and for industrial purposes. Seed shells can be used in the manufacture of particle board, activated charcoal, or as fuel. The wood is used for interior construction, boxes and crates, furniture, veneer, etc. It is also used for fuel.
Simarouba glauca is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 15
Where it is found
An understorey tree in moist or usually dry forest or thickets, often on dry open rocky hillsides, common in many regions along stream beds at elevations up to 900 metres.
Central America - Panama to Mexico. Caribbean - Cuba to southern Florida.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed
Countries/locations it is found in
Bahamas; Cuba; United States; Panama; Costa Rica; El Salvador; Guatemala; Belize; Mexico
How it is used
Food
Rating: 3
Fruit - raw. The thick, white juicy flesh is slightly astringent, sweetish, and insipid. The fruit closely resembles an olive, hence the local name 'aceituno' The fruit is eaten commonly, but is of inferior quality and not highly esteemed. The oval fruits are mostly 15 - 20mm long. The seeds contain 60 - 75% edible oil that can be extracted by conventional methods. Each well-grown tree yields 15 to 30 Kg nutlets equivalent to 2.5-5 kg oil and about the same quantity of oilcake. This amounts to 1000-2000 kg oil/ha/year and about the same quantity of oilcake. The oil is largely used in the preparation of bakery products in Central America. In India too it can be used in the manufacture of vanaspati, vegetable oil and/or margarine. The oil is free from bad cholesterol.
Oil: Oil
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Medicine
Rating: 4
The leaves and bark have a long history of medicinal use in the tropics, particularly in the treatment of malaria, fevers and dysentery; as an astringent to stop bleeding; and as a tonic. They are also used as a digestive, emmenagogue and to treat parasites both within and on the body. Research has discovered a range of medically active compounds in the plant. The main active compounds are a group of triterpenes called quassinoids. The antiprotozoal and antimalarial properties of these chemicals have been documented for many years. Several of the quassinoids found in simarouba, such as ailanthinone, glaucarubinone, and holacanthone, are considered the plant's main therapeutic constituents and are the ones documented to be antiprotozoal, anti-amoebic, antimalarial, and even toxic to cancer and leukaemia cells. Studies have shown that the plant is over 90% effective against amoebic dysentery The bark, and/or its three main quassinoids, have been shown to be an effective treatment against malaria, including strains that have become resistant to drug treatment. Research has also shown that the bark has good antiviral properties, effective against herpes, influenza, polio, and vaccinia viruses. The quassinoids responsible for the anti-amoebic and antimalarial properties have also been shown to possess active cancer-killing properties. The bark is used as a bitter tonic. It is known as 'Jamaica Bark' or 'Orinoco Simaruba Oil'. A decoction is taken internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, malaria, fevers, haemorrhages, intestinal parasites and colitis.
Antidiarrhoeal: Provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea. Also see Astringent.
Antihaemorrhoidal: Treats haemorrhoids (piles). This would probably be best added to another heading.
Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
Cancer: Used in the treatment of cancer.
Digestive: Aids digestion.
Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.
Emmenagogue: Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.
Malaria: Treats malaria - an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites spread to people through the bites of mosquitos.
Parasiticide: Treats external parasites such as ringworm This should perhaps be joined with Parasiticide in
Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.
Other
Rating: 2
Agroforestry Uses: The tree has a well-developed root system and an evergreen, dense canopy - it efficiently checks soil erosion, supports soil microbial life, and improves groundwater availability. It is shade tolerant and occurs as an under-storey tree, particularly under the canopy of large fruit trees where birds perch and deposit the seeds. It is found as an associated species of the subtropical moist forest, sharing a position with other common trees of the home and humid perennial gardens, such as mango (Mangifera indica), royal palm (Roystonea borinquena), avocado (Persea americana) and plantain (Musa x paridisiaca). The oilcake being rich in nitrogen (8%), phosphorus (1.1%) and potash (1.2%), is good organic manure. The pulp and leaf litter can be economically used in the manufacture of vermicompost (about 8 tons/ha/year). Other Uses An oil obtained from the seed can be used for industrial purposes in the manufacture of bio-fuels, soaps, detergents, lubricants, varnishes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals etc. The seed shells can be used in the manufacture of particleboard, activated charcoal or as fuel. Freshly cut, the heartwood is whitish or cream coloured with occasionally a yellow or greenish cast - when dry it becomes a uniform cream colour with occasional oily streaks; it is not differentiated from the sapwood. The lustre is rather high; the texture medium and uniform; the grain usually straight; without odour but with a bitter quinine-like taste. The wood is moderately light in weight; not very strong; somewhat brittle; not durable outdoors and is very susceptible to dry-wood termite attack and prone to blue stain. It works easily and machines to a smooth clean surface; it is easy to finish and to glue. The wood is used for interior construction, boxes and crates, furniture components, veneer and plywood, pattern making, millwork, particleboard and fibreboard. The wood is used for fuel, especially because it burns readily when still green and freshly cut.
Charcoal: Used for fuel, drawing, deodorant, filter, fertilizer etc.
Compost: Plants used for activating compost heaps, providing biomass for composting, using as instant compost etc.
Containers: Plants, such as gourds, that can be used as containers. Does not include baskets or containers made from wood.
Cosmetic: Used to improve the physical appearence of a person.
Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.
Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.
Mulch: Used for covering the ground to conserve the nutrients in the soil.
Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.
Parasiticide: Kills external body parasites such as hair lice.
Plant breeding: Used in producing new species of plants or improved varieties.
Soap making: Plants used as an ingredient in making soaps. Does not include the essential oils, dyes and oils that are also used in making soap.
Soil conditioner: Plants grown to improve the structure of the soil. See also Green manures.
Soil stabilization: Plants that can be grown in places such as sand dunes in order to prevent erosion by wind, water or other agents.
Varnish: Plants that can be used as a varnish without any special treatment. Does not include varnishes made from oils etc.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.
How it is grown
A plant of the moist, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 800 metres. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature ranges between 22 - 29°c, but can tolerate a range of 18 - 34°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 1,200 - 4,000mm, growing in areas with a distinct dry season and where there is no dry season. Shade tolerant. Prefers sandy soils in the wild. In the wild, it is found on rocky, shallow calcareous soils of mountain slopes and ridges, as well as on the deeper soils of the ravines and alluvial plains. The plant develops a shallow root system, often suitable to mountain soils. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 8, tolerating 5.5 - 8.5. Flowering Time: Mid Spring Late Spring/Early Summer. Bloom Color: Pale Yellow Inconspicuous/none.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, it has a viability of only a few months.
Best place to grow:
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 9-12
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist, wet
Things to keep in mind
Its other names
Local names
aceituno, bitterwood, dysentery-bark, paradise tree, paradise-tree, pasaque.