Broom bitterwood
Trichilia hirta

Family: Meliaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. The bark is brown or red. The leaves are long and have many pointed leaflets. These are almost opposite along the stalk. There is a leaflet at the end. This leaflet is at a slight angle. There are short hairs on the twigs and under the leaflets. The fruit are woody capsules. They open with 3 valves. The seeds have bright red coverings.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the dry zone.

Countries/locations it is found in

Belize, Bolivia, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America (country/location of origin), Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cedrillo, Cedrio colorado, Conejo colorado, Mata piojo, Trompetilla

Synonyms

Cupania trachycarpa Griseb.; Euonymus caudice Sloane; Trichilia cathartica Mart.; Trichilia chiapensis Matuda; and many others