Cascarilla, Seaside balsam
Croton eluteria

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It can be 6 m tall. The bark has a scent and is cracked. The leaves are few but are alternate and oval to sword shaped. They are 5 cm long. They have a silvery bronze colouring. The flowers are small and white. They have a scent.

It is used as medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level to about 900 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Bahamas, Caribbean, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, North America, West Indies

How it is used for food

The bark is used to flavour liqueurs.

Edible parts

Bark - spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cascarilla

Synonyms

Cascarilla officinalis Raf. [Illegitimate]; Clutia cascarilla L.; Clutia decandra Crantz; Clutia eluteria L.; Croton cascarilla (L.) L.; Croton cascarilloides Geiseler [Illegitimate]; Croton eluteria Benn. [Illegitimate]; Croton eluteria subsp. homolepidus (Müll.Arg.) Borhidi; Croton homolepidus Müll.Arg.; Croton rosmarinifolius Salisb. [Illegitimate]; Oxydectes cascarilla (L.) Kuntze; Oxydectes cascarilloides Kuntze; Oxydectes eluteria (L.) Kuntze; Oxydectes homolepida (Müll.Arg.) Kuntze;