Cedron simaba
Simaba cedron

Family: Simaroubaceae

What it is like

A tree. It loses many leaves during the year. It grows 4-12 m high. The crown is elongated. The trunk is grooved and 15-25 cm across. The bark is light brown and spotted. It flakes off in thin pieces. The leaves are sword shaped and 4-6 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The fruit is an oval berry. It is 2.7 cm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in semi-deciduous forests in the interior and at higher altitudes in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, South America, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are popular.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. The seeds are collected from ripe fruit that have fallen. The fruit are stored in piles and allowed to partly decompose to make it easy to remove the seeds. This is done under running water. The seeds need to be planted fresh and in light shade. The seedlings emerge in 20-35 days.

Plants grow at a moderate rate.

Its other names

Local names

Carbon, Casabote, Cedron, Kikuribianda, Palo de vela, Paracata, Paratudo, Pau-paratudo, Una de pereza, Vela de muerto

Synonyms

Aruba cedron (Planch.) Kuntze; Quassia cedron Baill.;