Paradise tree
Simarouba amara

Family: Simaroubaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 42 m tall. The crown is broad. There are flushes of new growth. The trunk is 50-60 cm across. The leaves are compound and 60 cm long. There are 9-16 leaflets and these are 3-11 cm long by 12-45 mm wide. The leaflets towards the top are smaller. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. The flowers are small and pale yellow. The fruit are 17 mm long and have large seeds. The seeds are 10-14 mm long.

There are 6 Simarouba species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry soil. It grows below 1,000 m above sea level. It grows in rainforests and savannah. It can grow in arid places. It needs to be in a sunny position.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Amazon, Antilles, Asia, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesser Antilles, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America (country/location of origin), Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent, Suriname, Trinidad, USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. The seed kernels yield an oil used in cooking and the manufacture of margarine.

It is a cultivated plant.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds - oil, bark - drink

How it is grown

It is fairly fast growing. A tree can yield 15-30 kg of nuts. These yield 2.5-5 kg of oil. It is only a short lived tree.

Its other names

Local names

Acaju blanc, Aceituno, Gavilan, Gusano, Jucumico, Pasaque, Rabo de lagarto, Ruga, Simarupe

Synonyms

Quassia glauca (DC.) Spreng.; Quassia simarouba L. f.; Simarouba amara Hayne; Simarouba amara var. opaca Engl.; Simarouba amara var. typica Cronquist; Simarouba glauca DC.; Simarouba glauca var. latifolia Cronquist; Simarouba medicinalis Endl.; Simarouba officinalis DC. p.p.; Simarouba officinalis Macfad,; Simaruba glauca DC.;