Quassia, Bitterwood, Suriname quassia
Quassia amara

Family: Simaroubaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 6 m high. The leaves are compound and alternate. They have leaflets along the stalk. There are 5 leaflets each 5-15 cm long. The flowering groups hang down. They have pink stems and are in groups 25 cm long. The flowers are 3-4 cm long and tube shaped. The petals are pink outside and white inside. The stamens stick out the end. There are up to five fruit in a group. They are black and have one seed. They are 1.5 cm long and on a red, enlarged stalk.

The medicinal benefits of the bark extract have been established.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Costa Rica it grows in moist sites along the Caribbean coast and up to about 700 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Australia, Belize, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Singapore, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The bark is used as a substitute for hops in beer making. An extract is used for flavouring soft drinks, bitter tonics, baked goods and candy. Caution: Because of the alkaloids it contains it should not be eaten in large amounts.

It is a cultivated plant.

Edible parts

Bark - flavouring

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown by grafting and cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Amargo, Asoemaripa, Bois amer, Bois blanc, Genteng peujit, Hombre grande, Kayu amargo, Kwasibita, Min-thawka

Synonyms

Quassia alatifolia Stokes; Quassia amara var. grandiflora Hemsl.; Quassia amara var. paniculata Engl.; Quassia amara f. paniculata (Engl.) Cronquist; Quassia officinalis Rich.;