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Quassia amara - Bitter wood

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Quassia amara

Quassia amara (amargo, bitter-ash, bitter-wood) is a species in the genus Quassia, with some botanists treating it as the sole species in the genus. The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus who named it after the first botanist to describe it: the Surinamese freedman Graman Quassi. Q. amara is used as insecticide, in traditional medicine and as additive in the food industry.

Uses

Parts Used

Chemical Composition

The main chemicals identified in amargo include: beta-carbolines, beta-sitostenone, beta-sitosterol, dehydroquassins, gallic acid, gentisic acid, hydroxyquassins, isoparain[1]

Common names

Habit

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
simple Alternate, Pinnate ative to Brazil, Bitter Quassia ia a small forest tree, typically with a leaning stem, sometimes multiply-stemmed. Leaves are alternate, compound, with 3-5 leaflets, one terminal and the remaining in opposing pairs. The rachis between the leaflets is conspicuously winged. The leaves and bark have an unpleasant bitter flavor if chewed

[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Unisexual 15-25 cm long white The flowers are produced in a panicle 15-25 cm long, each flower 2.5-3.5 cm long, bright red on the outside, and white inside. They are tubes with a narrow mouth, somewhat wider at the base

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Syncarp (sorosis) The fruit consists of 4-5 berries held together in a red receptacle; the fruits themselves are green, then turn black when maturing early in the dry season. seeds many, ovoid. {{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

How to plant/cultivate

Seeds and cuttings can be used for propagation of Q. amara. Frost is not tolerated, but the plant is partially drought tolerant. A large amount of indirect light is recommended.

Commonly seen growing in areas

Photo Gallery

References

External Links