From New Latin, from Carib simaruba, “bitter” plus “wood”
Species
glauca
Glaucous, from the Greek meaning “bluish-gray,” referring primarily to the leaves, and specifically to “bloom,” the fine, whitish powder that coats the leaves of certain plants
Paradise tree is native to Florida, South America, and the Lesser Antilles, growing at elevations
below 3281′ (1 km).
Plants: These evergreen trees reach up to 50′ (15 m) in height, and 30′ (9.1 m)
around. The trunk is up to 30′ (9 m) tall and 1-1½′ (40-50 cm) around. Outer bark is gray, with fine
cracks; inner bark is creamy.
Roots are shallow, partly
above ground.
Leaves: Leaves are up to 1′ (40 cm) long, divided into 3-21 leaflets
(pinnately compound). Leaflets are shiny, leathery, 2-4″ (5-10 cm) long, and oblong.
Flowers: Flowers are yellowish, but tiny and inconspicuous.
Fruits: Fruits are dark purple, 1″ (2.5 cm) long, and edible.
Edibility: Seeds can be processed to produce an edible oil.
Fruits are edible.
Medical: Bark from this tree has been used successfully in the
past to treat malaria and dysentery, and in many areas in the South American rainforest, it still is.
The tree has a long history as a source of herbal medicine, and is the target of much study.