Simarouba glauca (Paradise tree)

FloraFinder uses cookies only for correct operation. More info. Okay

Simarouba glauca DC.

Paradise tree, dysentery-bark, bitterwood

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Sapindales	Includes citrus; maples, horse-chestnuts, lychees and rambutans; mangos and cashews; frankincense and myrrh; mahogany and neem
Family	Simaroubaceae	A small mostly tropical family including Quassia, Simarouba, and Ailanthus
Genus	Simarouba	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

About plant names...

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 16-20" (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 16" (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.

Online References:

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Www.rain-tree.com

Www.jpsr.pharmainfo.in (A Critical Review on Medicinally Important Oil Yielding Plant Laxmitaru (Simarouba glauca DC.))

Sites.google.com

4/14/2015 · Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Key Largo, Florida

4/14/2015 · Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Key Largo, Florida
≈ 19 × 12" (47 × 31 cm)

Simarouba glauca description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

4/14/2015 · Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Key Largo, Florida
≈ 15 × 10" (37 × 25 cm)

4/14/2015 · Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Key Largo, Florida

4/14/2015 · Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Key Largo, Florida
≈ 19 × 12" (47 × 31 cm)

4/14/2015 · Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Key Largo, Florida

Range: Zones 10b-11:

About this map...