Simarouba amara

• Botanical Name : Simarouba amara Aubl.
• Synonyms : Simarouba glauca DC.
• Common Name : Bitter Wood, Mountain Damson, Bitter Ash
• Plant Family : Simaroubaceae
• Plant Form : Tree
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park

About Simarouba amara Plant :

• Habit : An evergreen, dioecious tree.
• Leaves :
  • Compound, petiolate with 9-16 leaflets per leaf.
  • New flush of leaves produced every year.
• Inflorescence : Panicles
• Flowers :
  • Male and female flowers are produced on separate trees.
  • So are unisexuals.
  • Pale yellow in colour.
• Fruits : Drupes, brightly coloured, green to purplish-black containing large seeds which are dispersed by vertebrates.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : February - April
• Significance :
  • The bark of the plant is known to be used in the treatments of dysentery and diarrhea.
  • The wood is also used for producing paper, furniture, plywood and matches and also in construction work.