Simarouba
Encyclopedia
Simarouba is a genus of trees and shrubs in the Simaroubaceae
family, native to the neotropics. It has been grouped in the subtribe Simaroubina along with the Simaba and Quassia
genera. They have compound leaves, with between 1 and 12 pairs of alternate pinnate leaflets. Their flowers are unisexual, relatively small (around 1 cm long) and arranged in large panicle
s. The individual flowers have between 4 and 6 sepal
s and petal
s and between 8 and 12 stamen
s. The fruit is a carpophore and has up to 5 drupaceous mericarps. Adolf Engler
and Arthur Cronquist
separated the species in the genus, based mainly on the morphology of their flowers, but also using differences in their leaf structure. S. amara, S. glauca and S. versicolor are continental tree species and are often confused with each other, particularly in areas where more than one species is present in the flora. S. amara can be distinguished by having smaller flowers and anthers than S. glauca and S. versicolor and by it having straight, rather than curved petals; its fruit are also smaller. S. glauca can be distinguished by the lack of trichome
s on its leaves compared with those of S. versicolor, which has dense tomentose
leaves. S. versicolor has a greater variation in flower size than S. glauca and the leaf veins of S. glauca are generally more evident than those of S. versicolor. Geographically, S. glauca and S. versicolor are easy to distinguish since the southerly range of S. glauca is limited to Panama, whereas S. versicolor is only found in South America. A phylogenetic analysis in 1995 based on the large sub-unit of rubisco
suggested that Simarouba was most closely related to the Leitneria
and Ailanthus
genera, but a later study in 2007, based on three chloroplastic genes and one nuclear gene, found it was most closely related to Pierreodendron
and Simaba.
S. berteroana, S. laevis and S. tulae are endemic to the Caribbean islands.
. The bark of Simarouba species has been used by indigenous tribes as a tea to treat many diseases. The seeds of Simarouba glauca
have been proposed as suitable for producing edible oils in India. Simarouba amara
is harvested for timber
, with its bright and lightweight timber being highly sought after in European markets to use in making fine furniture and veneers.
Simaroubaceae
The Simaroubaceae is a small, mostly tropical, family in the order Sapindales. In recent decades it has been subject to much taxonomic debate, with several small families being split off...
family, native to the neotropics. It has been grouped in the subtribe Simaroubina along with the Simaba and Quassia
Quassia
Quassia is a flora genus in the family Simaroubaceae. Its size is disputed; some botanists treat it as consisting of only one species, Quassia amara from tropical South America, while others treat it in a wide circumscription as a pantropical genus containing up to 40 species of trees and shrubs....
genera. They have compound leaves, with between 1 and 12 pairs of alternate pinnate leaflets. Their flowers are unisexual, relatively small (around 1 cm long) and arranged in large panicle
Panicle
A panicle is a compound raceme, a loose, much-branched indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate flowers attached along the secondary branches; in other words, a branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes....
s. The individual flowers have between 4 and 6 sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s and petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s and between 8 and 12 stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s. The fruit is a carpophore and has up to 5 drupaceous mericarps. Adolf Engler
Adolf Engler
Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler was a German botanist. He is notable for his work on plant taxonomy and phytogeography, like Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien , edited with Karl A. E...
and Arthur Cronquist
Arthur Cronquist
Arthur John Cronquist was a North American botanist and a specialist on Compositae. He is considered one of the most influential botanists of the 20th century, largely due to his formulation of the Cronquist system. Two plant genera in the aster family have been named in his honor...
separated the species in the genus, based mainly on the morphology of their flowers, but also using differences in their leaf structure. S. amara, S. glauca and S. versicolor are continental tree species and are often confused with each other, particularly in areas where more than one species is present in the flora. S. amara can be distinguished by having smaller flowers and anthers than S. glauca and S. versicolor and by it having straight, rather than curved petals; its fruit are also smaller. S. glauca can be distinguished by the lack of trichome
Trichome
Trichomes are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants and certain protists. These are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae.- Algal trichomes :...
s on its leaves compared with those of S. versicolor, which has dense tomentose
Tomentose
Tomentose is a term used to describe plant hairs that are flattened and matted, forming a woolly coating known as tomentum. Often the hairs are silver or gray-colored...
leaves. S. versicolor has a greater variation in flower size than S. glauca and the leaf veins of S. glauca are generally more evident than those of S. versicolor. Geographically, S. glauca and S. versicolor are easy to distinguish since the southerly range of S. glauca is limited to Panama, whereas S. versicolor is only found in South America. A phylogenetic analysis in 1995 based on the large sub-unit of rubisco
RuBisCO
Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase, commonly known by the shorter name RuBisCO, is an enzyme involved in the first major step of carbon fixation, a process by which atmospheric carbon dioxide is converted by plants to energy-rich molecules such as glucose. RuBisCo is an abbreviation...
suggested that Simarouba was most closely related to the Leitneria
Leitneria
Leitneria floridana , the sole species in the genus Leitneria, is a deciduous dioecious shrub or small tree, found only in the southeastern United States states of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Missouri and Texas....
and Ailanthus
Ailanthus
Ailanthus is a genus of trees belonging to the family Simaroubaceae, in the order Sapindales . The genus is native from east Asia south to northern Australasia....
genera, but a later study in 2007, based on three chloroplastic genes and one nuclear gene, found it was most closely related to Pierreodendron
Pierreodendron
Pierreodendron is a genus of plant in family Simaroubaceae. It contains the following species :* Pierreodendron kerstingii, Little...
and Simaba.
| Structure | S. amara | S. glauca | S. versicolor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower | 3–5 mm long | 4–7.5 mm long | 4–7.5 mm long |
| Anthers | 0.4–1.2 mm long | 1.3–2.0 mm long | 1.0–1.5 mm long |
| Petals | Straight, dull yellow-green to white | Curved, brighter yellow with a touch of orange or red | Curved |
| Fruits | 1.0–1.5 x 0.6–1.0 cm | 2.0–2.5 x 1.2–1.5 cm | 2.0–2.5 x 1.5–2.0 cm |
Discovery and uses
In 1713, the genus was discovered by French explorers. Between 1718 and 1725, the bark was exported to France where it was used to treat an epidemic of dysenteryDysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
. The bark of Simarouba species has been used by indigenous tribes as a tea to treat many diseases. The seeds of Simarouba glauca
Simarouba glauca
Simarouba glauca is a species of flowering tree that is native to Florida in the United States, southern Mexico, Central America, and the Greater Antilles. Common names include Paradise Tree, Aceituno, and Bitterwood. Its seeds produce an edible oil. The tree is well suited for warm, humid,...
have been proposed as suitable for producing edible oils in India. Simarouba amara
Simarouba amara
Simarouba amara is a species of tree in the Simaroubaceae family, found in the rainforests and savannahs of South and Central America and the Caribbean. It was first described by Aublet in French Guiana in 1775 and is one of six species of Simarouba. The tree is evergreen, but produces a new set of...
is harvested for timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
, with its bright and lightweight timber being highly sought after in European markets to use in making fine furniture and veneers.