Quassia
plant genus
Quick Summary
Quassia refers to a genus of tropical trees within the Simaroubaceae family, also known as the quassia family. The bark and heartwood of these trees yield a bitter substance called quassia. This substance has been used medicinally as a tonic and as a remedy for roundworms, particularly in children. Additionally, quassia is utilized as an insecticide. The genus name Quassia originates from Quassi, an enslaved man in 18th-century Suriname who is credited with discovering the medicinal properties of the plant.12
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