Description | Quassia amara is a species in the genus Quassia, with some botanists treating it as the sole species in the genus. It is famous and used for the bitterwood or quassia, its heartwood, used as a febrifuge; this contains quassin, a bitter-tasting substance (it is, in fact, the bitterest substance found in nature). Extracts of Q. amara bark containing quassinoids are used as insecticides, being particularly useful against aphids on crop plants. It is also used to flavor aperitifs and bitters which are added to cocktails. [Source: Wikipedia] | | |
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