Bitter Ash

Scientific name: Quassia amara

POWO Status: Shrub or Tree

IUCN Red List threat level: Least Concern

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 55.88″ N, 64° 49′ 51.91″ W

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Observations:

Phenological Markers – Quassia amara

Common Name: Bitterwood, Amargo, Quassia
Scientific Name: Quassia amara L.
Family: Simaroubaceae

Leaf Phenology

  • Leaf Type: Pinnately compound with 3–7 glossy, dark green leaflets
  • Evergreen: Yes, in humid tropical climates
  • Leaf Flush: New foliage appears throughout the year, more vigorous after pruning or seasonal rains
  • Senescence: Minimal under stable moisture; yellowing or drop may occur in drought or stress

Flowering

  • Inflorescence: Bright red tubular flowers, typically borne in racemes or panicles near branch ends
  • Flowering Season: Typically during dry to early wet season (varies by location, often spring to early summer)
  • Pollinators: Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees
  • Phenological Indicator: Brilliant scarlet flowers stand out strongly against dark foliage; flowering is often profuse but brief

Fruiting

  • Fruit Type: Small, oval drupe that turns from green to black or dark purple when mature
  • Fruit Maturation: Typically within 1–2 months of flowering
  • Seed Dispersal: Birds and gravity
  • Phenological Indicator: Small black fruits replacing spent flower clusters

Suggested Photo Angles

  • Full plant habit (usually a small tree or large shrub)
  • Close-up of pinnate leaves with shiny leaflets
  • Racemes of bright red flowers
  • Developing and mature fruits
  • Young flush and older leaves for contrast

Notes for Monitoring

Excellent subject for tracking pollinator activity due to the showy and nectar-rich flowers

Quassia amara is often found along forest edges and clearings, and is valued for its bitter compounds used in traditional medicine and pest control

Flowering may be synchronized to dry periods, with fruiting following shortly

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