Botanical Family · Sapindales

Simaroubaceae

Quassia Family

6 speciesOrder Sapindales6+ well-known plants

The Simaroubaceae family (Quassia Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Sapindales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 6 species across 4 genera. Its members are predominantly trees. Well-represented genera include Ailanthus, Balanites and Quassia. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include tree-of-heaven, Heaven Tree and White Palle.

Browse all 6 species ↓

Representative specimen · Simaroubaceae

Key pattern

Pinnately compound, often bitter-tasting leaves on trees; small, regular flowers sit atop a fleshy disc and ripen into a cluster of small drupes, with bark and wood carrying an intensely bitter taste throughout the family.

Quassin and related bitter compounds, concentrated in bark and wood, are so intensely bitter they are used commercially as a natural insecticide and bittering agent, detectable at only a few parts per million.

Identify the species

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HabitWhat is the plant's growth habit?

Shrub

Tree

Family identification method

To check whether a plant belongs to Simaroubaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.

Learn the full family-identification method

Notable members

Tree-Of-HeavenAilanthus altissimaHeaven TreeAilanthus excelsaWhite Palle, MaharukhAilanthus triphysaDesert DateBalanites roxburghiiAmargo, Bitter Ash, BitterwoodQuassia amaraAceituno, Paradise Tree, Dysentery-BarkSimarouba glauca

Families that can look similar

Rutaceae

Compare against Rutaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Rutaceae

Meliaceae

Compare against Meliaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Meliaceae

Anacardiaceae

Compare against Anacardiaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Anacardiaceae

Sapindaceae

Compare against Sapindaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Sapindaceae

All 6 species in SIMAROUBACEAE

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