Picrasma exceisa

Picrasma exceisa (Sw ) Planch, or of Quassia amara L., Simaroubaceae. The first is known in commerce as Jamaica quassia, the second as Surinam quassia. Habit. Picrasma txelsa inhabits Jamaica and the Caribbeen Islands Quassia amara is a native of Brazil and Guiana and is cultivated in Colombia, Panama, and the West Indies. Quassin and neo quassin are the bitter principles of Surinam quassia picras-min, that of Jamaica quassia. These bitter pinctples are obtained in yields of 0.1-0.296 and appear commercially under the name of quassin. 

Synonyms Bitter ash Bitter wood Picrasma excelsa Quassia amara Definition Wood of Picrasma exceisa or Quassia amara, contg. bitter principle quassin Properties YIsh-wh. to bright yel. chips or fibrous coarse grains, si. odor, very bitter taste Uses Natural flavoring agent in foods and pharmaceuticals bitter tonic medicine (anthelmintic) extract as fly poison on flypaper surrogate for hops hair lotion alcohol denaturant... 

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