Bitterwood

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Bitterwood is a shrub or rarely a small tree, growing to 3 m tall (rarely 8 m). The leaves are compound and alternate, Surinam wood 15–25 cm long, and pinnate with 3-5 leaflets, the leaf rachis being winged. The flowers are produced in a panicle 15–25 cm long, each flower 2.5-3.5 cm long, bright red on the outside, and white inside. The fruit is a small drupe 1-1.5 cm long.
Bitterwood is used as a digestive, malaria, treat fever, against hair parasites (lice, fleas), and Mosquito larvae in ponds. Surinam wood or bark are also used to flavor soft drinks, aperitifs and bitters which can be added to cocktails or to baked goods.