View source for Picrasma

__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
| latin_name = ''LATINNAME''   <!--- replace LATINNAME with the actual latin name -->
| common_names =     <!--- if multiple, list all, if none, leave blank -->
| growth_habit = ?   <!--- tree, shrub, herbaceous, vine, etc -->
| high = ?   <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
| wide =     <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
| origin = ?   <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->
| poisonous =     <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
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| water = ?   <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->
| features =     <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->
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| sunset_zones =     <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->
| color = IndianRed
| image = Upload.png   <!--- Freesia.jpg -->
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Picrasma (Greek, pikrasmos, bitterness; referring to the bitter bark and wood). Including Picraena. Simarubaceae. Trees and shrubs, with alternate odd- pinnate lvs., yellowish green fls. in axillary long- peduncled looss cymes, and subglobose dry berry-like fr. About 8 species in S. and E. Asia and W. India. P. quassioides, Bennett (P. ailanthoides, Planch. P. japonica, Gray), seems to be the only species in cult. It is an upright shrub or small tree to 30 ft., almost glabrous except the tomentulose infl.: lvs. with 4-8 pairs of lfts.; lfts. ovate or oblong-ovate, acuminate, crenately serrate, 2 1/2 -3 1/2in. long: fr. pea-sized, bright red, with 1 seed. Himalayas, China, Japan. S.I.F. 1:53. This is probably the hardiest species of the genus, and has proved hardy at the Arnold Arboretum in favorable positions but needs protection while young. Its chief ornamental value consists in the handsome foliage turning orange and scarlet hi fall and in the bright red frs. Wood and bark are exceedingly bitter. The wood of some species, especially P. excelsa, Planch., from W. Indies, is used in medicine like that of Quassia.

Alfred Rehder.
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