Paradise tree (Simarouba amara)

Family: Simaroubaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Found in the rainforests and savannas of South and Central America and the Caribbean, Simarouba amara or also known as Paradise Tree is a fast-growing, monoecious, evergreen tree growing up to 35 m in height and 125 cm in trunk diameter. It has small yellow flowers which occur on a staminate panicle. The leaves are compound; each leaf is comprised of 9-16 leaflets each.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

rich in sugars (about 11%) can be used in the preparation of beverages. — The seeds contain 60 - 75% edible oil that can be extracted by conventional methods.; Each well-grown tree yields 15 to 30 Kg nutlets equivalent to 2.5-5 kg oil and about the same quantity of oilcake.; This amounts to 1000-2000 kg oil/ha/year and about the same quantity of oilcake.; The oil is largely used in the preparation of bakery products in Central America.

Habitat & North American Range

An understorey tree in moist thickets or wet forests at elevations up to 850 metres. Rain and savannah forests. Found in both dense, primary forest and also in the more open and secondary growth areas. (Zone 10)