Samadera indica

Synonym: Quassia indica
Region: Africa, Madagascar, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands.
Habitat: evergreen forests; tidal swamp forest or periodically inundated forest; lowland mixed dipterocarp forest; elevations below 150 metres.
Content: bark contains a bitter toxin similar to quassin; glucoside samaderin; seeds contain about 33% oil.BotanyEvergreen shrub or tree; to 20 metres tall; rare, locally common.
Stem: up to 39 cm in diameter; wood is pale, yellow, light, soft.
Use: medical; insecticide, to kill termites; leaves for cleansing the hair; wood for making 'parang' handles, of knives.