🌿 Identification Guide

How to Identify Simaroubaceae

18 species · Plantae · Order Sapindales

Simaroubaceae is a plant family in the Plantae kingdom, order Sapindales, class Magnoliopsida. The family contains 18 accepted species worldwide.

Key Identification Features

It has visible but indistinct growth rings that average 7 mm wide.
All parts of the plant have a distinct strong odor often compared to peanuts, cashews, or rotting cashews.
Its leaves are alternate, pinnate, dark green, polished, deeply veined, 15–25 cm long, and have 3–5 leaflets; they are distinct for their broadly winged leaf rachis (axis) and reddish veins.
Leaves are pinnate, and individual leaflets are curved, sickle-shaped (falcate), taper to a point, and are distinctly oblique and very unequal-sided at the base.

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Representative Simaroubaceae Species

Simarouba amara Aubl.

Simarouba amara Aubl. is a Neotropical evergreen tree used in herbal medicine wi…

Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle

Ailanthus altissima, or tree of heaven, is a fast-growing dioecious tree native …

Eurycoma longifolia Jack

Eurycoma longifolia Jack is a medium shrub native to Southeast Asian lowland for…

Brucea javanica (L.) Merr.

Brucea javanica is a bitter monoecious shrub or small tree native to South, East…

Quassia amara L.

Quassia amara L. is a neotropical understorey small tree/shrub used in food flav…

Ailanthus triphysa (Dennst.) Alston

Ailanthus triphysa is an evergreen tree with a wide distribution across Asia and…

Simarouba glauca DC.

Simarouba glauca is a flowering tree native to Florida, South America, and the C…

Samadera indica Gaertn.

Samadera indica Gaertn. is an evergreen tree/shrub native to the Old World tropi…

Ailanthus excelsa Roxb.

Ailanthus excelsa is a large deciduous tree from India and Sri Lanka with medici…

Browse all 18 Simaroubaceae species →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you identify Simaroubaceae?

Simaroubaceae plants belong to the Sapindales order in the Plantae kingdom. It has visible but indistinct growth rings that average 7 mm wide. For instant identification, use the iNature app — AI-powered and works offline.

What are the key characteristics of Simaroubaceae?

Simaroubaceae is classified in the order Sapindales, class Magnoliopsida, phylum Tracheophyta. All parts of the plant have a distinct strong odor often compared to peanuts, cashews, or rotting cashews.

Sources: GBIF, iNaturalist, Wikipedia · Disclaimer

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