Common Name: Quinine Tree

General Information

Quinine tree is a small tree with a dense canopy and drooping branches, usually growing 5 - 8 metres tall but exceptionally to 12 metres. The bole is often crooked[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood.

Known Hazards

The foliage may be poisonous, particularly after rain[].

Botanical References

Range

Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia; to New Guinea.

Habitat

Sandstone plateaux, hilly uplands, and sandy, alluvial or stony plains at elevations up to 650 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	6.50 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the drier to moist, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 650 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 37°c, but can tolerate 12 - 42°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -2°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 60 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 400 - 1,200mm[].
Prefers a sunny position[]. Grows best in a well-drained, sandy soil, preferring one of low fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 8[].
A relatively slow-growing plant[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark and fruits are very bitter[]. They have been used in the treatment of malaria, toothache, and sore eyes[].

Other Uses

The wood can be used as fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - sown fresh, it germinates within a few weeks[].

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