Quinine bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Quinine bush |
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| Alstonia constricta foliage and flowers | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Alstonia
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| Species: |
constricta
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Alstonia constricta, often called the quinine bush or bitterbark, is a special shrub or small tree that only grows in Australia. It belongs to the Apocynaceae plant family.
How the Quinine Bush Grows
The quinine bush grows straight up, reaching up to 12 meters (about 39 feet) tall. It can grow new shoots, called 'suckers', directly from its roots. This often helps it form dense groups of plants.
Its leaves are narrow and shaped like a spear, growing 5 to 20 centimeters (2 to 8 inches) long. They feel a bit hairy. The flowers are white to cream-colored and are about 2 to 4 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) wide. As the plant gets older, its bark becomes corky and develops grooves.
The quinine bush produces a white, milky sap. This sap contains natural chemicals called alkaloids. Some of these alkaloids, like reserpine, have been studied for their possible use in medicine.
Where the Quinine Bush Lives
The quinine bush is the only type of Alstonia plant that lives in subtropical areas. You can find it in eastern Australia, from the Tropic of Capricorn down to northern New South Wales.
It grows in different places, including woodlands with eucalyptus and acacia trees. It also likes vine scrubs and forests near rivers. These areas can range from humid places near the coast to drier, inland regions. A plant expert named Anders Bofeldt found a group of these plants living far from others in the Shoalhaven River Gorge in southern New South Wales.
