Native to Central and South America, renowned for its bark that contains quinine, an alkaloid used for treating malaria, this tree has played a crucial role in medical history. The bark, rich in alkaloids quinine and quinidine, has largely driven its commercial value, and the tree's cultivation has spread to many tropical countries. Cinchona pubescens starts flowering within 3 to 4 years, with its sweetly scented, pink flowers forming in large panicles. Photographed in the eastern Andes mountain range of Colombia (Cordillera Oriental).