A small tree native to the tropical regions of the Americas. The plant has been traditionally used for a variety of medical conditions, It is recognized as an anthelmintic and insecticide​. Commercially, it has found a place as a vermifuge and an insecticide. Its wood, known for its bitterness, has been utilized to impart flavor in food products, particularly in the beverage industry where it is added to alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as in desserts, candy, baked goods, and puddings​​. Photographed in the foothills near Santa Marta, Colombia.