Quinquina

Quinquina or Cinchona officinalis is a perennial shrub in the Rubiaceae family. Originally from the Northern Andes, this plant is the emblematic tree of Peru. Quinquina occurs in several species, including red quinquina, yellow quinquina and grey quinquina. Measuring on average 5 to 6 m, it is highly appreciated in medicine for its bark which contains several active ingredients including mainly quinine. Often confused with ficus and quinoa, the quinquina has whole, opposite, glossy, hard and persistent leaves. Pink or purple, its flowers are grouped into cymes at the tip of the branches. They then produce fruit in elongated capsules.