The genus Quararibea (exclusive of Matisia) includes 
about twenty-nine species. These species show a wide 
range of variation with all conceivable intergrades. The 
differences which are exhibited, moreover, are so exten- 
sive that Bentham and Hooker included Myrodia (now 
considered to represent Quararibea) in the Sterculiaceae 
and Quararibea in the Malvaceae (inclusive of the Bom- 
bacaceae). 
Quararibea is a widespread genus of tropical American 
trees and shrubs, occurring in Middle America, the West 
Indies and the northern part of South America. It is 
at once characterized by a peculiarly pungent, aromatic 
odor suggestive of slippery elm (Ulmus rubra Muhl.). 
This odor is present in every species and may be valuable 
in generic identification.’ Most botanists who have con- 
sidered Quararibea have remarked about its pungent fra- 
grance. Endlicher (/oc. cit.), for example, stated that the 
genus consists of ‘‘arbores v. frutices Americanae tropi- 
cae, odore aromatico gravi, tenaci . ’ 
The fragrance is strongest and most noticeable in the 
flowers, but it is also characteristic of the fruit. Other 
parts of the plant, as well, are reported to contain the 
aromatic principle. Standley (in Field Mus. Nat. Hist. 
3, pt. 3 (1980) 354) called attention to the fact that the 
foliage of a Yucatan species has the ‘‘odor of slippery 
elm.” In anarticle on the woods of the American bom- 
bacaceous plants, Record (in Trop. Woods 59 (1989) 19) 
made the statement that in Quararibea ‘“The leaves and 
bark, at least in certain species, have a peculiar odor 
variously described as resembling curry powder, fenu- 
greek (Trigonella foenumgraecum J..), inner bark of 
Slippery Elm (U/mus fulva Michx. ), or licorice.’” In ad- 
dition to the flowers, fruit, foliage, and bark, the wood 
also has been reported sometimes to possess the pungent 
'The name Myrodia is from the Greek, meaning ‘“‘scent of myrrh.’ 
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