Pinckneya

Pinckneya
Branch of Pinckneya pubens from The Birds of America; branch painted by Maria Martin
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Rubiaceae
Subfamily:	Cinchonoideae
Tribe:	Cinchoneae
Genus:	Pinckneya
Species:	P. pubens
Binomial name
Pinckneya pubens Michaux
Natural range of Pinckneya pubens
Synonyms
Pinckneya bracteata (W. Bartr.) Cinchona lancifolia (Mutis.)

Pinckneya pubens, the Georgia bark or fevertree, is a small tree of the southern United States closely resembling the cinchona or Peruvian bark. It has pretty, large white flowers, with longitudinal stripes of rose-color. The wood is soft and unfit for use in the arts. The inner bark is extremely bitter, and is employed with success in intermittent fevers.

Habitat and Cultivation

Pinckneya is native to poorly drained acidic soils, as along swamp margins. Soils may be fine, medium or coarse textured. Good pest resistance and distinctive flower characteristics make this species of interest to gardeners, who should ensure that it receives occasional irrigation over a dry summer.

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Reynolds, Francis J., ed. (1921). "Georgia Bark" . Collier's New Encyclopedia. New York: P. F. Collier & Son Company.
• Edgar Herman and another (1885). "Pinckneya pubens, Michaux. (Georgia Bark.)". Henriette's Herbal Homepage. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
• "Pinckneya bracteata". Henriette's Herbal Homepage. Retrieved 3 April 2013.