Cinchona pubescens Cinchona pubescens Cinchona pubescens, also known as red cinchona and quina (Quechua) ( "Cascarilla, cinchona"; "quina-do-amazonas, quineira"), is native to Central and South America. It is known as a medicinal plant for its bark's high quinine content- and has similar uses to "Cinchona officinalis" in the production of quinine, most famously used for treatment of malaria. "C. pubescens" varies from small to large in size, growing to 10 meters in height (33 ft). When cut, the bark tends to turn red. Leaves are elliptical to oblate and thin. The leaves have pubescent teeth that turn red when they are older,
Tree converted into bark and the cambium layer creates new phloem and xylem cells. The bark is inelastic. Eventually the growth of a tree slows down and stops and it gets no taller. If damage occurs the tree may in time become hollow. Leaves are structures specialised for photosynthesis and are arranged on the tree in such a way as to maximise their exposure to light without shading each other. They are an important investment by the tree and may be thorny or contain phytoliths, lignins, tannins or poisons to discourage herbivory. Trees have evolved leaves in a wide range of