The cinchona (Rubiacaea family) is an evergreen tree that grows to a height of 25 meters. It belongs to a group of species that form a band stretching over 3,000 km of the Andes, from Northern Bolivia to Venezuela. Its name comes from the word kina-kina, which means "bark of barks" in the language of certain ethnic groups from the Andes. The natives would use a powder made from this bark to reduce fever. In the early 17th century, the Spanish discovered the bark to be very effective against malaria.

Botanist's Glossary