{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox | image = Soulamea amara 4zz.jpg | image_caption = At Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Florida | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN/> | genus = Soulamea | species = amara | authority = Lam.<ref name=POWO/> | synonyms = {{Species list | Cardiocarpus amarus | (Lam.) Reinw. | Cardiophora hindsii | Benth. }} | synonyms_ref = <ref name=POWO/> }}
'''''Soulamea amara''''' is a plant in the family Simaroubaceae. It is native to maritime Southeast Asia and some islands of the western Pacific.<ref name=TFSS/>
==Description== ''Soulamea amara'' grows as a shrub or tree up to {{cvt|5|m|0}} tall, occasionally to {{cvt|15|m|-1}} tall. The leaves are oblong to obovate and measure up to {{cvt|35|cm|0}} long and up to {{cvt|12|cm|0}} wide. The {{plantgloss|inflorescence|inflorescences}} measure up to {{cvt|12|cm|0}} long. The fruits feature a hard {{plantgloss|pericarp}}.<ref name=TFSS/>
==Taxonomy== ''Soulamea amara'' was described in 1785 by the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck.<ref name=POWO/> The specific epithet ''amara'' means 'bitter', referring to the taste of plant parts.<ref name=TFSS/>
==Distribution and habitat== ''Soulamea amara'' is native to Borneo, the Maluku Islands, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, the Caroline Islands, the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu.<ref name=POWO/> Its habitat is on or near beaches and coral reefs.<ref name=UTP/>
==Conservation== ''Soulamea amara'' has been assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. The species is broadly distributed. However, it is threatened by deforestation and by conversion of land in its habitat for agriculture and plantations. The species' presence in any protected areas is unknown.<ref name=IUCN/>
==Uses== The fruit and roots of ''Soulamea amara'' are used locally in traditional medicine to treat some digestive, respiratory and skin conditions. The bitterness of the fruit can be used to induce vomiting.<ref name=UTP/>
==References== {{Reflist | refs =
<ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=Jimbo, T. |year=2022 |title=''Soulamea amara'' |article-number=e.T198840629A202838055 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T198840629A202838055.en |access-date=24 December 2024}}</ref>
<ref name=POWO>{{cite POWO |title=''Soulamea amara'' Lam. |id=814139-1 |access-date=24 December 2024}}</ref>
<ref name=TFSS>{{cite book |last1=Kulip |first1=Julius |last2=Wong |first2=K. M. |date=1995 |contribution=''Soulamea'' Lam. |editor1-last=Soepadmo |editor1-first=E. |editor-link=Engkik Soepadmo |editor2-last=Wong |editor2-first=K. M. |title=Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak |volume=1 |pages=440, 442 |publisher=Forest Research Institute Malaysia |isbn=983-9592-34-3}}</ref>
<ref name=UTP>{{cite web |author=Ken Fern |title=''Soulamea amara'' |work=Useful Tropical Plants Database |url=https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Soulamea+amara |access-date=24 December 2024}}</ref>
}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q18083149}}
amara Category:Flora of Malesia Category:Flora of Papuasia Category:Flora of the Caroline Islands Category:Flora of the Marshall Islands Category:Flora of Vanuatu Category:Plants described in 1785 Category:Taxa named by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck