CINCHONA BARK
Bark from various species of the Cinchona is the source of quinine, used to treat malaria. Cinchona bark extracts are also used in tonic water, bitters, aperitifs, soft drinks, and even ice cream.
Cinchona was named after the wife of an obscure viceroy of 17th century Peru, the Countess of Chinchon. It was at one time believed, erroneously, that the countess discovered its properties. In the 17th century Swedish botanist Carolus Lannaeus named the plant after her but misspelled her name.
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