You will be hard pressed to find another Indian quassiawood anywhere locally except at the Arnold Arboretum in Massachusetts.  It's rarity may be due to several factors; availability (go ahead - try to find one!) and cold hardiness.  According to the "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants" by Michael Dirr, this tree is cold hardy only to zone 6.  Campus is generally a cooler zone 5, however trees may be grown out of zone if planted in a "microclimate" --  a protected, slightly warmer area such as within reasonable proximity to buildings or in large courtyards such as the Parsons/Iddles buildings.

The form of Indian quassiawood is very beautiful and could be described as having "fish bone" branching.  The habit is upright and slightly stiff.  The tiny green flowers appear in May along with the foliage, which is bright green and pinnately compound.  The bark is dark grayish brown, broken into vertical fissures revealing a creamy inner bark.

Indian quassiawood is used medicinally as an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory.  Native to Japan, Korea, through China to the Himalayas mountains.

The tree pictured here is located on the east side of James hall.