What is "quillaja saponaria"

Quillaia bark \Quil*la"ia bark`\ (Bot.) The bark of a rosaceous tree ( Quillaja Saponaria), native of Chile. The bark is finely laminated, and very heavy with alkaline substances, and is used commonly by the Chileans instead of soap. Also called soap bark.

Quillaja saponaria, the soap bark tree or soapbark, is an evergreen tree in the family Quillajaceae, native to warm temperate central Chile. In Chile it occurs from 32 to 40° South Latitude approximately. Populations are found even 2000 m (6500 ft) above sea level. It can grow to 15–20 m (50–65 ft) in height. The tree has thick, dark bark, smooth, leathery, shiny, oval evergreen leaves 3–5 cm long, white flowers 15 mm diameter borne in dense corymbs, and a dry fruit with five follicles each containing 10-20 seeds.