Strychnos

Strychnos is a genus of flowering plants, belonging to the family Loganiaceae. The genus includes about 100 to 200 species, which are native to warm temperate and tropical regions worldwide. The genus is known for its toxic members, which include the Strychnine tree, the Curare vine, and others.

Description

The members of the genus Strychnos are woody climbers, shrubs, or small to medium-sized trees. The leaves are opposite, simple, and entire. The flowers are small, with a five-lobed white or greenish corolla. The fruit is a berry containing seeds embedded in the pulp.

Toxicity

Several species of Strychnos are known for their toxicity. The most famous of these is the Strychnine tree (Strychnos nux-vomica), which is a major source of the highly toxic alkaloids strychnine and brucine. Another toxic member of the genus is the Curare vine (Strychnos toxifera), which is used by indigenous tribes in South America to poison the tips of their hunting arrows.

Uses

Despite their toxicity, some species of Strychnos have been used in traditional medicine. For example, Strychnos nux-vomica has been used in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine for its stimulant and aphrodisiac properties. However, due to the high risk of poisoning, these uses are generally not recommended by modern medicine.

See also

• List of poisonous plants
• Medicinal plants

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