Strychnine tree

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Strychnine tree
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Asterids Order: Gentianales Family: Loganiaceae Genus: Strychnos Species: S. nux-vomica
Binomial name
Strychnos nux-vomica L.

in Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India.

The Strychnine tree (Strychnos nux-vomica L.) also known as Nux vomica, is an evergreen tree native to southeast Asia, a member of family Loganiaceae. It is a medium-sized tree growing in open habitats. Its leaves are ovate and 3.5 by 2 inches(~5 by 9 cm) in size.^[1]

It is a major source of the highly poisonous alkaloids strychnine and brucine, derived from the seeds inside the tree's round, green to orange fruit. The seeds contain approximately 1.5% strychnine, and the dried blossoms contain 1.023%.^[1] However, the tree's bark also contains poisonous compounds, including brucine.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/n/nuxvom08.html

[edit] Gallery

in Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India.	in Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India.	in Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India.	in Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India.
in Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India.

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