Strychnos melinoniana
Baill.
gbif· cc-by-nc
Field Museum of Natural History - Botany Department | GDI 2013-2015
Description
A climbing shrub. It has tendrils. The fruit are oval and 3 cm long by 2 cm wide.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw. The thin, fleshy pulp has a sweet flavour. The subglobose berry is about 3cm long and 2cm in diameter.
Medicinal Uses
The root bark is used as a powerful aphrodisiac. A bitter aphrodisiac drink is prepared from the stem, but it acts on the central nervous system in a debilitating way. An infusion of the wood in vermouth is used as a youth restorative. The plant contains a number of active alkaloids, including melinonine A,B,E,F,G,I,K,L,M, mavacurine and fluorocurine.
Known Hazards
Various parts of Strychnos plants, especially the seeds and bark, contain toxic alkaloids such as strychnine and brucine. The fleshy pulp of the ripe fruits, however, is often edible.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows in rainforest.
Where It Grows
Brazil, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, South America, Suriname,
References (1)
- Fern, K., 2012, Tropical Species Database http://theferns.info/tropical/
