Strychnos cathayensis
Merr.
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) JODY HSIEH, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) JODY HSIEH, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) JODY HSIEH, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A woody creeper. It grows 8 m long. The young branches are hairy and have tendrils or spines. The leaves are 2-10 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. They are hairy underneath. There are many flowers in a group. The fruit are berries 2-3 cm across. They have 2-7 seeds.
Edible Uses
The berries are eaten fresh.
Medicinal Uses
The roots and the seeds are used medicinally.
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. In southern China is grows between 300-800 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Asia, China, SE Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam,
Synonyms
References (1)
- Reis, S. V. and Lipp, F. L., 1982, New Plant Sources for Drugs and Foods from the New York Botanical Garden herbarium. Harvard. p 240
