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Strychnos nux-vomica
Also called Nux Vomica, Nux Vomica Tree, Strychninetree
Strychnos nux-vomica is a medium-sized deciduous tree from India and Southeast Asia, grown mainly as a botanical specimen rather than a garden ornamental. It is the natural source of the extremely poisonous alkaloid strychnine, so it should be handled with great caution.
Strychnos nux-vomica, the strychnine tree, also known as nux vomica, poison fruit, semen strychnos, and quaker buttons, is a deciduous tree native to India and to southeast Asia. It is a medium-sized tree in the family Loganiaceae that grows in open habitats. Its leaves are ovate and 5–9 centimetres (2–3.5 in) in size. It is known for being the natural source of the extremely poisonous compound strychnine.
The seeds within the round, green to orange fruit of the tree are a major source of the highly poisonous, intensely bitter alkaloids strychnine and brucine. The seeds contain approximately 1.5% strychnine, and the dried blossoms contain 1.0%. However, the bark of the tree also contains brucine and other poisonous compounds.
The pulp of the fruit is eaten by monkeys and birds. It is also eaten by at least one species of Hornbill, the Malabar pied hornbill
The strychnine-containing seeds have been used in arrow poison. The use of strychnine is highly regulated in many countries, and it is mostly used in baits to kill feral mammals. Most accidental poisoning is caused by breathing in the powder or by absorption through the skin.
Strychnos icaja · St. Ignatius bean · Strychnine Tree · Green Monkey Orange · Natal orange · Strychnine
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Strychnos nux-vomica by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
