Strychnos

"Lasiostoma" redirects here. For the myrmecophyte genus Lasiostoma Benth., see Hydnophytum.

Strychnos
Strychnos toxifera
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Loganiaceae
Genus: Strychnos
L.[1]
Species

See text

Diversity
c. 200 species
Synonyms[1]
  • Atherstonea Pappe
  • Brehmia Harv.
  • Chemnicia Scop.
  • Curare Kunth ex Humb.
  • Ignatia L.f.
  • Ignatiana Lour.
  • Lasiostoma Schreb.
  • Narda Vell.
  • Rouhamon Aubl.
  • Scyphostrychnos S.Moore
  • Toxicaria Schreb.
  • Unguacha Hochst.
Strychnos nux-vomica, the strychnine tree
Strychnos ignatii, the "bean of St. Ignatius" - another source of the very toxic, convulsant indole alkaloid strychnine

Strychnos is a genus of flowering plants, belonging to the family Loganiaceae (sometimes Strychnaceae). The genus includes about 200 accepted species of trees and lianas.[1] The genus is widely distributed around the world's tropics and is noted for the presence of poisonous indole alkaloids in the roots, stems and leaves of various species. Among these alkaloids are the well-known and virulent poisons strychnine and curare.

  1. ^ a b c "Strychnos". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 31 August 2024.