BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION SYSTEM
Plants of Western Ghats

Common Name    -  NUX-VOMIC/ STRYCHNINE

Valid Name     -  Strychnos nux-vomica Linn.

Synonyms       -  

Vernacular     -  Eng. - Nux-Vomic, Strychnine, Snake - Wood
                  Kan. - Nanjina, Kasan, Kasankara
                  Mal. - Kanjiram
                  Mar. - Kasara, Kajra
                  Tam. - Yetti, Kanjaram

Allied Species -  Strychnos potatorum

     Trees, 12-15 m tall; branches often lenticellate. Leaves 12-
16  x 7-8 cm, broadly elliptic, obtuse or acute, base  attenuate, 
3-5  nerved  from  base,  2  outer-most  nerves  obscure;  nerves 
distinctly  looped  along margins; petiole 7-9 mm  long.  Flowers 
many, greenish - white, in axillary cymes; peduncle and  pedicels 
short. Calyx 1.5 - 2.5 mm long, pubescent without. Corolla - tube 
cylindric,  5-6 mm long; lobes 5, each 2 - 2.5 mm long,  narrowly 
oblong.  Stamens  5; filaments short. Ovary ovoid, 2  -  loculed; 
locules many ovuled; style 3 - 4 mm long; stigma capitate.

Herbarium - SMA 771, 1449 

Habitat       -  Moist deciduous forests

Distribution  -  Global - Indian, Ceylon
                 India - Peninsular India
                 Western  Ghats  - All foothills  and  plains,  < 
                                   700m, < 18*N
                 Districts - Uttara Kannada, Coorg (Karn.);
                             Cannonore,   Palakkad,    Trivandrum 
                             (Kerala);
                             Courtallum (Tamil Nadu);
                             Goa

Abundance    -   Occassional

Uses - Medicinal - Homeopathic

Threat Status     -  Moderate

Forces            -  Overharvest   of  fruits   &   seeds   by 
                     Pharmaceuticals

Protective Areas  -  All over

Measures          -  Reduce overharvest