Strychnos usambarensis
Strychnos usambarensis
Safety & 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[ 500 Title Flora of Somalia Publication Author Thulin M. (Editor) Publisher Kew Publishing, London. Year 1993 ISBN Description Detailed information on the plants of the region, often adding notes on the plants uses. ]. The root bark and leaves are used to produce arrow poison, sometimes in combination with other plants[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ].
Botanical Description
Strychnos usambarensis is a vigorous climbing shrub producing stems that can be up to 70 metres long. The plant can grow into the canopy of the forest, attaching itself by means of tendrils. When growing in a more open position, it can sometimes grow more as a shrub or tree up to 15 metres tall with a bole 25cm in diameter[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. It is a source of alkaloids that are used in conventional medicine.