Strychnos nux-vomica L.

Description:

Family: LoganiaceaeDistribution: Common in dry deciduous forests in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and China.5-8m tll deciduous trees. Stem bark ash colored, smooth.Leaves 5-8x3-5cm orbicular-ovate, coriaceous, base attenuate, entire, 3 nerves prominenet.Flowers 2-2.5 cm long, 5-8mm across, greenish yellow or greenish white,in short axillary cymes. Berries 3-5 cm across, pericarp thick, hard,orrange when ripe,pulp white, seeds 2 ashy-grey, compressed.Stem bark is used as fish poison, seeds are used in ulcers, dysentry and fevers. Fruit is poisonous.Photographed at Eastern ghats of Nellore district.Ref: Flora of Presidency of Madras, by J.S.Gamble.