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Scientific
Classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Order: Gentianales
- Family: Loganiaceae
- Genus: Strychnos
- Species: S. innocua
Synonyms
- Strychnos alnifolia Baker
- Strychnos dschurica (Gilg) A.Chev.
- Strychnos huillensis Gilg & Busse
- Strychnos penduliflora Baker
- Strychnos unguacha A.Rich.
Species
ID: NMP-253;wfo-0000502968;NCBI_Taxonomy ID: 1040890 Common
Name: powder-bark
monkey-orange Description Strychnos
innocua is
characterized by:
- Growth Form: A deciduous shrub or small
tree, typically growing 2–12 meters tall, with some specimens reaching up
to 18 meters. The bole is usually branched low, measuring 7–40 cm in
diameter.
- Bark: Grey to grey-brown, smooth,
with a somewhat powdery surface that easily rubs off.
- Leaves: Elliptic to obovate, 4–10 cm
long, dull green with conspicuous pale net-veining on both surfaces.
- Flowers: Greenish-yellow to cream,
arranged in 2- or 4-flowered axillary clusters.
- Fruit: Spherical, bluish-green
turning yellow upon ripening, 4–7.5 cm in diameter, with a hard, woody
skin. The pulp is sweet-sour, yellowish, and slimy, containing many seeds.
Distribution
and Habitat Strychnos
innocua is native
to tropical Africa, including:
- Regions: From Côte d'Ivoire to
Ethiopia, extending south to Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
It
thrives in:
- Habitats: Deciduous woodlands, open
woodlands, and rocky hills, at elevations from near sea level up to 1,600
meters.
Medicinal
Properties Traditional
uses of S. innocua include:
- Edible Fruit: The ripe pulp is consumed raw;
however, excessive consumption can cause stomach upsets due to the
presence of strychnine.
- Leaves: Cooked and eaten as a
vegetable in some parts of West Africa.
Known
Toxicity Various
parts of Strychnos plants, especially the seeds and bark, contain toxic
alkaloids such as strychnine and brucine. While the fleshy pulp of the ripe
fruits is often edible, it can cause stomach upsets if consumed in large
quantities due to the presence of strychnine. Therefore, caution is advised,
and consultation with knowledgeable practitioners is recommended before use. Additional
Information
- Etymology: The genus name Strychnos
is derived from an ancient Greek term for a poisonous plant, while the
specific epithet innocua means "harmless," referring to
the lack of spines.
- Ecological Role: The tree is part of the
savannah forest ecosystem across tropical Africa, contributing to local
biodiversity.
Its
edible fruit and traditional uses underscore the importance of S. innocua
in various African cultures. References - Plants
of the World Online. (n.d.). Strychnos innocua Delile. Retrieved from
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:547244-1
- Useful
Tropical Plants. (n.d.). Strychnos innocua. Retrieved from https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Strychnos+innocua
- Flora
of Malawi. (n.d.). Species information: Strychnos innocua. Retrieved
from https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=144350
- Agroforestree
Species Profile. (n.d.). Strychnos innocua Del. Retrieved from https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/AFTPDFS/Strychnos_innocua.PDF
External
links - https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Strychnos+innocua
- https://www.gbif.org/species/5645756
- https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=144350
- https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/usefultrees/pdflib/Strychnos_innocua_ETH.pdf
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:547244-1
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