Strychnos brasiliensis (Spreng.) Mart.

  • Authority

    Krukoff, Boris A. 1965. Supplementary notes on the American species of Strychnos VII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 12: 1-94.

  • Family

    Loganiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Strychnos brasiliensis (Spreng.) Mart.

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Brazil: J .G. Kuhlmann 1582. Minas Gerais: Irwin 2201 (US). Rio de Janeiro: Brade 16806 (M) (Serra dos Orgâos, 1000 m), Góes & Constantino 747 (M), Luiz Emygdio de Mello 1270 (US). São Paulo: Segadas Vienna 2714, Pickel 5453 (US). Parana (elev. 1120 m), Hatschbach 14323 (F). Santa Catarina: Hatschbach 1118 (US), Klein 822 (US), 1273, 1427, Reitz & Klein 4392, 4683, 5653 (US), 7333 (US), L. B. Smith & Reitz 8807 (US), L. B. Smith & Klein 8505 (US) (alt. 1000-1300 m, lower slopes of Morro Iquarerim), 8212, 11804 (US, M), 11890 (US), Reitz & Klein 4392, 4683. Rio Grande do Sul: Palacios-Cuezzo 930 (M), Rambo 29261 (M), 38722 (F, W), 49491 (M). Paraguay: Hassler 7464 (W), Woolston 1134 (US). Argentina: Misiones: Curran 45 (US), Edmundo Gesmero s.n. (Herb. Inst. Mig. Lillo 98633) (US), Montes 2189 (GH), Schulz 7021 (W), Schwarz 3739 (US, W), 4426 (US, W), Schwindt 695 (W). Corrientes: Burkart 19718 (US), Cabrera 11918 (US), Harrola 1479 (W), Paderson 2912. Bolivia: Sta Cruz (Cerro de Amboró, elev. 1000 m), Steinbach s.n. (Herb. Inst. Mig. Lillo 58873) (GH).This is the first record of the species from Bolivia.Distribution: Brazil (Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Parana, Sta Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul); Paraguay, Argentina (Misiones, Corrientes), and Bolivia (Santa Cruz).

  • Discussion

    This species is one of the very few of the genus which is confined to the subtropics. The highest elevation of 1500-2000 m is recorded for it in Campos do Jordão, São Paulo (J. Eugenio Leite 3594). The species is one of the most frequently collected species, the others being S. guianensis and S. Mitscherlichii. It is very satisfying that no nomenclatural changes were made in this complex since we revised the American species. I am in complete agreement with Ducke that it is best studied on the basis of the cultivated plants grown from seeds collected from various regions of its extensive range. According to Ducke (31: 49, 54), fruits and seeds permit an easy and conclusive identification of this species. His description is quoted below: “Testa cartilagenous, very thin, entirely glabrous. Seeds 1, perfectly globose (or, seldom, 2 semiglobose). Fruits very small (diameter 10-20 mm.); the young ones, obovoid; the adult, globose or subglobose with obtuse or narrowed base, red or orangish red, smooth, shining, shell very thin, more fleshy than papery.” Its fruits and seeds are very similar to those of the West Indian S. Grayi. For information on the tests of crude extracts of this species on curare-like action, see under S. trinervis.

  • Distribution

    Distribution: Brazil (Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Parana, Sta Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul); Paraguay, Argentina (Misiones, Corrientes), and Bolivia (Santa Cruz).

    Brazil South America| Paraguay South America| Argentina South America| Bolivia South America|