Strychnos amazonica Krukoff

  • 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 amazonica Krukoff

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Colombia: Putumayo (Mocoa and vicinity, alt. 1800-2400 ft.), (?) Schultes & Cabrera 19095 (US). Brazil: Amazonas: basin of the lower Rio Negro (near Manaos), Ducke 2007; basin of Rio Maués, Pires 107.Distribution: Brazil (basin of Rio Maués, of the lower Rio Negro, of Rio Madeira, of the middle Rio Jurua, and of the upper Rio Solimoes, all in the State of Amazonas), Peru (basin of Rio Napo) and Colombia (basin of Rio Putumayo). Common at least in the basins of Rio Maués and of the lower Rio Negro.

  • Discussion

    Mature fruits of this species are now known and were described by Ducke (31: 28, 56). In his key made on the basis of fruit characters, it comes together with S. macrophylla and S. parviflora. This species was studied chemically and pharmacologically by Marini-Bettolo, Bovet and their coworkers. For the alkaloid content, toxicity and curare activity of the total extracts, see (95: 1142, 1144). For rather extensive studies of the alkaloids of this species, see (102). In the summary the authors state that five alkaloids were isolated from S. amazonica, one of which proved to be Mavacurine whereas the others (a, y, 8, e) have not previously been described. The above referred to work was done on the stem bark collected by Ducke, north east of Flores, near Manaos, Amazonas, Brazil in April 1953 (95- 1145- 102: 1180).

  • Distribution

    Distribution: Brazil (basin of Rio Maués, of the lower Rio Negro, of Rio Madeira, of the middle Rio Jurua, and of the upper Rio Solimoes, all in the State of Amazonas), Peru (basin of Rio Napo) and Colombia (basin of Rio Putumayo). Common at least in the basins of Rio Maués and of the lower Rio Negro.

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