Strychnos erichsonii R.H.Schomb. ex Progel

  • 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 erichsonii R.H.Schomb. ex Progel

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - British Guiana: Altson 464 (K); basin of the Potaro River, Altson 457 (K); basin of the Mazaruni River, Forest Dept. 6392; basin of the Essequibo River, Maguire A Fanshawe 22929. French Guiana (Montagne de Kau), Cowan 38762. Colombia: Putumayo (near border with Ecuador, in front of Nueva Granada), Idroho 2634; Amazonas/Vaupés: basin of Rio Apaporis, Garcia-Barriga 14222, 14233, 14242, Schultes A Cabrera 12644 (US), 15542 (US), 16587 (US), 16770 (US), 16883 (US), 16887 (US), 17021 (US), 17402 (US), 17050 (US); basin of Rio Miritiparana, Schultes A Cabrera 16276 (US), 16280 (US), 16462 (US); basin of Rio Kananari, Schultes A Cabrera 13153 (US). Brazil: Territory of Amapa: Igarage Ponta Narri, Black 49-8477; basin of Rio Oiapoque, Froes 26634. State of Para: basin of Rio Guama, Froes 20389, 20422, Dardano A Black 483073, 48-3078, Pires A Silva 4591; near Belem, Black 49-8143, Antonio Silva 471, Milo T. da Silva 313 (US), Froes s.n. (Merck 51R6370), 27738 (US). Territory of Rio Branco: Froes 22916. Matto Grosso: Moore 574.Distribution: British Guiana (basins of the Essequibo, Pomeroon, Berbice and Mazaruni Rivers), Surinam, French Guiana, Venezuela (Bolivar, basin of the upper Rio Paragua), Brazil, Colombia (Vaupés, Amazonas and Putumayo). Doubtless occurs also in adjacent Peru. In Brazil it has been collected in the Teritory of Amapa (incl. the basin of Rio Oiapoque) ; in the State of Para (near Belem and in the basin of Rio Guama); in the Territory of Rio Branco; in the State of Amazonas (basins of the upper Rio Negro, of Rio Tonantins, of the middle Rio Jurua and of the upper Rio Solimoes), in the State of Matto Grosso and in the State of Maranhão.It is common in the three Guianas, in the State of Maranhão, in the basin of the upper Rio Colimoes in the State of Amazonas and in the basin of Rio Guama in the State of Para, Brazil also in the basin of Rio Apaporis, Amazonas/Vaupes, Colombia.

  • Discussion

    Local name: Á-da-pee (Karipako), ee-nee-má Karapaná), koo-ee-et (Maku), cuit (Macuna), limanaju (Lesana, subtribe of the Macunas), ua-oó-nee-ma-ma (Makune), yawn-yot, yow-yoo (Puinave), wau-reé-ko-a (Tanimuka), ha-raupee, ha-ra-pa (Yakuna). These Indian names are cited as they appear on the labels of specimens collected by Schultes A Cabrera, also of Garcia-Barriaga in the basin of Rio Apaporis, Amazonas/Vaupés, Colombia. In Ducke’s key made on the basis of fruit characters, this species comes together with S. Mitscherlichii (31: 56). According to Schultes, this species is used in curare by the Kofán Indians on the Rio Putumayo in Colombia (6: 14; 7: 7) Fanshawe (34: 66) gives the following information on the local names, on the field characters of this bush-rope, on its distribution in British Guiana and on its alkaloids, probably on the authority of Dr. King: “Local names: Devildoer; kwabanaro (Arawak); urariballi (Arawak); oraridan (Carib); kumarawa (Akawaio, Arekuna, Patamona, Macushi). “A canopy climber to 12 inches in diameter; bark dark, reddish-brown, rough, slash pale crimson, hard, brittle and thin as in S. diaboli). “It occurs occasionally, chiefly in mora forest on mora trees in the North Central and North East districts, the Pakaraima Mountains, and the far interior. “The total alkaloids have a convulsant, strychnine-like action; hence its use as an aphrodisiac.” As per King, the alkaloid content of this species was found to be “+ + + + ” (74). In another paper by the same author (75), the alkaloid content is given as “+ + +,” curare action “none.” The author states: “Of the other species recorded in the table, S. Erichsonii is very rich in alkaloids, but they seem to resinify with great ease and may need a special technique for their characterization.” This work was done on For. Dept. 2284 (from British Guiana) which we cite under S. Erichsonii (4: 344). It is not known which part of the plant was used for this work, presumably stem bark. For information on the pharmacological actions of total alkaloids of this species as found by Dr. Ranyard West, see under S. diaboli.

  • Distribution

    Distribution: British Guiana (basins of the Essequibo, Pomeroon, Berbice and Mazaruni Rivers), Surinam, French Guiana, Venezuela (Bolivar, basin of the upper Rio Paragua), Brazil, Colombia (Vaupés, Amazonas and Putumayo). Doubtless occurs also in adjacent Peru. In Brazil it has been collected in the Teritory of Amapa (incl. the basin of Rio Oiapoque) ; in the State of Para (near Belem and in the basin of Rio Guama); in the Territory of Rio Branco; in the State of Amazonas (basins of the upper R

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