Strychnos brasiliensis (Spreng.) Mart.

  • Authority

    Krukoff, Boris A. & Barneby, Rupert C. 1969. Supplementary notes on the American species of Strychnos. VIII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 20: 1-93, IX. 94-99.

  • Family

    Loganiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Strychnos brasiliensis (Spreng.) Mart.

  • Description

    Species Description - Mature fruits globose, very small, 1.5-2 cm in diam; shell very thin, less than 0.5 mm thick, orange-yellow, shining, smooth; testa cartilaginous, very m, seeds usually 1, globose (occasionally 2, subglobose), 7-9 mm in diam; fruit-pedicels about 2 mm in diam (Klein 1427 and others).

  • Discussion

    This species can hardly be told apart from S. grayi on fruit characters, owever the ranges of these two species do not overlap and this permits their identification on fruits alone. Local names: Nuati-curuzú, Palo cruz, Espolón de gallo, Coyón de gallo (Misiones, Argentina). Espuela de gallo (Corientes, Argentina). Roseira do mata (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Salta Martinho (São Paulo, Brazil). The very extensive collections of this species deposited at Instituto Miguel Lillo, Tucumán, Argentina cited above and in our previous papers show clearly that this species is common and well distributed in the province of Misiones, Argentina, being found in all departments of the province except possibly those of Frontera, San Pedro, and Guarani from where the senior author has not seen specimens as yet. Inasmuch as this province, like the neighboring state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, is especially well collected botanically, it is safe to conclude that no other species of Strychnos occurs there. This species is a spiny shrub devoid of tendrils.

  • Distribution

    Brazil. Bowie & Cunningham 36 (BM); Rambo 30825 (S); Pohl sn (Herb. Martii) (BR); Octavio da Silveira sn (Jard. Bot. Rio 55932) (RB); Federal District. Maguire et al. 57039; Minas Gerais: J. G. Kuhlmann 332 (Jard. Bot. Rio 55683) (MO); Mello Barreto 11022 (IAN); Emmerich 2934 (R); O. Leoncini 446 (R); Alvaro da Silveira 1874 (R); ). Rappa 294 (R); Heringer 211+0 (SP); Paraopeba, Heringer 7099 (UB); Rio de Janeiro: Herb. John Miers sn (BM); Schwacke 6086 (R); Goes & Constantino 56 (RB), 767 (RB);

    Brazil South America|