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Useful Tropical Plants

Strychnos colubrina

L.

Loganiaceae

+ Synonyms

Strychnos acuminata Wall.

Strychnos bancroftiana F.M.Bailey

Strychnos barbata A.W.Hill

Strychnos celebica Koord

Strychnos cinnamophylla Gilg & Gilg-Ben.

Strychnos dubia A.W.Hill

Strychnos forbesii A.W.Hill

Strychnos hypogyna C.B.Clarke

Strychnos kerstingii Gilg & K.Schum.

Strychnos luzonensis Elmer

Strychnos multiflora Benth.

Strychnos myriantha Gilg & Gilg-Ben.

Strychnos pycnoneura Gilg & Gilg-Ben.

Strychnos septemnervis C.B.Clarke

Strychnos similis A.W.Hill

Common Name: Snake Wood

Strychnos colubrina
Strychnos colubrina Strychnos colubrina Strychnos colubrina

General Information

Snake wood is usually a climbing shrub, though there are reports that it can sometimes become tree-like[
451
Title
Flora Malesiana Series 1
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://www.archive.org
Publisher
Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
]. It attaches itself to other plants for support by means of tendrils. The stems can be of great size, often 20 - 30cm in diameter[
460
Title
Flora Medica
Publication
 
Author
Lindley J.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
Longman, Orme, Brown, Green and Longmans: London
Year
1838
ISBN
 
Description
A massive work - many of the botanical names have changed, but the book is still a wealth of information.
].
The plant is commonly gathered from the wild for local medicinal use, and is often sold in local markets. It is particularly valued as an antidote to snake bites.

Known Hazards

A decoction of the wood, bark and roots is used as a poison for arrows[
451
Title
Flora Malesiana Series 1
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://www.archive.org
Publisher
Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].

Botanical References

451
Title
Flora Malesiana Series 1
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://www.archive.org
Publisher
Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
,
784
Title
Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
HMSO; London
Year
1917
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical publication by Kew Gardens. It contains information on various plants, including a rather dated treatment of the genus Strychnos in Asia.

Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, through southeast Asia to New Guinea, northern Australia and the Solomon Islands.

Habitat

Primary and secondary forests, in New Guinea it is also found in mixed Araucaria forests, at elevations from sea-level up to 1,850 metres[
451
Title
Flora Malesiana Series 1
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://www.archive.org
Publisher
Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitClimber
Height0.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Although toxic, the plant is often used in traditional medicine.

The hard, intensely bitter wood is used for the treatment of dyspepsia and malaria[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
460
Title
Flora Medica
Publication
 
Author
Lindley J.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
Longman, Orme, Brown, Green and Longmans: London
Year
1838
ISBN
 
Description
A massive work - many of the botanical names have changed, but the book is still a wealth of information.
].
The wood of the root is considered an infallible remedy for the bite of the Naga or Cobra de Capella, as well as for that of every other venomous snake. It is applied externally, and at the same time given internally. It is also used in substance for the cure of intermittent fevers[
460
Title
Flora Medica
Publication
 
Author
Lindley J.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
Longman, Orme, Brown, Green and Longmans: London
Year
1838
ISBN
 
Description
A massive work - many of the botanical names have changed, but the book is still a wealth of information.
,
784
Title
Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
HMSO; London
Year
1917
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical publication by Kew Gardens. It contains information on various plants, including a rather dated treatment of the genus Strychnos in Asia.
].

The bruised fruit is applied to the head in the treatment of mania[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
,
615
Title
Pharmacographia Indica
Publication
 
Author
Dymock W.; Warden C.J.H.; Hooper D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Education Society's Press, Byculla; Mombai.
Year
1890
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the principal plant medicines encountered in India in the 19th century.
].
The root, rubbed down with pepper, is used to check diarrhoea[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
,
615
Title
Pharmacographia Indica
Publication
 
Author
Dymock W.; Warden C.J.H.; Hooper D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Education Society's Press, Byculla; Mombai.
Year
1890
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the principal plant medicines encountered in India in the 19th century.
].
Boiled with oil, the fruit is used as a liniment for pains in the joints[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
,
615
Title
Pharmacographia Indica
Publication
 
Author
Dymock W.; Warden C.J.H.; Hooper D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Education Society's Press, Byculla; Mombai.
Year
1890
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the principal plant medicines encountered in India in the 19th century.
].

The fresh leaves, rubbed into a paste with cashew nut kernels, is applied to suppurating tumours[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].

An overdose of the plant occasions tremors and vomiting, but in smaller doses it may be considered as a useful vermifuge, and be given also with advantage in obstinate quartan agues[
615
Title
Pharmacographia Indica
Publication
 
Author
Dymock W.; Warden C.J.H.; Hooper D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Education Society's Press, Byculla; Mombai.
Year
1890
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the principal plant medicines encountered in India in the 19th century.
].

The bark, seeds and wood contain brucine and some strychnine[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].

Other Uses

The vines are used for tying purposes[
345
Title
Minor Products of Philippine Forests
Publication
 
Author
Brown. W. H.
Publisher
Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
,
451
Title
Flora Malesiana Series 1
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://www.archive.org
Publisher
Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Strychnos+colubrina>

Comments

Sriramadas.Venkateswara Rao 28th October 2015 21:12
Description:
Large, climbing shrubs, tendrils simple or bifid leaves 3.5-7x1.5-3.5cm,elliptical,ovate,acute,base cuneate or obtuse rounded 3-nerved ,coriaceous.Flowers in cymes. Coralla tube and lobes almost equal in length,the throat with woolly tomentum.Ovary and Style hirsute. 2.5-3 mm across. Creamy white in 2.3 cm long.Cymes axillary and on old wood. Berries 1-1.8 cm across, globose, orange-yellow with crustaceous pericorp; Seeds 1-3,0.6-1.2 cm diameter, circular flat. Flowering and Fruiting in May to August.
1.1.2 Distribution:
Rare in the moist shades along ravines. While this taxon is known to occur in Western Peninsular India covering parts of Karnataka and Kerala, it is so far recorded only at Veligonda hills of Nellore district in the entire Eastern Peninsular India. It was first collected by Ramaswamy in 1906(FPM l.c) from Veligonda and again it could be recovered in “Flora of Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh” (Suryanarayana. B. and Sreenivasa Rao., 2002).The existence of the plant also recorded in Chittoor Distict particularly at Kambakkam hills, Ambakkam, Sadhumalammakona, Brahmadevudigundam( Mamandur) (Madhava Chetty. K et al.,2011).
Medicinal importance:
Wood is used to cure Fever. Root is anthelmintic ,also usefull in the treatment of Rheumatism, cutaneous disorders. Fruit is used to prevent Mania. The tribal people of Veligonda hills used the root of this plant for snake bite.

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