Common Name:

General Information

Strychnos pungens is an evergreen shrub or a tree; it usually grows from 0.6 - 8 metres tall, though specimens up to 16 metres have been recorded. The bole is around 10 - 20cm in diameter with a thick, fissured bark[, , , ].
The edible fruit is harvested from the wild for local use. In some areas the fruit is of good quality and it is a highly valued food, though in other areas the fruit has an unpleasant smell and is much less eaten[]. The plant also has local medicinal uses and the fruit shells have a range of uses. Although not cultivated, the tree is often left standing when the forest is cleared for cultivation[].

Known Hazards

Various parts of Strychnos plants, especially the seeds and bark, contain toxic alkaloids such as strychnine and brucine. The fleshy pulp of the ripe fruits, however, is often edible[].
The seeds are poisonous[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Southern Africa - Tanzania, southern Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, S. Africa.

Habitat

Woodland, often with Brachystegia, at elevations up to 2,000 metres[]. Dry sites on ledges, rocky slopes, or at the base of stony koppies; also in sandy regions[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	5.00 m
Cultivation Status	Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, , ]. A sweet tasting pulp[]. A hole is made into the shell and the fruit, which is a mixture of juice and a compact cluster of seeds embedded in a slimy pulp, is scooped out[]. The seeds are spat out when eating the fruit because they are believed to be poisonous[, ]. The globose, hard-shelled fruit turns orange or yellow as it matures, it can be 5 - 15cm in diameter, with about 20 - 100 seeds[].
Fruit from trees growing in S. Africa usually has a strong smell and is inferior, from the palatable stand-point, to some of the other large-fruited species in this genus. Reports from Namibia, however, state that in those regions the fruit is palatable and has not got a disagreeable smell[, ].

Medicinal

A decoction of roots is used as a remedy for stomach-ache and bronchitis[].

An infusion from the leaves is used as a lotion for sore eyes[].

Other Uses

The empty fruit shells are used for making rattles[]. The shell, after the flesh has been removed, is left to dry for some time and is then filled with hard dry seeds - preferably those from Rhynchosia resinosa[].
The fruit shell is also sometimes used as a drinking vessel[].

The translucent seeds are sometimes used in making necklaces[].

The yellow wood is used for fuel[, ].

Propagation

Seed -

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: a square has how many sides?