Strychnos pungens (English: spine-leaved monkey-orange, Afrikaans: Stekelblaarklapper) is a tree which belongs to the Loganiaceae. Usually about 5m tall, occurring in mixed woodland or in rocky places. Branches are short and rigid. Leaves are smooth, stiff, opposite, elliptic and with a sharp, spine-like tip. Occurring in South Africa on the Witwatersrand, Magaliesberg and further north to northern Namibia, northern Botswana and Zimbabwe.
| Strychnos pungens | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Loganiaceae |
| Genus: | Strychnos |
| Species: | S. pungens
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| Binomial name | |
| Strychnos pungens | |
The fruit is large (120mm diameter), round and with a smooth hard shell, bluish-green in colour and turning yellow when ripe. The pulp of ripe fruit is rich in citric acid and is edible, but the seeds are mildly poisonous. The tree is a close relative of Strychnos nux-vomica, the source of strychnine.
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bark -
foliage -
flowers -
fruit
References
edit- ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2019). "Strychnos pungens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T146200724A146200726. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146200724A146200726.en. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- Strychnos pungens. 2008. doi:10.17226/11879. ISBN 978-0-309-10596-5. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - "Strychnos pungens". Namibian Biodiversity Database. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- "Strychnos pungens". Operation wildflower. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- New Fruits for Arid Climates
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