Grape strychnos
Strychnos potatorum

Family: Loganiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It can be 5-15 m high. The bark is pale grey or silver-grey. The leaves are oval and 6-15 cm long by 3-9 cm wide. They are thin in texture. They are glossy green above and paler underneath. The flowers are whitish to yellowish-green. They are 5 mm long. They occur in 2-5 flowered heads on very slender stalks. Several heads occur together forming a spiky looking cluster. The fruit are round and softly fleshy. They are smooth and 2 cm across.

The ripe seeds are used to clear muddy water.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows at medium to low altitudes. It occurs in open woodland and along dry watercourses.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Botswana, East Africa, India, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw and made into preserves. The skin and seeds are avoided. The very young fruit are made into a preserve and eaten. In India the seeds are roasted and eaten. CAUTION: The fruit are considered poisonous. CAUTION: Many Loganiaceae are very poisonous.

Edible parts

Fruit, caution, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ambu-prasada, Black bitterberry, Chillachettu, Chilladabeeja, Chillaginjalu, Chilu, Clearing nut, Dupa, Gajrah, Induga, Indupachettu, Iriya, Kariakval, Kataka, Katakami, Kotaku, Kuchla, M'tupa, Mitupe, Neimal, Nelmal, Nirmali, Sillakottai, Tetan-kotai, Tetran-paral, Tetta, Tettamparel, Tettan cottay marum, Tettran, Toillaghenjaloo, Water-filter nut

Synonyms

Strychnos stuhlmannii Gilg.;