XLIV. 



STRYCHNOS* NUX VOMICA. 



Poison Nut. 



Synonyms. — Nux Vomica officinarum, Bank. Uiv., 511; Rati Hist., 1814; 

 Oer. Em., 1546. Solarium arboreum iDclicum maximum, Breyn. Prod., !>7. 

 Caniram, Rheede Hort. Maldb., vol. i. p. 67, t. 37. Strychnos Nux Vomica, Linn. 

 Sp. PL, 271 ; Willd., vol. L p. 1052 ; Roxl. Corom., vol. i. p. 8, t. 4. 



Foreign Names.— Fr. : Noix Vomique. Hal. : Noce Vomica. £paw, : Mata- 

 perros. Par/ : Noz Vomica. Germ.: Kralu naugen, Brechnusse. DuL: Braak* 

 nooten. Dan. s Broeknod. Swed. : Rafkaka. Arab. : Lcugralke, Kanekuikell. 

 Tarn, : Yet tie cottay. Tel. : MusadL Sans. : Veshamoostcheegum. Hind. : 

 Kooohla. Chin. : Ma-tseen. Mai. : Caniram. 



Nat. Order, Ltjripje, Linn. ; Apocyneje, Juss., De Cand., etc. 



Pextandria, Monogynia. 



Gen. Char. — Calyx four to five-partite. Corolla tubular, with a spread- 

 ing, four to five-cleft limb, and a valvate aestivation. Stamens four to 

 five, inserted into the throat of the corolla, which is either naked or 

 bearded. Ovary two-celled, with indefinite ovules attached to a central 

 placenta. Style one. Stigma capitate* Berry corticated, one-celled, 

 many-seeded, or, by abortion, one-seeded. Seeds nodular, discoidal. 

 Albumen large, cartilaginous, almost divided into two plates. Embryo 



with leafy cotyledons (Liadley). 



Spec. Char. — Leaves opposite, three and five-nerved, oval, lurid. Berries 

 many-seeded {Roxburgh). 



Tig. 1. The corolla cut open, showing the anthers (magnified). 2. The gerznen, 

 pistil, and calyx. 3. The nut % 4. Section of the fruit. The figure and dis- 

 sections are from Hayne. 



The systematic name Strychnos, which occurs in Pliny and Dioscorides, is 

 derived from crrpcuvvvfiL, to strew or to overthrow, in allusion to the powerful effects 

 of the plant to which it is a u igned, the ^.rpvxvos of the Greeks, being a kiud of night- 

 shade. It was Linnaeus who adopted this name for the present genus, on account 

 of the analogy of b s poisonous qualities with the plant of the ancients. 



