170 



SEEDS 



NUX VOMICA 

 (Semina Strychni, Nux Vomica) 



Source, &C. The nux vomica tree, Strychnos Nux-vomica, Linne 

 (N.O. Loganiacce), is a small tree widely distributed in India, and 

 occurring also in Ceylon, Siam, and northern Australia. Notwith- 



FIG. 93. Nux Vomica. A, corolla opened, magnified. B, ovary 

 with style, magnified. C, ovary cut longitudinally, more 

 highly magnified. D, ripe fruit, cut transversely, showing 

 seeds ; reduced to about one-half. E, seed, entire, natural 

 size : a, hilum ; b, micropyle. F, the same, cut vertically : 

 a, endosperm ; b, radicle ; c, cotyledon. (Luerssen.) 



standing the wide distribution of the tree, and the poisonous 

 properties of the seeds, the Hindus appear to have been unaware 

 of its medicinal action. It was introduced into Europe in the 

 sixteenth century, but was not much used in medicine, being chiefly 

 employed to poison dogs, cats, crows, &c. 



The ripe fruit, which resembles an orange, contains usually from 

 three to five seeds embedded in a bitter whitish pulp. The seeds are 

 washed free from adhering pulp, dried in the sun and sorted. They 

 are collected extensively in the Eastern Ghat mountains and in the 

 Travancore hills, and are exported from various Indian ports (Madras, 

 Bombay, Cochin, Coconada, &c.). 



