Strychnos potatorum L.f.

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Photo: Rob Burrett
One Step Mine, Battlefields

Photo: Bart Wursten
Close to the lodges, Sinamatella, Hwange NP

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mahenye Village.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along main Zvishavane - Rutenga road

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Synonyms:	Strychnos stuhlmannii Gilg
Common names:	Black bitterberry (English) Grape strychnos (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Small to medium-sized tree with dense foliage. Leaves opposite, 3-5-veined from the base, elliptic to ovate, glossy dark green, thinly textured, hairless. Flowers in axillary clusters of several, stalked, few-flowered heads, whitish to yellowish-green. Fruit up to 20 mm in diameter, purple-black when ripe, resembling grapes.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	potatorum: resembling a potato, presumably referring to the fruit, which looks more like a grape
Habitat:	In dry woodland, along dry water courses and on termite mounds.
Flowering time:	Oct - Nov
Worldwide distribution:	Tropical Africa to northern Botswana and Limpopo, South Africa
Botswana distribution:	N
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Monday 9 February 2015
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 782. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 53. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Pages 929 - 930. (Includes a picture). Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Page 540. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 268. Leeuwenberg, A.J.M. (1983). Loganiaceae (inc. Buddlejaceae) Flora Zambesiaca 7(1) Pages 370 - 371. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 58. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 100. Under Strychnaceae Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 542 - 545. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 108. Setshogo, M.P. & Venter, F. (2003). Trees of Botswana: names and distribution SABONET Report No. 18 Southern African Botanical Diversity Network, Pretoria Page 124. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Pages 117 - 118. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 217. Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 252 - 253. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Strychnos potatorum:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Strychnos potatorum
Flora of Caprivi: Strychnos potatorum
Flora of Malawi: Strychnos potatorum
Flora of Mozambique: Strychnos potatorum
Flora of Zambia: Strychnos potatorum
Flora of Zimbabwe: Strychnos potatorum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Strychnos potatorum
African Plant Database: Strychnos potatorum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Strychnos potatorum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Strychnos potatorum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Strychnos potatorum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Strychnos potatorum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Strychnos potatorum
JSTOR Plant Science: Strychnos potatorum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Strychnos potatorum
Plants of the World Online: Strychnos potatorum
Tropicos: Strychnos potatorum
Wikipedia: Strychnos potatorum