| Ignatia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Loganiaceae |
| Genus: | Strychnos |
| Species: | S. ignatia |
| Binomial name | |
| Strychnos ignatia Lindl. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Ignatia amara Linné filius
Ignatiana philippinica Loureiro Strychnos hainanensis Merrill & Chun Strychnos ignatii Bergius Strychnos ovalifolia Wallich ex G. Don Strychnos philippensis Blanco |
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Strychnos ignatia is a tree in the Loganiaceae family, native to the Philippines and parts of China. It is named for Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit missionary order.
Contents |
The fruit of Strychnos ignatii is the size and shape of a pear, and has almond-like seeds known as Saint Ignatius' beans.[1]
The beans of the plant contain the alkaloids strychnine and brucine. Strychnine is highly toxic, with an LD50 of 1-2 milligrams per kilogram, and was formerly used in rat poisons. Brucine is also toxic, but less so.
The plant is the source of a homeopathic remedy known as ignatia, ignatia amara, or as iamara, which is used to treat grief, depression and other conditions.