Nux Vomica

Location in BHU campus : Planted in Botanical and Ayurvedic gardens.

Botanical name : Strychnos nux-vomica L.

Family : Loganiaceae

Vernacular / local Name : :Bengali-Kuchila, thalkesur; Gujarati -Kuchla; Hindi-Kuchla, bailewa, chibbige, kajra; Kannada-Hemmush, ittangi, itti, kanjira; Malayalam-Kanjiram, kariram; Oriya-Kachila, kora, kosila; Sanskrit-Karaskara, chipita, dirghopatra, geradruma, kakasphurja, marakatindu, vishamushti; Tamil-Etti, kagodi, yeti, kanjirai; Telugu-Mushti, muchidi.

English names : Nux-vomica, Snakewood, Strychnine tree

A tree usually about 13 m high and 1-2m in girth. Leaves 8-15 cm long, broadly elliptic. Flowers greenish white, in terminal compound cymes. Fruit a globose berry and seeds embedded in white bitter pulp.

Flowering: April – May

Fruiting : September-December

• Sacred value

According to the astrologers the plant is associated with Ashwini constellation whose presiding deity is Ashwini.

• Uses

Wood is not attached by termites and used for agriculatural implements,tool-handles, cart-wheels, cabinet-work, etc. Seeds yield a drug, the nux vomica, used as tonic, stimulant and in the treatment of paralysis and nervous disorders.