Strychnos cathayensis Merr.

Lianas to 8 m. Young branchlets pubescent, glabrescent, with axillary double tendrils or erect spines. Petiole 2--4 mm; leaf blade elliptic to narrowly oblong, 2--10 X 0.5--4 cm, abaxially puberulent, adaxially green, glabrous, and shiny, base obtuse to rounded, apex acute to acuminate, basal veins 3(--5), veins adaxially impressed. Cymes terminal or axillary, 3--4 cm, many-flowered; peduncle puberulent; bracteoles ovate to triangular, ca. 1 mm. Flowers 5-merous, 0.8--1.2 cm. Pedicels ca. 2 mm, puberulent. Calyx lobes ovate, ca. 1 X 0.5 mm, outside puberulent. Corolla white, salverform, ca. 1.2 cm, glabrous, outside sometimes papillose, tube ca. 9 mm; lobes oblong, to 3.5 mm, slightly thickened. Stamens inserted at corolla mouth, ca. 2 mm; filaments ca. 0.5 mm; anthers oblong, 1.5--2 mm, glabrous. Pistil to 1.1 cm, glabrous. Ovary ovoid, ca. 1 mm. Style slender, to 1 cm; stigma capitate. Berries globose, 1.5--3 cm in diam., 2--7-seeded. Seeds saucer-shaped, 2--2.5 cm wide, densely puberulent. Fl. Mar-Jun, fr. Jun-Dec.

Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [N Vietnam].

300--800 m.