馬錢屬

Trees or scandent shrubs. Leaves opposite, 3-5 nerved, the scandent species bear short clavate tendrils in some of the axils. Flowers in terminal or axillary cymes; calyx small, 4- or 5-lobed; corolla tube short or long or hardly any, lobes 4 or 5, valvate; stamens 5, inserted on corolla tube, filaments short; ovary 2-celled, styles long or short or hardly any, stigmas small, capitate or slightly 2-lobed; ovules many in each cell. Fruit a globose or oblong berry, 1-2 or usually many-seeded; seeds globose, discoid or oblong, with horny endosperm.

A tropical and subtropical genus, with about 190 species. One in Taiwan.

Lower Taxon

• Strychnos cathayensis Merrill

Related Synonym(s):

• Strychnos henryi Merr. & Yamamoto ex Yamamoto = Strychnos cathayensis Merrill