ABSTRACT
Strychnos L. (Loganiaceae) is a Pantropical genus comprising approximately 70 species in the New World; 54 of them occuring in Brazil, whose center of diversity is in Amazonia. They inhabit principally dense rain forests, but also restingas and savannas. The genus includes shrubs and lianas, armed or non-armed, rich in indolic alkaloids, with stipules and opposite, simple, entire leaves, tendrils present or not, and flowers in panicles or cymes. In this study, the flora of Strychnos from the State of Rio de Janeiro is presented. Nine species occurs in the State; key for identification, descriptions and comments for the species are provided.
Key words:
diversity; floristics; taxonomy