Strychnos madagascariensis is an often many-stemmed and much-branched deciduous shrub or small tree with a spreading, irregular, angular canopy; it can usually grow from 1·5 - 10 metres tall, occasionally to 20 metres. The bole, which can be 7 - 60cm in diameter, is usually branched from low down.The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. The fruit is sold in local markets
