Strychnos is a genus of flowering plants, belonging to family Loganiaceae (sometimes Strychnaceae). The genus includes about 100 accepted species of trees and lianas, and more than 200 that are as yet unresolved. The genus is widely distributed around the world’s tropics. The genus is noted for the presence of poisonous indole alkaloids in the roots, stems and leaves of the plant. Among the alkaloids are strychnine and curare.

Strychnos decussata is a handsome tree for the garden with an attractive shape. Strychnos decussata is a small to medium tree, 3-12 m high. It has a dense crown with many stems. The bark is smooth or wrinkled and dark purplish grey. Branchlets are in opposite pairs, knobbly, sometimes with raised white dots with no spines. The leaves are small, 15-50 x 10-30 mm, oppositely arranged, hard, shiny, dark to pale green. The leaf blade is curved upwards. The leaf margin is entire, rounded or blunt with a sharp tip. The flowers are small, creamy white, scented and formed in branched clusters on old wood in October to December. The fruits are asymmetric with sharp tips and thin skin, and are orange, round to oval, small, 17 mm in diameter. Strychnos decussata occurs in the coastal belt of the Eastern Cape from Knysna up to KwaZulu-Natal, and east and northeastern Gauteng. It is also found in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It grows on rocky slopes and on stream banks. It is drought resistant. The bark and fruits are poisonous especially when green. Roots and bark are used medicinally for stomach problems and as snuff. Traditionally mixed with crocodile fat, this is a well-known remedy for protection against lightni, hence the common name umKhombazulu (to point the lightning). The Zulu people use it to make the ceremonial stick for their king, hence the common name UmPhathawenkosi (it is carried by the King).