noun
- plural of ignatius; a tropical tree (Strychnos ignatii) native to the Philippines, or the poisonous seeds it produces, historically used in small doses for medicinal purposes
Usage: Also called Saint Ignatius bean or Ignatius bean; Contains strychnine and other alkaloids; Primarily of historical or botanical interest
Examples
- The ignatias tree grows in tropical regions of Southeast Asia.
- Historically, ignatias were used in traditional medicine despite their toxicity.
- The seeds of ignatias contain strychnine, a highly poisonous alkaloid.
- Botanists study ignatias as an example of plants with medicinal and toxic properties.