Morphological Variation of Strychnos spinosa Lam. Morphotypes: A Case Study at Bonamanzi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Strychnos spinosa Lam. of the Loganiaceae family is associated with versatility, poverty eradication, and rural economic development. However, morphological diversity S. not well documented. This limits efforts toward its improvement commercial exploitation. study aimed to characterize variability, vegetative reproductive traits, heritability morphotypes at Bonamanzi Game Reserve. The majority had green, rough, round immature fruits dark elongated, open fully developed leaves. Fruits varied between roundish pyriform shape as green purple colour. Positive correlation was mainly seen fruit seed traits. Principal component analysis indicated traits major discriminating factors for morphotypes, followed by leaf size thickness. A dendrogram primarily grouped according texture. Genotypic variance genotypic coefficient variation were higher than environmental in spinosa. rough pericarp texture tinge on leaves some recorded first time. Differences features across indicate a high level that could be utilized breeders generate new cultivars. report variability among forms basis available germplasm essential future breeding programs.