The seeds of a south Indian sample of Strychnos wallichiana Steud. ex DC., previously analysed by Short (1924) under the name S. cinnamomifolia Thwaites and thought to contain mostly brucine with a little strychnine, have now been shown to contain a new base 4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxystrychnine (I) as the major alkaloidal constituent. Smaller amounts of strychnine, 4‐hydroxystrychnine, brucine, vomicine, 4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐N‐methyl‐sec.‐pseudostrychnine (II), and nova‐cine and possibly also α‐colubrine are present. 1973 Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain