Abrus is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae and the only genus found in the tribe Abreae. It contains, 13–18 species, but is best known for a single species, Jequirity (A. precatorius). The highly toxic seeds of that species are used to make jewellery. A. precatorius of the drug is collected all the year round, removed from soil and dried.
Abrus cantoniensis roots mostly conical, the upper part thick and the lower part thin, branched varying in length, 0.5 - 1.5cm in diameter. Externally greyish brown, rough with fine longitudinal striations, rootlets extremely thin, some fallen off or with remainings. Texture hard, stems caespitose, 50 - 100cm long, about 0.2cm in diameter, greyish brown to purplish brown, branchlet slender, sparsely pubescent. Leaves pinnately compound, alternate, leaflets in 8 - 11 pairs, mostly fallen off, oblong. 0.8 - 1.2cm long, apex truncate, mucronulate, lower surface with pronated hairs. Odor slightly aromatic, taste slightly bitter.