| Forest poison rope | |
|---|---|
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 | |
| Strophanthus speciosus [1] | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Strophanthus |
| Species: | S. speciosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Strophanthus speciosus | |
| Synonyms [3] | |
| |
Strophanthus speciosus, commonly known as the forest poison rope, is a tree, shrub or woody climber which is native to southern Africa. [4]
Strophanthus speciosus grows as a tree or shrub up to 4 metres (13 ft) tall, and as a liana up to 16 metres (52 ft) long, with a stem diameter up to 3 centimetres (1.2 in). Its flowers feature a white turning orange corolla, red-streaked on the inside. [5]
Strophanthus speciosus is native to Zimbabwe, South Africa and Eswatini. [2] [5] It occurs in forests and their margins from 300–1,400 metres (1,000–5,000 ft) altitude. [5]
Local medicinal uses of S. speciosus include snakebite treatment. The plant has also been used as arrow poison. [5] As with other species of Strophanthus it contains the cardiac glycoside strophanthin - plants of allied genera contain similar compounds.
Strophanthus kombe, the kombe arrow poison, is a vine that grows in the tropical regions of Eastern Africa, and is part of the genus Strophanthus, which contains approximately 38 species. S. kombe contains a cardiac glycoside which directly affects the heart. Historically, both the seeds and roots of the plant were used in the preparation of poison arrowheads used for hunting. Today, the seeds are used pharmaceutically for patients with certain heart conditions that affect blood circulation. The seeds are traded primarily with Europe, but have also been exported to the United States and Japan.
Strophanthus hispidus, the hispid strophanthus, is a liana or shrub that can grow up to 5 metres (16 ft) tall. Its flowers feature a yellow corolla and yellow corona lobes spotted with red, purple or brown. The seeds, like those of several other Strophanthus species, contain potent cardiac glycosides absorbable through wounds - hence its use in African arrow poisons and later in modern medicine as a digitalis-like heart stimulant. Strophanthus hispidus is native from west tropical Africa east to Tanzania and south to Angola. It is naturalized in China.
Strophanthus petersianus, commonly known as sand forest poison rope, is a liana or deciduous shrub up to 15 metres (50 ft) long, with a stem diameter up to 10 centimetres (4 in). Its fragrant flowers feature a white corolla, sometimes with reddish pink stripes on the inside. Strophanthus petersianus has been used as arrow poison and by the Zulu as a charm against evil. Its habitat is coastal forest and rocky woodland. It is native to countries from Kenya south to South Africa.
Strophanthus preussii, the Preuss' strophanthus, is a plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae.
Strophanthus sarmentosus grows as either a deciduous shrub or as a liana up to 40 metres (130 ft) long, with a stem diameter up to 15 centimetres (6 in). Its fragrant flowers feature a white to purple corolla, red or purple-streaked on the inside. Strophanthus sarmentosus is native from west and central tropical Africa to Uganda and Angola. Vernacular names for the plant include spider tresses and poison arrow vine. Its habitat is forested areas from sea level to 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) altitude.
Strophanthus thollonii, or Thollon's strophanthus, is a plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae.
Strophanthus welwitschii grows as a deciduous shrub or small tree up to 5 metres (16 ft) tall, or as a liana up to 8 metres (26 ft) long, with a stem diameter up to 10 centimetres (4 in). Its fragrant flowers feature a white turning purple corolla, creamy and red or purple-streaked on the inside. Its habitat is forests or rocky woodlands from 300 metres (1,000 ft) to 1,800 metres (6,000 ft) altitude. S. welwitschii is used in local medicinal treatments for respiratory conditions, gonorrhoea and scabies. The plant has been used as arrow poison. Strophanthus welwitschii is native to Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Angola and Zambia.
Strophanthus amboensis is a plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae.
Strophanthus boivinii, the wood shaving flower, is a species of plant in the family Apocynaceae.
Strophanthus eminii is a species of flowering plant in the Apocynaceae family. It is referred to by the common name Emin's strophanthus, and grows as a liana up to 10 metres (33 ft) long or as a shrub or small tree up to 7 metres (23 ft) tall, with a stem diameter up to 6 centimetres (2.4 in). Its fragrant flowers feature a pink with white turning red corolla tube, white turning yellow with red spots and streaks inside. Vernacular names for the plant include "spider tresses" and "poison arrow vine". Its habitat is deciduous woodland or rocky bushland, from 600 metres (2,000 ft) to 1,650 metres (5,400 ft) altitude. Strophanthus eminii is used in local medicinal treatments for snakebites, skin diseases and wounds and also as an anthelmintic. The plant has been used as arrow poison. It is native to Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Zambia.
Hunteria umbellata grows as either a shrub or small tree up to 22 metres (72 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 40 centimetres (16 in). Its flowers feature a white, creamy or pale yellow corolla. The fruit is yellow and smooth. Its habitat is forests from sea level to 600 metres (2,000 ft) altitude. Its numerous local medicinal uses include for fever, leprosy sores, stomach and liver problems and as an anthelmintic, especially against internal worms. Hunteria umbellata has been used as arrow poison. The plant's hard wood is used in carving and to make small tools. The species is native to an area of tropical Africa from Guinea-Bissau in the west to Angola in the south.
Hunteria zeylanica grows as either an evergreen shrub or as a tree up to 15 metres (49 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 34.5 centimetres (13.6 in). Its flowers feature a white corolla. The berries are yellow. Its habitat is forests from sea level to 350 metres (1,150 ft) altitude. The trees can withstand salinity. Local medicinal uses include for stomach-ache. Hunteria zeylanica wood is used for weapon handles and as firewood. In Africa, the plant is native to Kenya and Tanzania and in Asia it is native to China, India, Sri Lanka, Indochina and western Malesia.
Rauvolfia mannii grows as a shrub or small tree up to 8 metres (26 ft) tall. Its fragrant flowers feature white to pink or red-brown, or yellow corolla lobes. Its habitat is forests from sea level to 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) altitude. The plant has been used as arrow poison. Rauvolfia mannii is native to central Africa.
Tabernaemontana crassa is a plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, native to tropical Africa.
Tabernaemontana elegans, the toad tree, is a shrub or small tree in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to eastern Africa.
Tabernaemontana pachysiphon grows as a shrub or small tree up to 15 metres (50 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 40 centimetres (16 in). Its fragrant flowers feature white to pale yellow corolla lobes. The fruit is green, almost spherical, up to 15 centimetres (6 in) in diameter. Its habitat is forests from sea level to 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) altitude. Its numerous local medicinal uses include as a styptic, and as a treatment for headache, hypertension and to relieve cramps. The species is native to tropical Africa.
Tabernaemontana ventricosa is a plant in the family Apocynaceae. It grows as a shrub or small tree up to 15 metres (50 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 30 centimetres (12 in) and has white sap. Leaves are paired and crowded near the ends of branches. They are oblong, leathery and a glossy dark green. Flowers are fragrant with white, somewhat twisted lobes, often with a pale yellow center and are set in small clusters at the ends of branches. The fruit is dark green, set in spreading pairs of ellipsoids or oval, beaked pods, up to 10 centimetres (4 in) in diameter. Its habitat is forests from sea level to 1,850 metres (6,000 ft) altitude. In Zimbabwe, it is usually found as part of the understorey of evergreen forests. Local medicinal uses include the treatment of wounds, fever and hypertension. The plant is native to tropical central and southern Africa.
Diplorhynchus is a monotypic genus of plant in the family Apocynaceae native to tropical and southern Africa. As of August 2020, Plants of the World Online recognises the single species Diplorhynchus condylocarpon.
Holarrhena floribunda, commonly known as the false rubber tree, conessi bark or kurchi bark, is a plant in the family Apocynaceae.
Schizozygia is a monotypic genus of plant in the family Apocynaceae found in tropical Africa and the Comoros. As of July 2020, Plants of the World Online recognises the single species Schizozygia coffaeoides.
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