Acokanthera

Acokanthera
Poison arrow plant, A. oblongifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Acokanthera
Synonyms[1]
  • Toxicophlaea Harv.

Acokanthera is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. It comprises 5 species and is generally restricted to Africa, although Acokanthera schimperi also occurs in Yemen.[1] Its sap contains the deadly cardiotoxic glycoside ouabain. The sap is among the most commonly used in arrow poisons,[2][3] including those used for poaching elephant.[4]

Acokanthera schimperi
from Köhler's Medizinal Pflanzen 1897
Species[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. Gould, George M. (1905). Dictionary of New Medical Terms. London: Bailliere Tindall & Cox. p. 36.
  3. Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors), 2008. Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 11(1). Medicinal plants 1. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen, Netherlands / Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands / CTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. 791 pp.
  4. Kinloch, Bruce (1988). The Shamba Raiders. Hampshire: Ashford. p. 21. ISBN 1852530359.


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