Acokanthera

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Acokanthera
File:Acokanthera oblongifolia - poison arrow plant - from-DC1.jpg
Poison arrow plant, Acokanthera oblongifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Rauvolfioideae
Tribe: Carisseae
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 A. schimperi also occurs in Yemen.[1] Its sap contains the deadly toxin ouabain, a glycoside that causes heart failure. The sap is among the most commonly used in arrow poisons,[2][3] including those used for poaching elephants.[4]

File:Acokanthera schimperi - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-150.jpg
Acokanthera schimperi
from Köhler's Medizinal Pflanzen 1897

The poison it contains works by stopping the heart, like most other arrow poisons.[5]

Species[1]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ a b c Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  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.
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  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

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