Acokanthera

<i>Acokanthera</i>

Acokanthera

Genus of plants

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

Quick Facts Acokanthera, Scientific classification ...

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

Species[1]

References

  1. [1]
    Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. [2]
    Gould, George M. (1905). Dictionary of New Medical Terms. London: Bailliere Tindall & Cox. pp. 36. poison.
  3. [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. [4]
    Kinloch, Bruce (1988). The Shamba Raiders. Hampshire: Ashford. pp. 21. ISBN 1852530359.
  5. [5]
    Stewart, Amy (2009). Wicked Plants. p. 5.


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