Strophanthus speciosus Tree Seeds - Indigenous South African Arrow Poison Tree Shrub Climber

Strophanthus speciosus Seeds

Forest Tailflower, Poison Rope, Common Poison Rope, Forest Poison Rope

Strophanthus is a genus of 35-40 species of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae, native mainly to tropical Africa, extending to South Africa, with a few species in Asia, from southern India to the Philippines and southern China. The name (strophos anthos, "twisted cord flower") derives from the long twisted threadlike segments of the corolla, which in one species (S. preussii) attain a length of 30-35 cm. The genus includes vines, shrubs and small trees. The leaves are opposite or whorled, simple broad lanceolate, 2-20 cm long, with an entire margin. Several of the African tribes used Strophanthus as the principal ingredient in arrow poison. Plants from this genus produce toxic alkaloids and cardiac glycosides g-strophanthin (syn. ouabain), k-strophanthin and e-strophanthin. As ordinarily administered, the drug acts on the heart before influencing any other organ or tissue. Often indeed no other action can be observed. It is used to produce the drug Ouabain which was taken as a cardiac stimulant to treat heart failure, and is similar to the drug Digoxin produced from Digitalis purpurea. Beware! Strophanthus speciosus can be deadly in high doses, although it is used medicinally in moderate doses. This is a tree or shrub or a much-branched, scandent, scrambling woody climber, up to 10 m tall. The bark is greenish with raised white dots. All parts of the plant have a watery sap. The leathery leaves are usually in whorls of 3. The scented flowers are creamy, yellowish and orange with red marks at the base of each lobe. They are found in terminal clusters and flower September to December. The green fruits mature to light brown. During February and July the fruits (a two-horned pod) split to release seeds dispersed by the wind.