Strophanthus gratus

Strophanthus gratus is a plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae.

Strophanthus gratus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Strophanthus
Species:
S. gratus
Binomial name
Strophanthus gratus
Synonyms[1]
  • Roupellia grata Wall. & Hook.
  • Roupalia grata (Wall. & Hook.) T.Moore & Ayres
  • Strophanthus stanleyanus Hook.
  • Strophanthus glaber Cornu ex Holmes
  • Nerium guineense Brongn. ex Perrot & Vogt
  • Strophanthus chopraie M.R.Almeida

Description

Strophanthus gratus is a woody liana that can grow up to 25 metres (80 ft), with a trunk diameter of up to 10 centimetres (4 in). Its fragrant flowers feature a white corolla, topped by red or purple colour, with pink corona lobes.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Strophanthus gratus is native to tropical Africa: from Senegal in the west, east and south to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is naturalized in Taiwan and also Trinidad and Tobago.[1]

Uses

Strophanthus gratus has been used in local traditional medicine: ouabain derived from the plant's seeds is used as a treatment for heart failure. It has also been used as arrow poison.[2]

References
  1. "Strophanthus gratus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  2. "Strophanthus gratus". eFloras. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Strophanthus gratus.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.