Acokanthera oblongifolia

Acokanthera oblongifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Acokanthera
Species:
A. oblongifolia
Binomial name
Acokanthera oblongifolia
Synonyms[1]

Acokanthera oblongifolia (commonly known as African wintersweet, dune poison bush, Hottentot's poison, poison arrow plant or wintersweet[2]) is a plant in the family Apocynaceae. It grows as an evergreen shrub or small tree up to 6 metres (20 ft) tall. Its fragrant flowers feature a white tinged pink corolla. The berries are purple when ripe. Its habitat is dry forest and coastal thickets. Acokanthera oblongifolia is used in local African medicinal treatments for snakebites, itches and internal worms. The plant has been used as arrow poison.[3] The species is native to Mozambique and South Africa.[1][3]

  1. ^ a b c "Acokanthera oblongifolia". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Acokanthera oblongifolia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b Medicinal Plants. PROTA. 2008. pp. 29–30. ISBN 978-9-05782-204-9.