Rauvolfia nitida
Jacq.
Apocynaceae
The generic name is often mis-spelt as Rauwolfia[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Rauvolfia angustifolia Salisb.
Rauvolfia lanceolata A.DC.
Rauvolfia nitidissima Steud.
Rauvolfia pulaparia Roxb. ex Sm.
Common Name:
General Information
Rauvolfia nitida is an evergreen shrub or a tree with an open, rounded crown; it can grow 2 - 15 metres tall. The bole can be up to 45cm in diameter[
447- Title
- Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Publication
-
- Author
- Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
- Publisher
- USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
,
746- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 43
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1956
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical publication, it includes a treatment of the genus Rauvolfia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It is sometimes planted near the coast to provide shelter from the wind.
Known Hazards
The fruits are reputedly poisonous[
746- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 43
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1956
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical publication, it includes a treatment of the genus Rauvolfia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Botanical References
447- Title
- Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Publication
-
- Author
- Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
- Publisher
- USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
,
746- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 43
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1956
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical publication, it includes a treatment of the genus Rauvolfia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
C. America - Panama; southern N. America - Mexico; Caribbean - Cuba to Trinidad.
Habitat
Coastal and limestone forests and thickets[
447- Title
- Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Publication
-
- Author
- Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
- Publisher
- USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
]. Sandy and stony soil, on hills, in the forests and in pastures, at elevations from sea-level to 600 metres[
746- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 43
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1956
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical publication, it includes a treatment of the genus Rauvolfia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 9.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Probably requires a sunny position[
447- Title
- Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Publication
-
- Author
- Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
- Publisher
- USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].
The plant flowers and produces fruit almost all year round[
447- Title
- Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Publication
-
- Author
- Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
- Publisher
- USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
A decoction of the bark and leaves has been used as a gargle and internally administered in intestinal disorders and in syphilitic infections[
746- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 43
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1956
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical publication, it includes a treatment of the genus Rauvolfia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The bark is used as an unguent on skin eruptions[
746- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 43
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1956
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical publication, it includes a treatment of the genus Rauvolfia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The plant is an efficient windbreak when planted near the sea shore[
746- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 43
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1956
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical publication, it includes a treatment of the genus Rauvolfia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Other Uses
The heartwood is a clear yellow; the sapwood light brown. The wood is light in weight and hard. It is used for posts and has been suggested for making furniture and musical instruments[
447- Title
- Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Publication
-
- Author
- Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
- Publisher
- USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
