Strophanthus speciosus
(Ward & Harv.) Reber
Apocynaceae
Christya speciosa Ward & Harv.
Strophanthus capensis A.DC.
Common Name:
Close-up of the flower
Photograph by: Stickpen
Public domain
Close-up of the flower
Photograph by: Stickpen
Public domain
Shrubby form of the plant in cultivation
Photograph by: Raffi Kojian
General Information
Strophanthus speciosus is an evergreen shrub growing 1 - 4 metres tall, often becoming a climbing shrub with stems up to 16 metres long and up to 3cm in diameter[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.
Known Hazards
The plant is possibly used as an arrow poison and for criminal purposes[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Botanical References
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
Range
Southern Africa - Zimbabwe, Swaziland, S. Africa.
Habitat
Evergreen forests, often at margins, usually at elevations from 900 - 1,500 metres, exceptionally from 300 - 1,800 metres[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Climber |
| Height | 8.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Mature fruits occur throughout the year, with a peak in the dry season[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is used to treat snakebites in humans and cattle. For humans the powdered root is sniffed or the root is chewed and the sap is swallowed, while spoonfuls of roasted pulverized root are given to cattle[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The cardiac glycosides (cardenolides) strospeside and christyoside have been isolated from the seeds[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
