Acokanthera venenata

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iAcokanthera venenata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Acokanthera
Species: A. venenata
Binomial name
Acokanthera venenata
G. Don.

Acokanthera venenata is a shrub used as the source of an arrow poison and to coat caltrops made from the sharp fruits of the puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris). All three plants of the genus Acokanthera contain toxic cardiac glycosides strong enough to cause death. This plant and other species of the genus are found in South Africa and Abyssinia. It was previously also known as Toxicophlaea thunbergii.

Acokanthera schimperi is employed for the same purpose.

[edit] References