| Acokanthera venenata | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Acokanthera |
| Species: | A. venenata |
| Binomial name | |
| Acokanthera venenata G.Don. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Toxicophlaea thunbergii |
|
Acokanthera venenata (syn. Toxicophlaea thunbergii) 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.
Acokanthera schimperi is employed for the same purpose.