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Strophanthus hispidus
Strophanthus hispidus, the hispid strophanthus, (family: Apocynaceae)[4] is a liana or shrub that can grow up to 5 metres (16 ft) tall. Its flowers feature a yellow corolla and yellow corona lobes spotted with red, purple or brown.[5] The seeds, like those of several other Strophanthus species, contain potent cardiac glycosides (notably strophanthin) absorbable through wounds - hence its use in African arrow poisons and later in modern medicine as a digitalis-like heart stimulant.[6] Strophanthus hispidus is native from west tropical Africa east to Tanzania and south to Angola. It is naturalized in China.[3] History of discoveryThe plant was observed for the first time in Senegambia by a certain monsieur Houdelot, then in Sierra Leone between 1771 and 1775 by Henry Smeathman, likewise in Nigeria (in use among the Nupe) by William Balfour Baikie, in Gabon by Marie-Théophile Griffon du Bellay and in West Tropical Africa by Gustav Mann.[7] References Wikimedia Commons has media related to Strophanthus hispidus.
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