Strophanthus speciosus

Forest poison rope
	Strophanthus speciosus
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Strophanthus
Species:	S. speciosus
Binomial name
	Strophanthus speciosus; (Ward & Harv.) Reber
Synonyms
	Christya speciosa Ward & Harv.; Strophanthus capensis A.DC.;

Strophanthus speciosus, commonly known as the forest poison rope, is a tree, shrub or woody climber which is native to southern Africa.^[4]

Description

Strophanthus speciosus grows as a tree or shrub up to 4 metres (13 ft) tall, and as a liana up to 16 metres (52 ft) long, with a stem diameter up to 3 centimetres (1.2 in). Its flowers feature a white turning orange corolla, red-streaked on the inside.^[5]

Distribution and habitat

Strophanthus speciosus is native to Zimbabwe, South Africa and Eswatini.^[2]^[5] It occurs in forests and their margins from 300–1,400 metres (1,000–5,000 ft) altitude.^[5]

Uses

Local medicinal uses of S. speciosus include snakebite treatment. The plant has also been used as arrow poison.^[5] As with other species of Strophanthus it contains the cardiac glycoside strophanthin - plants of allied genera contain similar compounds.

Gallery

Habit
foliage
the two-horned fruit capsule, releasing seeds from both horns
cloudy latex flowing from a scar where a leaf was broken off

References

^ 1868 illustration by Walter Hood Fitch (1817 – 1892) - Curtis's Botanical Magazine v94 (1868) Plate 5713
^ ^a ^b Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Strophanthus speciosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T149511893A149511895. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T149511893A149511895.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Strophanthus speciosus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
^ Snyman, Hannelie (Kirstenbosch NBG). "Strophanthus speciosus (Ward & Harv.) Reber". PlantZAfrica. SANBI. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Medicinal Plants. PROTA. 2008. p. 560. ISBN 978-9-05782-204-9.

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[1] 1868 illustration by Walter Hood Fitch (1817 – 1892) - Curtis's Botanical Magazine v94 (1868) Plate 5713

[iucn_status_20_November_2021-2] Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Strophanthus speciosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T149511893A149511895. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T149511893A149511895.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.

[WCSP-3] "Strophanthus speciosus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 August 2017.

[hs-4] Snyman, Hannelie (Kirstenbosch NBG). "Strophanthus speciosus (Ward & Harv.) Reber". PlantZAfrica. SANBI. Retrieved 21 March 2019.

[Med-5] Medicinal Plants. PROTA. 2008. p. 560. ISBN 978-9-05782-204-9.

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