Strophanthus gratus
Appearance
Strophanthus gratus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Genus: | Strophanthus |
Species: | S. gratus
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Binomial name | |
Strophanthus gratus | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Strophanthus gratus is a plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae.
Description
[edit]Strophanthus gratus is a woody liana that can grow up to 25 metres (80 ft), with a trunk diameter of up to 10 centimetres (4 in). Its fragrant flowers feature a white corolla, topped by red or purple colour, with pink corona lobes.[2]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Strophanthus gratus is native to tropical Africa: from Senegal in the west, east and south to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is naturalized in Taiwan and also Trinidad and Tobago.[1]
Uses
[edit]Strophanthus gratus has been used in local traditional medicine: ouabain derived from the plant's seeds is used as a treatment for heart failure. It has also been used as arrow poison.[2]
References
[edit]![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Strophanthus gratus.
- ^ a b c "Strophanthus gratus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Strophanthus gratus". eFloras. Retrieved 11 July 2013.