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]

Strophanthus hispidus
Strophanthus hispidus [1]
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Strophanthus
Species:	S. hispidus
Binomial name
Strophanthus hispidus DC.[3]
Synonyms[3]
Strophanthus hirtus Poir. Strophanthus bariba Boye & Bereni Strophanthus tchabe Boye & Bereni Strophanthus thierryanus K.Schum. & Gilg

History of discovery

The 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]