Tabernaemontana elegans

Tabernaemontana elegans, the toad tree,^[3] is a shrub or small tree in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to eastern Africa.

Toad tree
Habit and the opposite, entire leaves in Limpopo, South Africa
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Tabernaemontana
Species:	T. elegans
Binomial name
Tabernaemontana elegans Stapf[2]
Synonyms[2]
Conopharyngia elegans (Stapf) Stapf Leptopharyngia elegans (Stapf) Boiteau

Description

Tabernaemontana elegans grows up to 15 metres (50 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 30 centimetres (12 in). Its fragrant flowers feature white, creamy or pale yellow corolla lobes. Fruit consists of 2 separate ovoid or ellipsoid pods, up to 8 centimetres (3 in) each.

Distribution and habitat

Tabernaemontana elegans grows in forests or bushland from sea level to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) altitude. The species is native to Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and South Africa.^[4][5][6]

Uses

Tabernaemontana elegans has some local medicinal uses including the treatment of heart disease, cancer, tuberculosis and venereal diseases. The species is also used as an aphrodisiac.^[4] The Zulu name for this genus, iNomfi, refers to the use of their sticky, milky latex as bird-lime.^[7]

Chemistry

Fourteen indole alkaloids have been isolated in the callus culture of Tabernaemontana elegans (isovoacangine, 3-R/S-hydroxy-isovoacangine, 3-R/S-hydroxy-coronaridine, isositsirikine, geissoschizol, tabernaemontanine, vobasine, vobasinol, apparicine, 16-hydroxy-16,22-dihydro-apparicine, tubotaiwine, 3-R/S-hydroxy-conodurine and monogagaine) of which apparicine is the principal.^[8]

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  Milky latex
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  Inflorescence
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  Flower
• 
  Warty, symmetrical fruit
• 
  Visible seeds in dehisced fruit