Strophanthus preussii, the Preuss' strophanthus,[3] is a plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae.
| Strophanthus preussii | |
|---|---|
Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Strophanthus |
| Species: | S. preussii |
| Binomial name | |
| Strophanthus preussii | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Strophanthus preussii grows as an evergreen liana up to 12 metres (39 ft) long or a shrub up to 5 metres (16 ft) tall, with a stem diameter up to 2.5 centimetres (1 in). Its fragrant flowers feature a white to orange corolla, red-striped or spotted on the inside. Corollas have very long tails. Other vernacular names for the plant include "spider tresses" and "poison arrow vine".[4]
Strophanthus preussii is native to west and central tropical Africa.[2][4] Its habitat is forested areas from sea level to 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) altitude.[4]
Traditional medicinal uses of Strophanthus preussii include treatment of gonorrhoea and healing of sores. The plant has also been used as arrow poison.[4]
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