Adenium boehmianum
Schinz
Desert Rose
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Summary
Source: WikipediaAdenium boehmianum, the Bushman poison, is a poisonous succulent endemic to the mostly dry regions of northern Namibia and southern Angola. The San people boil the root sap and latex to prepare arrow poison, which is sufficient for hunting large mammals, as it contains strong cardiotoxic effects. The leaves, borne only for three months a year, are arranged spirally and are clustered near the branch tips. A plant will flower for only a few weeks in winter. The oblong fruit releases many seeds through a longitudinal slit, which due to their lateral tufts, can be dispersed by wind.
Description
A shrub. It can grow 5 m tall. The stem is swollen at the base. It has several branches. The leaves are clustered at the ends of the branches. They are broadly oval and 8-14 cm long by 5-8 cm wide. The flowering shoots are at the end. There are several pink to red flowers.
Known Hazards
The plant is poisonous.
Distribution
It is a subtropical plant. It grows in rocky places.
Where It Grows
Africa, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa,
References (1)
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
