Strophanthus divaricatus

(Lour.) Hook. et Arn.

Goat-horns strophanthus

Apocynaceae Edible: POISONOUS, Medicine Potential hazards — see below 1,231 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Strophanthus divaricatus is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is a liana or sarmentose shrub growing up to 4.5 m (15 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 4 cm (1.6 in). The specific epithet divaricatus means 'spreading at a wide angle'. The plant has been used medicinally: as a heart stimulant and in the treatment of snakebites. It is native to southern China and northern Vietnam.

Description

A woody climber or shrub. When it is pruned it produces stolons. It grows 4.5 m tall. The trunk can be 4 cm across. The leaves are 3-10 cm long by 205 cm wide. There are 3-15 flowers in a group. They have a yellow tube. The fruit are follicles 9-15 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. They are hard and woody.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION: Plants in this group are often poisonous. The poison is strophanthin. It affects the heart.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Parts of the plant are used as a heart stimulant and to treat snake bites.

Known Hazards

Plants in this group are often poisonous, containing strophanthin which affects the heart.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in forest thickets in southern China between 100-1,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings,

Other Uses

The seeds are used as an insecticide.

Notes

There are 38 Strophanthus species. Parts of the plant are used as a heart stimulant and to treat snake bites.

Also Known As

Stropantus tanduk kambing

References (5)

Bot. Beechey Voy. 199. 1837
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 2128
Llamas, K.A., 2003, Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press. p 70
Mot So Rau Dai an Duoc O Vietnam. Wild edible Vegetables. Ha Noi 1994, p 280
Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 976