''Acokanthera'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Apocynaceae Apocynaceae (, from '' Apocynum'', Greek for "dog-away") is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family, because some taxa were used as dog poison. Notable mem ...

. It comprises 5 species and is generally restricted to Africa, although ''A. schimperi'' also occurs in Yemen.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> Its sap contains the deadly toxin ''

ouabain Ouabain or (from Somali ''waabaayo'', "arrow poison" through French ''ouabaïo'') also known as g-strophanthin, is a plant derived toxic substance that was traditionally used as an arrow poison in eastern Africa for both hunting and warfare. ...

'', a

glycoside In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to another functional group via a glycosidic bond. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycosides. ...

that causes heart failure. The sap is among the most commonly used in arrow poisons, including those used for poaching elephants. The poison it contains works by stopping the heart, like most other arrow poisons. ;Species * ''

Acokanthera laevigata ''Acokanthera laevigata'' is a flowering plant, growing up to tall. Its flowers are white and fragrant. The plant has been used as arrow poison. ''A laevigata'' is native to Tanzania and Malawi Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, ...

'' Kupicha - Tanzania, Malawi * ''

Acokanthera oblongifolia ''Acokanthera'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. It comprises 5 species and is generally restricted to Africa, although ''A. schimperi'' also occurs in Yemen. Its sap contains the deadly toxin ''ouabain'', a glycosid ...

'' (Hochst.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex B.D.Jacks. - Mozambique, South Africa * ''

Acokanthera oppositifolia ''Acokanthera oppositifolia'', the poison arrow tree, is a shrub used as the source of an arrow poison and to coat caltrops made from the sharp fruits of the puncture vine (''Tribulus terrestris''). All plants of the genus '' Acokanthera'' conta ...

'' (Lam.) Codd - widespread from Cape Province north to Zaire and Tanzania * ''

Acokanthera rotundata ''Acokanthera rotundata'' (commonly known as round-leaved poison-bush) is a plant in the family Apocynaceae. It grows as a shrub or small tree, with fragrant flowers featuring a white corolla, often pink to red on the corolla tube. The fruit is ...

'' (Codd) Kupicha - Zimbabwe, Eswatini, eastern South Africa * '' Acokanthera schimperi'' (A.DC.) Schweinf. - Yemen, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Socotra, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zaire

References

Apocynaceae genera {{Apocynaceae-stub