Acokanthera venenata

Taxobox
name = "Acokanthera venenata"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Gentianales
familia = Apocynaceae
genus = "Acokanthera"
species = "A. venenata"
binomial = "Acokanthera venenata"
binomial_authority = G.Don.

"Acokanthera venenata" 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 three plants of the genus "Acokanthera" contain toxic cardiac glycosides strong enough to cause death. This plant and other species of the genus are found in South Africa and Abyssinia. It was previously also known as "Toxicophlaea thunbergii".

"Acokanthera schimperi" is employed for the same purpose.

References