362 



APOCYNACE^E 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. A woody climber, ascending to the tops of high 

 trees, from which it hangs in festoons. Flowers in terminal cymes, gamo- 

 petalous, the lobes prolonged into long, tail-like points, often 8 or 9 inches 

 long. Fruit two long follicles. 



SOURCE. The genus Strophanthus contains about 20 species, native of 

 Africa and Asia, where it is probable that more than one of them 

 are used for the preparation of arrow-poison. 



FIG. 209. Strophanthus hispidus Branch and seed with comose awn. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. Lance-ovoid, flattened and obtusely edged; 

 from 7 to 20 mm. in length, about 4 mm. in breadth and about 2 mm. 

 in thickness; externally, of a light fawn color, with a distinct, greenish 

 tinge, silky lustrious from a dense coating of closely appressed hairs, 

 (S. Kombe); or light to dark brown, nearly smooth and sparingly 

 hairy (S. hispidus), bearing on one side a ridge running from about 

 the center to the summit; fracture short and somewhat soft, the 

 fractured surface whitish and oily; odor heavy when the seeds are 

 crushed and moistened; taste very bitter. U.S.P. IX. 



Powder. Characteristic elements: See Part iv, Chap. I, B. 



