FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 385 



"Umtsuti,"or poison plant of S. Africa {Strofhaiithiis 

 hispidus, D.C.). — Shrub. Professor Fraser, speaking 

 of this species at a meeting of the Edinburgh Botanical 

 Society, May 14th, 1885, said that he had "discovered 

 how the active principle of this plant, used by the 

 natives on the Shire, East Africa, as v^rell as many 

 other districts of that Continent for poisoning their 

 arrows, is of incalculable benefit in cardiac diseases. 

 Though acting in the same manner, it far surpasses 

 the principle of digitalis in intensity." The Wanika 

 arrow-poison of the East Coast of Africa is stated to 

 be either prepared from the roots of 5. hispidus, DC, 

 or 5. Kombe, Oliv. A full account of this by Mr. 

 Gerrard appeared in the 'Pharmaceutical Journal,' 

 1881, pp. 833-834, and 849-850. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Inee or Onaye of the Gabon {Stropkanthus sp.). — 

 The seeds are used to poison the arrows of the 

 Pahouins ; the poison exercises a powerful action on 

 the heart. — ' Catalogue des Produits des Colonies 

 Frangaises, Exposition Universelle de 1867,' p. 108. 



Distribution : Gabon. 



ASCLEPIADE^. 



Xysmalobitim Heudelotiannm, Dene. — Perennial 

 herb. This plant produces a watery, tumip-shaped 

 root called " Yahhop " by the negroes. Senegambia, 



2 C 



