Acokanthera oppositifolia (Lam.) Codd

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Photo: Rob Burrett
Sims Rd, Mount Pleasant

Photo: Mark Hyde
National Botanic Garden, Harare

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Synonyms:	Acokanthera rhodesica Merxm. Acokanthera venenata G. Don
Common names:	Bushman's poison (English)
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Shrub, sometimes a small tree, to 6 m. Leaves opposite, glabrous, smooth, usually obovate, sometimes elliptic; apex mucronate; lateral nerves reaching the margin without joining with other nerves. Inflorescence of dense axillary cymes. Calyx 2-3 mm. Corolla: tube 9-13.5 mm, pink or reddish; lobes 2-5 mm, white. Fruit 12-20 mm, a purple ellipsoid berry.
Type location:	Africa, origin uncertain
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	oppositifolia: with opposite leaves
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	DRC, Kenya and Tanzania southwards on eastern side of Africa to the Cape Province of South Africa
National distribution:	N
Growth form(s):	Tree, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Biegel, H.M. (1977). Check-list of ornamental plants used in Rhodesian parks and gardens. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal. Research Report No. 3. Page 19. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 792. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 24. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 268. Leeuwenberg, A.J.M. & Kupicha, F.K. et al. (1985). Apocynaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(2) Pages 405 - 407. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 18. Meerts, P. & Hasson, M. (2016). Arbres et arbustes du Haut-Katanga Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Page 233. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 24. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 23.

Other sources of information about Acokanthera oppositifolia:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Acokanthera oppositifolia
Flora of the DRC: Acokanthera oppositifolia
Flora of Mozambique: Acokanthera oppositifolia
Flora of Zambia: Acokanthera oppositifolia
Flora of Zimbabwe: Acokanthera oppositifolia
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Acokanthera oppositifolia

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Acokanthera oppositifolia
African Plant Database: Acokanthera oppositifolia
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Acokanthera oppositifolia
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Acokanthera oppositifolia
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Acokanthera oppositifolia
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Acokanthera oppositifolia
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Acokanthera oppositifolia
JSTOR Plant Science: Acokanthera oppositifolia
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Acokanthera oppositifolia
Plants of the World Online: Acokanthera oppositifolia
Tropicos: Acokanthera oppositifolia
Wikipedia: Acokanthera oppositifolia