Acokanthera oppositifolia (Lam.) Codd

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Acokanthera oppositifolia

Photo: Rob Burrett
Sims Rd, Mount Pleasant

Acokanthera oppositifolia

Photo: Rob Burrett
Sims Rd, Mount Pleasant

Acokanthera oppositifolia

Photo: Rob Burrett
Sims Rd, Mount Pleasant

Acokanthera oppositifolia

Photo: Mark Hyde
National Botanic Garden, Harare

Acokanthera oppositifolia

Photo: Mark Hyde
National Botanic Garden, Harare

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-25

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2025). Flora of Malawi: Species information: Acokanthera oppositifolia.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=144900, retrieved 23 May 2025

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