Kingdom Plantae Family Apocynaceae Rank Species | Order Gentianales Genus Strophanthus | |
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Similar Strophanthus, Strophanthus gratus, Bulbophyllum mandibulare, Strophanthus boivinii, Strophanthus speciosus | ||
Strophanthus preussii, Preuss' strophanthus, is an evergreen liana up to 12 metres (39 ft) long or a shrub up to 5 metres (16 ft) tall, with a stem diameter up to 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in). Its fragrant flowers feature a white to orange corolla, red-striped or spotted on the inside. Corollas have very long tails. Vernacular names for the plant include "spider tresses" and "poison arrow vine". Habitats are forested areas from sea level to 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) altitude. Medicinal uses of S. preussii include treatment of gonorrhoea and healing of sores. The plant has also been used as arrow poison. S. preussii is native to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Tanzania and Angola.
