African serpentwood (Rauvolfia vomitoria, Stirp. Guinea med. 1. 1817)

Family: Apocynaceae

Author: Afzel.

Bibliography: Stirp. Guinea med. 1. 1817

Year: 1818

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Rauvolfia

Vegetable: False

Observations: W. Trop. Africa to Tanzania and Angola

Description

African Serpentwood, scientifically known as Rauvolfia vomitoria, is a significant plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family. The species was first described in “Stirp. Guinea med. 1.” in 1817 by the botanist Afzel. Native to Western Tropical Africa, it spans regions from West Tropical Africa, extending through Tanzania to Angola.

This evergreen shrub or small tree typically thrives in various African habitats, where it has adapted to thrive in both forested and savanna regions. One of its notable characteristics is its glossy, dark green leaves, which are arranged in whorls of three or more around the stem.

African Serpentwood holds immense cultural and traditional significance throughout its native range. It has been extensively utilized in traditional medicine by various African communities. The roots, bark, and leaves of Rauvolfia vomitoria are known for their medicinal properties, addressing a variety of ailments, including high blood pressure, mental disorders, and gastrointestinal issues. The plant contains several bioactive alkaloids, with reserpine being one of the most well-known compounds, which has been utilized in modern medicine for its antihypertensive and sedative effects.

Additionally, African Serpentwood is also valued for its ecological contributions. It plays a role in local ecosystems by providing habitat and food sources for diverse fauna. The flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, while the fruits are consumed by birds and other wildlife, aiding in seed dispersal.

Given its widespread use and ecological importance, there has been an increasing interest in the conservation and sustainable management of Rauvolfia vomitoria. Overharvesting for medicinal purposes has raised concerns over its sustainability, prompting efforts to ensure that this valuable plant species is preserved for future generations while continuing to benefit human health and local ecosystems.

Common Names

Eng: african serpentwood, african snakeroot, poison devil’s-pepper, poison devil-pepper, swizzle-stick-tree
Deu: brech-teufelspfeffer
Yor: asofeyeje
Por: berenquete
Swe: kräkbuske
En: African serpentwood, African snakeroot, Poison devil-pepper, Swizzle-stick-tree, Poison devil’s-pepper
Az: Qusdurucu rauvolfiya
Zh: Cui tu luo fu mu, 催吐萝芙木
De: Brech-Teufelspfeffer
Pt: Berenquete
Sv: Kräkbuske
Zh-hant: 催吐蘿芙木
Vi: Ba gạc Phú Hộ
Yo: Asofeyeje

Synonyms

• Rauvolfia congolana (De Wild. & T.Durand)
• Rauvolfia pleiosiadica (K.Schum.)
• Rauvolfia stuhlmannii (K.Schum.)
• Rauvolfia senegambiae (A.DC.)

Distribution

• Angola (native)
• Benin (native)
• Burkina (native)
• Cabinda (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Congo (native)
• Equatorial Guinea (native)
• Gabon (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Guinea-Bissau (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Liberia (native)
• Mali (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Sierra Leone (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Togo (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Jan 4, 2020 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 4, 2020 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2020 by Isaac Cole (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jan 4, 2020 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 4, 2020 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 6, 2021 by Sousa Leite António (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 5, 2021 by Dofra Elizé Diarrassouba (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 6, 2021 by Youkpo Barthélemy Oréga (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2021 by Kouame Christophe Koffi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2021 by Sousa Leite António (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jul 29, 2020 by Isaac Cole (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2020 by Isaac Cole (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 30, 2021 by Makoto Makoto (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 28, 2022 by Marzanna Bug (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2020 by Isaac Cole (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2021 by Sousa Leite António (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 28, 2021 by Gnagbo Anthelme (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3169770)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:81673-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Tree, Shrub

Growth