Bushman's poison, Poison bush
Acokanthera oppositifolia

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

There are about 15 Acokanthera species. If this wood is used to cook food it can make the food poisonous.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on high hill-slopes and dry plateaux from East Africa to South Africa. It grows up to 2,400 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It grows in area with a rainfall between 600-1,000 mm. In Tanzania it grows between 1,500-2,100 m above sea level and can be on termite mounds. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Botswana, Central Africa, China, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: This fruit is poisonous when unripe. It contains alkaloids that can affect the heart. Although used for jams it is probably not wise. The fruit should only be used when very ripe. The latex from the fruit is used by children as chewing gum.

Edible parts

Fruit, poisonous

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds or semi-ripe cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Common poison-bush, Kibaichiago, Kikwei, Kiruru, Luzekwa, Mekweu, Msunguti, Murichu, Mururu, Musungu-sungu, Ngweo, Ol-morijoi, Ordeal poisonwood, Rumbara, Usungu

Synonyms

Cestrum oppositifolium Lam.; Cestrum venenatum Burm.f.; Acokanthera longiflora Stapf.; Aconthanthera venatorium E. Mey.; Toxicophlaea thunbergii Harv.; Carissa oppositifolium (Lam.) Pichon;