Poison arrow tree, Rough-leaved poison-bush
Acokanthera schimperi

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 5-7 Acokanthera species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in Africa. It grows in dry woodland. In equatorial regions is occurs from 1,000 to 2,300 m above sea level. It does best in well drained forest soils but will grow on poorer soils. It is mostly in hill country. It can grow in arid places. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 500-900 mm. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Central Africa, Congo, Djibouti, East Africa, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for jams. The fruit are also dried and pickled. The whole plant is poisonous so care should be taken. Caution: The unripe fruit are poisonous.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Fruit, caution

How it is grown

They are grown from seed. Seed do no always germinate evenly. There are 400-450 seeds per kg. The seed do not store well.

It grows at a medium rate. Fruit are collected April to July.

Its other names

Local names

Kelion, Kelyo, Kerero, Kivai, Lawa, Mchungu, Merenz, Mopte, Mshunguti, Msongu, Msungu, Msunguti, Murichu, Olmorijoi, Qaraaro, Qararuu, Umusagwe, Waabay

Synonyms

Acokanthera abyssinica K. Schum. [Illegitimate]; Acokanthera deflersii Schienf. ex Lewin; Acokanthera friesiorum Markgr.; Acokanthera ouabaio Cathelineau ex Lewin; Acokanthera scabra Schweinf. ex Markg. [Invalid]; Acokanthera schimperi (A. DC.) Benth. & Hook. f.; Acokanthera schimperi var. ouabaio (Cathelineau ex lewin) Cufod.; Arduina schimperi (A. DC.) Baill.; Carissa deflersii (Schweinf. ex Lewin) Pichon; Carissa friesiorum (Markgr.) Cufod.; Carissa inepta Perro & Vogt; Carissa schimperi A. DC.;