Rauvolfia vomitoria

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It grows 5-10 m tall. The stems are erect and stiff. The leaves are in rings. They are broadly oval and 5-12 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. The flowers are tube shaped and pale green and hairy inside. The fruit are in pairs and narrowly oval.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in open spaces in forests and along the edges of forests. In Nigeria it has been recorded at 450- 1,500 m above sea level. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, China, Congo DR, Gabon, Hawaii, Nigeria, Pacific, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, West Africa

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. The fruit are dried and seeds planted fresh. It can be grown from cuttings.

In Central African Republic plants flower in March and fruit June and July.

Its other names

Local names

Bon-de, Chunchunka, Du ga, Gbasa, Ka-bonen, Ka-fenkre, Kilungu, Koroga, Kogei, Kowogei, Mundungu, Mvuala, Tangbesowakoloma, Zumbu

Synonyms

Rauvolfia congolana De Wild. & T. Durand; Rauvolfia pleiosiadica K. Schum.; Rauvolfia senegambiae DC.; Rauvolfia stuhlmannii K. Schum.;