Acokanthera oppositifolia (Lam.) Codd

Bushman's Poison

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Description

Family:

Apocynaceae

Order:

Gentianales

Description

Hardy, evergreen, medium to large upright shrub or small tree (to 6 m), with brown, deeply fissured bark, opposite, hard, dark green, leathery leaves. Clusters of white to pink-tinged, sweetly scented flowers (June–Oct). Large, plum-coloured, berry-like fruits relished by birds. Milky, poisonous sap. Attractive as hedge/specimen, tolerant of sun or shade, container-friendly. 

Plant Details

Height

2–6 m (sometimes up to 7 m)

Thorns

Absent

Soil

Sandy, clay, loam; adaptable; red clay, clay-loam, rocky soils, termite mounds

Moderately fast 11

Growth Rate

2–6 m (sometimes up to 7 m)

Size

Not available

Lifespan

Flower Colour

Flowering Season

, , , ,

Horticultural Zones

Neutral

pH

Sandy, clay, loam; adaptable; red clay, clay-loam, rocky soils, termite mounds

Soil

Full sun, semi-shade, shade

Aspect

Good

Frost Tolerance

Good

Drought Resistance

Companion Plants

Not available

Caterpillars

Not available

Associations

Descriptions

Insects: Flowers attract insects (main pollinators) 11. Wildlife: Fruits eaten by birds and animals; pulp edible (sweetish-bitter) 11. Soil: Not a nitrogen fixer. Ecosystem Services: Poison used for hunting, shade plant in pastures.

Flowers and fruits

Sweetly scented, white-pink flowers attract pollinators. Large, plum fruits eaten by birds/animals; seeds dispersed by animals. Unripe fruit and seeds highly poisonous.

Birds

Fruits relished by birds.

By Seeds:

Sow fresh seeds (no pretreatment); poor storage viability. Also by wildlings.

By Cuttings:

Semi-hardwood cuttings in spring (Sep–Oct).

Traditional Uses

Milky sap for arrow poison (hunting, homicide, suicide); all parts highly poisonous except ripe fruit. Medicinal for snake/spider bites, worms, aches, colds, headache, abdominal pain, colds, measles, blood poisoning, syphilis, menstruation issues. Pulp used for jam. Poisoning of livestock rare but possible in drought.

Plant Details

Height

Description

Thorns

Description

Leaves

Description

Size

Growth Form

Size

Size

Size

Lifespan

Size

Flower Colour

Size

Flowering Season

Size

Horticultural Zones

Size

pH

Size

Soil

Size

Aspect

Size

Frost Tolerance

Size

Drought Resistance

Description

DESCRIPTION

Height

DESCRIPTION

Leaves

DESCRIPTION

Thorns

DESCRIPTION

BSS

Ecoscore

Host plant Nectar Grazing

Link to PlantzAfrica.co.za

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Distribution

Companion Plants

Description

Caterpillars

Associations

Leaves

Leaves

Flowers and fruits

Leaves

Birds

Leaves

Mammals

Leaves

By Seeds:

Leaves

By Cuttings:

Leaves

Traditional Uses

traditional uses