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Acokanthera schimperi

Authority(A. DC.) Schweinf.
FamilyMagnoliopsida:Asteridae:Gentianales:Apocynaceae
SynonymsAcokanthera friesiorum Markgr., Carissa schimperi
Common namesarrow poison tree, arrow-poison plant, ilmorijoi (Samburu), k'arraaru (Gabra), karraru (Borana), kelion (Pokot), keliot, kelyon (Tugen), kelyot (Kipsigis), kivai, marid, merez, murichu, muricu, mururu (Meru), olmorijoi (Maa)
Editor
Ecocrop code149006



Notes
DESCRIPTION: A dense round evergreen shrub or spreading sparsely branched tree up to 7 m high. USE: The ripe fruits are edible. They are sweet with a slightly bitter taste, but should only be eaten when ripe. Otherwise the whole plant is poisonous. Birds have been known to drop dead on sucking nectar from the flowers. It is the plant used to make arrow poison. In case of accident, squeeze out and suck contaminated blood from the point of entry immediately. (The person doing this should not have sores in his mouth.) Apply paraffin oil (Kitui).GROWING PERIOD: Perennial. COMMON NAMES: Arrow-poison plant, Arrow poison tree. FURTHER INF: Grows in Kenya in bushland on rocky hillsides, especially on red or black rocky soils; common in dry highland forests and bushed grasslands. Widespread in East Africa, south to Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and north-eastern South Africa. In Kenya - for example - at Muumandu (Machakos), Ongata-Rongai, Oloosaiyeti hill (Kajiado), Rumuruti (Laikipia), Loita, and Chepelion (north Baringo).
Sources
EcoPort, Entity 149006, Unassigned Record, 2001