Rauvolfia vomitoria

Rauvolfia vomitoria

Apocynaceae

Shrub or small tree of road sides and secondary forest, where it can reach a height of 12 m and a diameter of 40 cm. Angular twigs with white lenticels. Bark grayish; wood white, soft. Propagation with stumps possible; used to make hedges. The bark has medicinal uses. Leaves in whorls of 4, very variable, the petiole 0.3 - 3 cm long, the blade up to 18 x 8 cm, with 10 - 16 pairs of arched laterals. Fruits single or double rounded berries of about 8 mm, red when ripe, containing one seed.