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Rauvolfia tetraphylla
| Family Name: | Apocynaceae |
| Common Name: | Be Still Tree, Devil Pepper, Wild Snake Root, 四叶萝芙木 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
|---|---|
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 2 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | West Indies, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Panama |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Small shrub, able to reach up to 2 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are in whorl arrangement of 3 - 5, ovate to oblong, measuring about 1 - 15 cm long by 1 - 4 cm wide, petiole measuring about 2 - 5 mm long. |
| Flowers | Small white flowers, measuring about 5 mm wide. |
| Fruit | Fruit is a red drupe, turns black when ripen, measuring about 5 - 10 mm wide, glabrous, 2-seeded. |
| Etymology | Genus Rauvolfia is named after Leonard Rauwolf (1535 - 1596), who is a physician in Augsburg. Species tetraphylla refers to the plant with leaves in four. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: The extract of the root are useful in the treatment of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and as a tranquilizing agent. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens, Container Planting |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Toxic Upon Ingestion |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting, Root Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Smooth, Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Whorled |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate, Rounded / Obtuse |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Cream / Off-White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Inflorescence Type | Cyme |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red, Black |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1089 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2382 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
