Rauvolfia verticillata | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Genus: | Rauvolfia |
Species: | R. verticillata
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Binomial name | |
Rauvolfia verticillata | |
Synonyms [1] | |
List
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Rauvolfia verticillata, the common devil pepper, [2] is a plant in the family Apocynaceae. The specific epithet verticillata means "whorled" and refers to the plant's leaves. [3]
Rauvolfia verticillata grows as a shrub up to 5 metres (20 ft) tall. The bark is yellowish black or brown. Inflorescences bear up to 35 or more flowers. The flowers feature a white or pinkish corolla. The fruits are whitish purple when ripe, ovoid, up to 1.4 cm (1 in) long. [3]
Rauvolfia verticillata is native to China and tropical Asia from India to the Philippines. It grows in a variety of habitats, from sea-level to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) altitude. [3]
Rauvolfia verticillata is used in traditional Chinese medicine, including as a treatment for snakebite, malaria, typhus and hypertension. [4]