Rauvolfia tetraphylla
Rauvolfia tetraphylla | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Genus: | Rauvolfia |
Species: | R. tetraphylla
|
Binomial name | |
Rauvolfia tetraphylla | |
Synonyms[1] | |
|
Rauvolfia tetraphylla is a plant in the family Apocynaceae, growing as a bush or small tree. It is commonly known as the be still tree[2] or devil-pepper. The plant is native to Mexico, Central America, West Indies, and northern South America. It has been cultivated widely as both an ornamental and for use in traditional medicine.[citation needed] It is now naturalized throughout the tropics including Australasia, Indochina, and India.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Rauvolfia_tetraphylla_in_May_2022.jpg/150px-Rauvolfia_tetraphylla_in_May_2022.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Flower_and_fruits_of_Rauvolfia_tetraphylla.jpg/150px-Flower_and_fruits_of_Rauvolfia_tetraphylla.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/A_tiny_white_flower_of_Rauvolfia_tetraphylla.jpg/150px-A_tiny_white_flower_of_Rauvolfia_tetraphylla.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Fruits_of_devil-pepper_%28Rauvolfia_tetraphylla%29_in_West_Bengal.jpg/150px-Fruits_of_devil-pepper_%28Rauvolfia_tetraphylla%29_in_West_Bengal.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Fruits_of_Rauvolfia_tetraphylla.jpg/150px-Fruits_of_Rauvolfia_tetraphylla.jpg)
Rauvolfia tetraphylla fruits are called devil-peppers and hold an important position in the Indian traditional system of medicine.[citation needed] The plant has various significances and it is widely used by South Indian tribes.
Asima Chatterjee initiated chemical investigation of alkaloids in Rauvolfia tetraphylla then known as Rauwolfia canescens. Indole alkaloids including serpentine, reserpine, serpentinine, and other Rauwolfia alkaloids were identified in phytochemical study. [citation needed]
References
- ^ "Rauvolfia tetraphylla - Synonyms". The Plant List. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Rauvolfia tetraphylla". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
- Articles with short description
- Short description is different from Wikidata
- Articles with 'species' microformats
- All articles with unsourced statements
- Articles with unsourced statements from October 2017
- Taxonbars with 20–24 taxon IDs
- Rauvolfia
- Quinine
- Plants described in 1753
- Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
- Flora of Mexico
- Flora of Central America
- Flora of Southern America
- Flora of the Caribbean
- Medicinal plants
- Flora without expected TNC conservation status