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Strophanthus (Many of the plants of this)

Many of the plants of this genus possess quaintly-coloured flowers, which are rendered still more strange by the long, tail-like expansions of the corolla lobes. The seeds of some of the species abound in a poisonous principle, which has been named Strophantin, and has been found successful as a remedy in cases of heart disease, principally in fatty degeneration of that organ. The Kombe arrow poison of the natives of Sene-gambia, &c., is furnished by S. hispidus. S. dichotomus (described on p. 520, Vol. III.) is shown at Fig. 63.

S. Ledienii (Ledien's). fl. borne in umbels terminating the woody branches; corolla buff-yellow, star-shaped, five-lobed, each lobe prolonged into a very long, narrow, ribbon-like tail; corona and stamens violet, with five white rays. l. nearly sessile, obovate, suddenly drawn out into a short point, the margins entire, both surfaces softly hairy. Congo, 1887. Stove shrub. (R. G. 1241.)