Rauvolfia vomitoria, Botany

Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel. is from the Apocynaceae family. The family comprises about 60 species and R. vomitoria is found mainly naturally in Africa. Botany from the Flora of China: It is a shrub up to 5 m tall, glabrous. Stems erect, stiff. Leaves whorled; leaf blade broadly ovate or ovate-elliptic, 5-12 x 3-6 cm; lateral veins 8-17 pairs. Cymes usually 4 together. Corolla greenish or pale green, tube subcylindric, 6-12 mm, inflated at throat, pubescent inside; lobes dolabriform, 1-2 mm. Stamens inserted at corolla throat; disc ringlike, shorter than ovaries. Ovaries distinct. Style filiform, pubescent at base; pistil head fleshy, base membranous. Drupes 2, distinct, ovoid or ellipsoid, 0.8-1.4 cm x 6-9 mm. Flowering: Aug-Oct, fruiting: Oct-Dec. 2n = 22, 66.