genus rauvolfia

[Julene]

pantropical genus of somewhat poisonous shrubs and small trees

[Dianne]

Genus Rauvolfia, named after Leonard Rauwolf, is a classification of about 60-100 species of perennial trees, shrubs, and a few lianas in the family Apocynaceae. They are native to tropical and subtropical regions, specifically the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Many Rauvolfia species, including the well-known Rauvolfia serpentina, are used in traditional medicine, notably as a treatment for hypertension due to their high concentration of alkaloids. However, their use requires careful supervision due to potential side effects.