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Rauvolfia

Rauvolfia (sometimes spelled Rauwolfia) is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs, commonly known as devil peppers, in the family Apocynaceae. The genus is named to honor Leonhard Rauwolf. The genus can mainly be found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and various oceanic islands.

Spelling

The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants stipulates that the genus name was established by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 book Species Plantarum, which cites his earlier description which states in Botanical Latin that the name is dedicated "to Leonhard Rauwolf": "Leon. Rauvolfio". Although some subsequent authors hypercorrected the Classical Latin letter "v" to a modern "w", this is not accepted by the code of nomenclature.

Chemical constituents

Rauvolfia serpentina, commonly known as Indian snakeroot or sarpagandha, contains many indole alkaloids.

Conservation

Rauvolfia serpentina is declining in the wild due to collection for its medicinal uses. Consequently, it is listed in CITES Appendix II. Rauvolfia vomitoria is a highly invasive species in Hawaii, and is capable of establishing dense monotypic stands.

Species

, Plants of the World Online accepted these species:

formerly included
  1. Rauvolfia celastrifolia <small>Baker</small> = Stephanostegia hildebrandtii <small>Baill.</small>
  2. Rauvolfia dentata <small>Tafalla ex D.Don</small> = Citharexylum dentatum <small>D.Don</small>
  3. Rauvolfia flexuosa <small>Ruiz & Pav.</small> = Citharexylum flexuosum <small>(Ruiz & Pav.) D.Don</small>
  4. Rauvolfia glabra <small>Cav.</small> = Vallesia glabra <small>(Cav.) Link</small>
  5. Rauvolfia indosinensis <small>Pichon</small> = Rauvolfia micrantha <small>Hook.f.</small>
  6. Rauvolfia laevigata <small>Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.</small> = Tabernaemontana amygdalifolia <small>Jacq.</small>
  7. Rauvolfia longifolia <small>A.DC.</small> = Alstonia longifolia <small>(A.DC.) Pichon</small>
  8. Rauvolfia macrophylla <small>Ruiz & Pav.</small> <small>1799 not Stapf 1894</small> = Citharexylum flexuosum <small>(Ruiz & Pav.) D.Don</small>
  9. Rauvolfia oppositifolia <small>Spreng. 1822 not Sessé & Moc. 1888</small> = Tabernaemontana oppositifolia <small>(Spreng.) Urb.</small>
  10. Rauvolfia peguana <small>Hook.f.</small> = Rauvolfia verticillata <small>(Lour.) Baill.</small>
  11. Rauvolfia pubescens <small>Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.</small> = Citharexylum quitense <small>Spreng.</small>
  12. Rauvolfia spinosa <small>Cav.</small> = Citharexylum flexuosum <small>(Ruiz & Pav.) D.Don</small>
  13. Rauvolfia stenophylla <small>Donn.Sm.</small> = Alstonia longifolia <small>(A.DC.) Pichon</small>
  14. Rauvolfia strempelioides <small>Griseb.</small> = Strempeliopsis strempelioides <small>(Griseb.) Benth. ex B.D.Jacks.</small>
  15. Rauvolfia striata <small>Poir.</small> = Ochrosia borbonica <small>J.F.Gmel.</small>
  16. Rauvolfia vietnamensis <small>Lý</small> = Rauvolfia micrantha <small>Hook.f.</small>

References

Bibliography