Strophanthus amboensis (Schinz) Engl. & Pax, Apocynaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 2 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Strophanthus petersianus var. amboensis Schinz

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Deciduous, densely intertwined shrub or liana, with thick, snake-like stems. Leaves simple, with successive pairs at right-angles to each other; broadly ovate, 20-50 mm long; pale green; midrib prominent and sparsely downy below. Flowers: corolla tube short, red; corolla lobes narrow, up to 40 mm long, twisted, yellow. Fruit two dry, woody capsules, each 200-300 mm long, cylindrical, woody; splitting open when ripe. Seeds many, with a tuft of silky hairs on one end"  (Namibian Biodiversity Database [archived and no longer available online]).

Habitat/ecology:  In Namibia (native), "mainly found on rocky outcrops, hill slopes, kloofs and cliffs, but on sandy plains in eastern Caprivi"  (Namibian Biodiversity Database [archived and no longer available online]).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Namibia (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1994) (voucher ID: BISH 639963) Taxon name on voucher: Strophanthus amboensis (Schinz) Engl. & Pax

Control:  If you know of control methods for Strophanthus amboensis, please let us know.