A climbing shrub reaching to 16 m long of the open savanna woodland, rarely penetrating the more humid forest, occurring widely from Senegal to W Cameroons, and to Congo, Cabinda and Uganda.The plant is the true arrow-poison plant of much of the Region. It is common in the bush and has in the past been frequently cultivated, and even though cultivation is now proscribed by several West African Governments it is still grown in the more remote areas (6, 9). It is reported planted in Nasarawa, N Nigeria, by pagan tribes (3) and around villages in N Ghana where under pruning it becomes a small tree bearing much fruit from July onwards (10). In Upper Volta it is commonly planted by hunters as a source of poison, and the trees as well as their agricultural land are so important as to be passed down by the same customs of inheritance. In both Ivory Coast and Upper Volta they are often planted in sacred groves and are considered important fetish plants. Their importance for medicinal use is such that medicine-men consider the plant a gift from God and its use is, out of deference, accompanied by particular rites (13).The slender stems, stripped and stained black after soaking in pond mud are used in N Nigeria for the end pieces of reed-screens called asabari in Hausa; they are also used for the cotton carding bow (masaßi) (6).The translucent sap from crushed leaves or leafy twigs is used in Guinea against body-vermin (14), or that from young shoots which have been terrified and crushed is applied to kill head-lice; the pulped stem is put onto guinea-worm sores and an eye-medicine is made from a decoction of the stem-bark (16). Leaf and stem-decoctions are taken in Nigeria for constipation and to dress sores (2), and a concoction of the plant is used for constipation in Ghana (9, 10) and fever (5). The stems in decoction are taken in Ghana, as for S. gratus, for severe illnesses with weakness (9). Preparations of twig or root-bark are given in Ivory Coast — Upper Volta by draught, enema or topically for serious complications of syphilis (13) and a root-decoction is used on skin-eruptions, sores, ulcers, both localized and extensive, and is given to pregnant women for stomachache (4). In Sierra Leone, in the event of snake-bite, leaves are chewed, and with the quid held in the mouth to serve as protection for the operator, the bite is sucked to draw out the poison. The Sherbro name for the plant, nyamkεε-lε, is the same as that given to the poison of the black mamba (7).Root-bark, pounded to a pulp, is applied externally in Senegal to areas of guinea-worm infection and of skin-diseases; a root-decoction taken in draught is good for treating for intestinal parasites, as a diuretic and for urethral discharge; and a macerate of roots and twigs is taken for agalaxy and ascites (11, 12). The root is also taken in Guinea for venereal disease (16). The Kyama of Ivory Coast call it ‘syphilis liane’ (13). In Ghana the roots are used for rheumatic disease (8) and for many other ailments, and are regarded as specific for venereal disease (6). The Krobo of Odumase, Ghana, use the root for syphilis (10), while a root-decoction or the powdered root is similarly used in Nigeria (2). The roots in spirit are held to be aphrodisiac in Ghana, but an over-indulgence is dangerous (6). An application of chopped-up leaves of Ficus exasperata (Moraceae) and latex of Saba florida (Apocynaceae) with an overall dressing of the dried powdered leaves of S. hispidus and Saba florida is a treatment in Ivory Coast for inflammation of neck-glands (1).The seeds are highly poisonous and are the source of arrow-poisons prepared commonly throughout the Region. The poison is the sap extracted from them which usually is mixed with other ingredients, often a stem of a cactiform Euphorbia. The Konkomba and Yendi of NE Ghana add scorpions and snake-heads (9, 10). The brew is evaporated by boiling to a syrupy consistency, and when smeared on the arrow or spear this dries to a varnish. The poison is called in Hausa yaßi, literally ‘to smear poison’, or zabgai, or simply dafi, poison, and in Fula toke. References to this attribute are found in several of the languages as may be seen in the vernacular name list above. To ensure the greatest toxicity Fante in Ivory Coast are said to ferment the pounded seed and leaves in contact with banana flowers. Seeds are also sometimes used as a fish-poison. Because of their great toxicity, the seeds do not enter into local medicines, nor into use as ordeals (6).Various antidotes are in repute, often the secret of the local hunter. The seeds of Garcinia kola Heckel (Guttiferae) have been indicated as such. Many of them contain tannin which is known to have precipitant action on glycosides. Acetic acid, or acetates or vinegar have been found to be effective precipitants. In Malawi the flesh of an animal killed by a poisoned arrow is said to be made fit to eat by placing bark of the baobab in the wound (6); this however must refer to arrow-poison made from S. kombe Oliv., the Kombe arrow-poison plant. In the Cameroons an infusion of Alstonia congensis Engl. is said to be antidotal against both arrow and snake-poisons (6).The seeds contain 4–8% glycosides under the name of strophanthin-H, or pseudostrophanthin. This is an amorphous complex of four separate substances (17), and has been equated with the crystalline strophanthin present in S. gratus. and the E African S. kombe, but to have only two-fifths the activity of the latter. Strophanthin acts on striped muscle, especially heart-muscle, and has found use in medicine in treatment of cardiac deficiency. The principle supplies come from Malawi from seeds of S. kombe which are official in several pharmacopoeas. Seeds of S. hispidus are very similar in appearance to those of S. kombe and are often added as adulterants or even entirely to replace those of S. kombe in commerce and are known as ‘brown strophanthus’ (6, 9). Alkaloids choline and trigonelline are also present and the sugar rhamnose (13, 15). The seeds contain 32% of oil consisting of a mixture of a number of acidic glycerides of which the major ones are oleic acid (36%) and linoleic acid (16%) (12).