strophanthus

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a tropical African or Asian tree, shrub, or woody vine of the genus Strophanthus, often with long twisted petals

   A flowering strophanthus climbed through the forest canopy.

2. 2
   noun

   the dried seeds or an extract of such a plant, containing potent cardiac glycosides and historically used as medicine or arrow poison

   Researchers analyzed the strophanthus extract for cardiac glycosides.

From the New Latin genus name Strophanthus, built from Greek strophos ("twisted cord") + anthos ("flower"). The name refers to the long, twisted, straplike lobes of the flowers of many species.

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