Voacanga africana

Voacanga africana is a small tree in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that grows to 6 m (20 ft) in height. It is native to tropical Africa. The small tree has leaves that are up to 30 cm (12 in) in length, and the tree produces yellow or white flowers, which after being successfully pollinated bear fruit with a green exocarp and yellow mesocarp surrounding the seeds. The fruit naturally splits in half when it is ripe. Voacanga africana is a small tree up to 6 m (20 ft) tall with a spreading crown. The leaves are in opposite pairs, dark glossy green above and paler green below. The white flowers are in small bunches and either grow in the leaf axils or at the end of shoots. The fruits usually grow in pairs and are mottled green and spherical, with the seeds sunk in the yellow pulp. The bark and seeds of the tree are used in Ghana as a poison, stimulant, and ceremonial psychedelic. These effects are due to the presence of a complex mixture of iboga alkaloids such as ibogaine, voacangine, voacamine, vobtusine, amataine, akuammidine, tabersonine, and coronaridine. Voacangine is a precursor in the semi-synthesis of the anti-addiction medication ibogaine. Small amounts of ibogaine are found in Voacanga Africana root bark but not in sufficient quantity to have medicinal effect.