Acokanthera schimperi, arrow poison tree, belonging to the family Apocynaceae, is a small tree native to eastern and central Africa as well as to Yemen.

The bark, wood and roots of Acokanthera schimperi are used as an important ingredient of arrow poison in Africa.

Unripe fruits have caused accidental poisoning as they are highly toxic.

[6] Acokanthera schimperi is native to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Somaliland, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and DR Congo.

It is the only species in the genus that also occurs outside Africa, in southern Yemen.