Euonymus atropurpureus
Also known as arrow-wood, bitter
ash, burning bush, indian arrow and spindle tree. Wahoo is a deciduous shrub
found in some areas of North America. It grows up to 25 feet high, and has
smooth branches. The leaves are elliptic and pointed, and have fine hairs
underneath. Cymes of 7 or more purple flowers bloom on the bush during June.
The fruit of the plant is scarlet in colour, and is a four-lobed capsule
containing brown seeds.
The bark of the wahoo plant is cardiac,
diuretic, expectorant, laxative and tonic. It was commonly used in the 19th
century as a diuretic drug. Chest and lung congestion, indigestion and fever
have all been treated with this plant, and it was once popular as a cardiac
drug due to it's digitalis-like effect on the heart. The leaves and fruit of
wahoo have been known to cause symptoms of poison such as nausea, cold sweat
and prostration.