This plant, Rauvolfia tetraphylla, of the family Apocynaceae, is native to Mexico, Central America, West Indies, and northern South America. Rauvolfia tetraphylla is usually a much-branched shrub growing up to 1 metre tall, but sometimes becoming a small tree up to 4 metres tall The plant is often gathered from the wild for local medicinal use and as the source of a dyestuff and ink.