The snakeroot plant is scientifically known as Rauvolfia serpentina . It belongs to the Apocynaceae, a family of dicots that is pantropic in distribution, with only a few representatives in temperate zones. Some species within Apocynaceae have buttressed roots and are found in the tropical rain forests of India and Malaya. However, most species, such as Rauvolfia, are evergreen shrubs and trees. They tend to have simple, entire leaves, and most of their plant parts contain a milky latex.
Some species have solitary flowers, while others have raceme, or most commonly, cyme inflorescences.
In addition to its use as an antidote for snakebites, R. serpentina was often employed to treat anxiety, insomnia, and insanity. Other local cultures used the plant as a relaxant and as a tranquilizer to put children to sleep for the night. Technician removing the apical meristem from a plant to be cultured. They will be separated and further cultured to maturity. In 1949, the alkaloid reserpine was isolated and identified from the roots of Rauvolfia.