Asclepias
Asclepias
Asclepias (pronunciation: /æsˈkliːpiəs/), also known as milkweed, is a genus of herbaceous, perennial, flowering plants named after the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius. The genus contains over 200 species distributed broadly across Africa, North America, and South America.
Etymology
The name Asclepias is derived from Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, due to the many medicinal uses of the milkweed plants. The term 'milkweed' is derived from the latex, a milky substance found in the plant, which is known to contain several cardiac glycosides.
Description
Asclepias species are commonly known as milkweeds because of the latex they produce. They are known for their complex flowers and unique pollination mechanisms. The plants have been used for various purposes, including fiber production, food, and medicine.
Medicinal Uses
Many species of Asclepias have been used in traditional medicine. For example, Asclepias tuberosa, also known as butterfly weed, has been used in traditional medicine for treating lung ailments and diarrhea. Asclepias syriaca, or common milkweed, has been used for removing warts and treating asthma.
Related Terms
- Asclepius: The Greek god of medicine and healing, after whom the genus Asclepias is named.
- Milkweed: A common name for plants in the Asclepias genus, derived from the milky latex they produce.
- Cardiac glycosides: A class of organic compounds that affect the heart muscle and are found in a variety of plants, including Asclepias.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Asclepias
- Wikipedia's article - Asclepias
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski