Gelsemium
Gelsemium
Gelsemium (pronunciation: jel-SEE-mee-um) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gelsemiaceae. The term is derived from the Italian word 'gelsomino', meaning jasmine.
Etymology
The name Gelsemium is derived from the Italian word 'gelsomino', which translates to jasmine in English. This is due to the resemblance of the flowers of Gelsemium species to those of jasmine.
Description
Gelsemium includes three species of shrubs to straggly climbers. They are native to subtropical and tropical regions of North and Central America, and Southeast Asia. The plants are known for their attractive, fragrant, yellow flowers and are often used in ornamental gardening.
Species
The three species in the Gelsemium genus are:
- Gelsemium sempervirens (Yellow Jessamine or Carolina Jessamine)
- Gelsemium rankinii (Swamp Jessamine or Rankin's Jessamine)
- Gelsemium elegans (Heartbreak Grass)
Medical Uses
Gelsemium has been used in traditional medicine for its sedative and analgesic properties. The plant, especially Gelsemium sempervirens, has been used in homeopathy to treat a variety of conditions including anxiety, flu, and certain types of pain. However, all parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested.
Toxicity
All parts of Gelsemium plants are toxic due to the presence of the alkaloids gelsemine and gelseminine. Symptoms of poisoning include muscle weakness, vision problems, difficulty swallowing and breathing, and potentially death.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Gelsemium
- Wikipedia's article - Gelsemium
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