Gymnema lactiferum
| Ceylon cow-tree | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Gymnema |
| Species: | G. lactiferum |
| Binomial name | |
| Gymnema lactiferum (L.) R. Br. ex Schult. | |
Gymnema lactiferum (Ceylon cow-tree, Ceylon cow plant), is a species of climbing perennial shrub native to India and Sri Lanka.[1][2] In Sanskrit it is called ksirakakoli. James Emerson Tennent described the use of the plant in his account of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and wrote it was "evidently a form of the G. sylvestre".[3] The milky juice of this plant has been said to be used as a substitute for milk and cream, but it is believed to contain enough of the poisonous principle peculiar to the order to cast a doubt upon this reputed use.[2]
References
- ↑ Huber in Abeywickrama (ed.), Revised Handbook of the Flora of Ceylon 1(1): 45 (1973)
- 1 2
Gilman, D. C.; Thurston, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Gymnema". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead. - ↑ http://lakdiva.org/tennent/v1_p1_c03.html#_ftn34
External links
- "Cow plant". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.
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