Glehnia

Glehnia littoralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Tribe: Selineae
Genus: Glehnia
Species: G. littoralis
Binomial name
Glehnia littoralis

Glehnia is a genus in the carrot family, Apiaceae, with one species, Glehnia littoralis,[1] known by several common names including beach silvertop and American silvertop in English, and bei sha shen (Chinese: 北沙參) and shan hu cai (Chinese: 珊瑚菜) in Chinese. The genus was named after Russian botanist Peter von Glehn.[2]

Distribution

It is native to eastern Asia, particularly eastern China, Japan, and far-eastern Russia, and western North America from Alaska to northern California.

Characteristics

It is a long-taprooted plant forming a basal patch of leaves, with each leaf made up of several rounded, lobular segments. It reaches a maximum height exceeding half a meter and its erect stem is topped with an umbel of carrotlike white flowers.

Medicinal uses

The plant is perhaps best known as a Chinese herbal remedy for cough.[3] It contains naphthisoxazole A:[4]

References

  1. Wu Zhengyi (1983). "On the significance of Pacific intercontinental discontinuity". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 70 (4): 577–590. JSTOR 2398977.
  2. "White Flowers". Netarts Bay Today http://netartsbaytoday.org. Retrieved 19 November 2009. External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. Tang, Weici and Eisenbrand, Gerhard Handbook of Chinese Medicinal Plants : Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, pub. Wiley-VCH 2011 ISBN 978-3-527-32226-8 Vol.1 pps. 599-600 Glehnia littoralis.
  4. Li, G.Q. et al. Fitoterapia (2008) 79: pp. 238- 239
  • "Glehnia littoralis". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  • USDA Plants Profile
  • Flora of China
  • Photo gallery


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.