Gymnema lactiferum

Ceylon cow-tree
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Asterids
Order:Gentianales
Family:Apocynaceae
Genus:Gymnema
Species: G. lactiferum
Binomial name
Gymnema lactiferum
(L.) R.Br. ex Schult.

Gymnema lactiferum, the Ceylon cow-tree or 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

  1. ↑ Huber in Abeywickrama (ed.), Revised Handbook of the Flora of Ceylon 1(1): 45 (1973)
  2. 1 2  Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Gymnema". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  3. ↑ http://lakdiva.org/tennent/v1_p1_c03.html#_ftn34
  •  "Cow plant". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.


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