Gelsemium sempervirens
| Gelsemium sempervirens | |
|---|---|
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| Gelsemium sempervirens by Ellis Rowan, 1901 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Gelsemiaceae |
| Genus: | Gelsemium |
| Species: | G. sempervirens |
| Binomial name | |
| Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) J.St.-Hil. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Gelsemium sempervirens is a twining vine in the family Gelsemiaceae, native to warm temperate and tropical America from Guatemala north to the Southeastern United States. It has a number of common names including yellow jessamine or jasmine,[1][2] Carolina jasmine or jessamine,[1][2] evening trumpetflower,[2][3] gelsemium[2] and woodbine.[2]
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[edit] Growth
It can grow to 3–6 m high when given suitable climbing support in trees, with thin stems. The leaves are evergreen, lanceolate, 5–10 cm long and 1-1.5 cm broad, and lustrous, dark green. The flowers are borne in clusters, the individual flowers yellow, sometimes with an orange center, trumpet-shaped, 3 cm long and 2.5–3 cm broad. Its flowers are strongly scented and produce nectar that attracts a range of pollinators.
[edit] Medical use
Historically Gelsemium sempervirens was used as a topical to treat papulous eruptions. It was also used to treat measles, neuralgic otalgia, tonsillitis, esophagitis, dysmenorrhea, muscular rheumatism, headaches.[4]
[edit] Toxics
All parts of this plant contain the toxic strychnine-related alkaloids gelsemine and gelseminine and should not be consumed.[5] The sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Children, mistaking this flower for honeysuckle, have been poisoned by sucking the nectar from the flower.[citation needed] The nectar is also toxic to honeybees, and causes brood death when gathered by the bees.[citation needed]
Despite the hazards, this is a popular garden plant in warmer areas, frequently being trained to grow over arbors or to cover walls.
Yellow Jessamine is the state flower of South Carolina.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Gelsemium sempervirens". Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants. University of Southern Florida. http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/main.asp?plantID=874. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ a b c d e "Taxon: Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) J. St.-Hil.". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Beltsville, MD, USA: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?393. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ "Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) W. T. Aiton". Plants database. United States Department of Agriculture. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GESE. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ Winterburn, G. W. (1882). "Gelsemium sempervirens (therapeutics section)". Transactions of the National Eclectic Medical Association. Henriettes Herbal. http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/journals/net1882/net-1882-gelsemium-1.html.
- ^ "Gelsemium sempervirens". Drug Information Online. Drugs.com. http://www.drugs.com/npp/gelsemium.html.
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