Gymnema lactiferum
| Ceylon cow-tree | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| 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
- ^ Huber in Abeywickrama (ed.), Revised Handbook of the Flora of Ceylon 1(1): 45 (1973)
- ^ a b Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
- ^ http://lakdiva.org/tennent/v1_p1_c03.html#_ftn34
External links
- . Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.
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