Ceylon cow-tree | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Genus: | Gymnema |
Species: | G. lactiferum |
Binomial name | |
Gymnema lactiferum |
Gymnema lactiferum (Ceylon cow-tree, Ceylon cow plant), is a species of climbing perennial shrub native to the East Indian Archipelago.[1] 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".[2] 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.[1]