Gymnema lactiferum

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

Gymnema lactiferum (Ceylon cow-tree, 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. ↑ 2.0 2.1  "Gymnema". New International Encyclopedia. 1905.
  3. ↑ http://lakdiva.org/tennent/v1_p1_c03.html#_ftn34

External links