Glehnia

Glehnia littoralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Tribe: Selineae
Genus: Glehnia
F.Schmidt
Species: G. littoralis
Binomial name
Glehnia littoralis
F. Schmidt ex Miq.

Glehnia littoralis (in the monotypic genus Glehnia)[1] is a species of plant in the "carrot family", Apiaceae, known by several common names including beach silvertop and American silvertop in English, and bei sha shen (Chinese: 北沙參) and shan hu cai (Chinese: 珊瑚菜) in Chinese. The genus was named after Russian botanist Peter von Glehn.[2]

Distribution

It is native to eastern Asia, particularly eastern China, Japan, and far-eastern Russia, and western North America from Alaska to northern California.

Characteristics

It is a long-taprooted plant forming a basal patch of leaves, with each leaf made up of several rounded, lobular segments. It reaches a maximum height exceeding half a meter and its erect stem is topped with an umbel of carrotlike white flowers.

Medicinal uses

The plant is perhaps best known as a Chinese herbal remedy for cough. It contents naphthisoxazole A:[3]

References

  1. Wu Zhengyi (1983). "On the significance of Pacific intercontinental discontinuity". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 70 (4): 577–590. JSTOR 2398977.
  2. "White Flowers". Netarts Bay Today http://netartsbaytoday.org. Retrieved 19 November 2009. External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. Li, G.Q. et al. Fitoterapia (2008) 79: pp. 238- 239
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