Gelsemium
Carolina Jasmine ( Gelsemium sempervirens ), illustration
Gelsemium ( syn.. Medicia Gardner & Champ ) is a plant genus scoring only three species in the family of Gelsemiaceae within the order of gentian -like ( Gentianales ). These species were counted to the family of Loganiaceae; L.Struwe, VAAlbert and B.Bremer they made in 1994 in his own family the Gelsemiaceae .. Recent genetic studies support this division.
Description
There are woody plants: shrubs or lianas. The leaves are mostly opposite. The stipules are greatly reduced.
The inflorescences are thyrsi. The flowers are heterostyl (ie the pen are of different lengths ) and fünfzählig. The five yellow petals are fused into a corolla tube. There is only one stamen circle present. The ovary is upper constant. The fruit capsules containing winged seeds.
All three species contain methoxyindole and are highly toxic.
Types and distribution
There are only three species in the genus Gelsemium. One type is in Southeast Asia and two species are native to Central America and southern North America.
- Gelsemium elegans (Gardner & Champion ) Bentham: Occurrence: The species grows in dense forests and thickets at altitudes between 200 and 2000 m above sea level, in India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, northern Myanmar, Taiwan, northern Thailand, Vietnam and the Chinese provinces: Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
- Gelsemium rankinii: With a smaller distribution area in the southeastern U.S..
- Carolina Jasmine ( Gelsemium sempervirens): In Central America and southern North America is home.