''Glehnia'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of plants in the carrot family,
Apiaceae
Apiaceae or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus ''Apium'' and commonly known as the celery, carrot or parsley family, or simply as umbellifers. It is the 16th-largest family of flowering plants ...
. It is
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
, being represented by the single species, ''Glehnia littoralis'', commonly known as beach silvertop and American silvertop. The genus was named after Russian botanist
Peter von Glehn.
Description
It is a long-
taproot
A taproot is a large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout laterally. Typically a taproot is somewhat straight and very thick, is tapering in shape, and grows directly downward. In some plants, such as the carrot, the taproo ...
ed plant forming a basal patch of
leaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
, with each leaf made up of several rounded,
lobular
In anatomy, a lobe is a clear anatomical division or extension of an organ (as seen for example in the brain, lung, liver, or kidney) that can be determined without the use of a microscope at the gross anatomy level. This is in contrast to the muc ...
segments. It reaches a maximum height exceeding , with the North American
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
only reported to reach .
The plant's erect stem is topped with an
umbel
In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin ''umbella'' "p ...
of carrotlike white flowers.
Chemistry
The plant contains
naphthisoxazole A.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies exist, one in Asia and one in North America; the latter is named ''leiocarpa''.
Distribution and habitat
It is native to eastern Asia, particularly eastern China, Japan, and
far-eastern Russia, and western North America from
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
to northern
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. It can be found on sandy beaches and dunes.
Uses
The plant is perhaps best known as a Chinese herbal remedy for
cough
A cough is a sudden expulsion of air through the large breathing passages that can help clear them of fluids, irritants, foreign particles and microbes. As a protective reflex, coughing can be repetitive with the cough reflex following three pha ...
.
[Tang, Weici and Eisenbrand, Gerhard Handbook of Chinese Medicinal Plants : Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, pub. Wiley-VCH 2011 Vol.1 pps. 599-600 ''Glehnia littoralis''.]
References
External links
*
USDA Plants ProfileFlora of ChinaPhoto gallery
Apioideae
Flora of Alaska
Flora of California
Flora of China
Flora of Japan
Flora of the Russian Far East
Flora of the West Coast of the United States
Flora of Western Canada
Medicinal plants of Asia
Medicinal plants of North America
Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine
Monotypic Apioideae genera
{{medicinal-plant-stub