Glehnia

Glehnia is a genus of plants in the carrot family, Apiaceae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species, Glehnia littoralis,[1] commonly known as beach silvertop and American silvertop. The genus was named after Russian botanist Peter von Glehn.[2]

This article is about the plant in the genus Glehnia. For the medicinal herb, see Saposhnikovia divaricata. For other uses, see Bangpung (disambiguation).

Glehnia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Subfamily: Apioideae
Tribe: Selineae
Genus: Glehnia
F.Schmidt
Species:
G. littoralis
Binomial name
Glehnia littoralis

Description

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 .5 metres (1+1⁄2 feet), with the North American subspecies only reported to reach 6.5 centimetres (2+1⁄2 inches).[3] The plant's erect stem is topped with an umbel of carrotlike white flowers.

Chemistry
Naphthisoxazole A

The plant contains naphthisoxazole A.[4]

Taxonomy

Two subspecies exist, one in Asia and one in North America; the latter is named leiocarpa.[3]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to eastern Asia, particularly eastern China, Japan, and far-eastern Russia, and western North America from Alaska to northern California. It can be found on sandy beaches and dunes.[3]

Uses

The plant is perhaps best known as a Chinese herbal remedy for cough.[5]

References
  1. Wu Zhengyi (1983). "On the significance of Pacific intercontinental discontinuity". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 70 (4): 577–590. doi:10.2307/2398977. JSTOR 2398977.
  2. "White Flowers". Netarts Bay Today http://netartsbaytoday.org. Retrieved 19 November 2009. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. Spellenberg, Richard (2001) [1979]. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region (rev ed.). Knopf. p. 340. ISBN 978-0-375-40233-3.
  4. Li G.Q.; et al. (2008). "A new isoxazol from Glehnia littoralis". Fitoterapia. 79 (3): 238–239. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2008.01.002. PMID 18325682.
  5. Tang, Weici and Eisenbrand, Gerhard Handbook of Chinese Medicinal Plants : Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, pub. Wiley-VCH 2011 ISBN 978-3-527-32226-8 Vol.1 pps. 599-600 Glehnia littoralis.
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