cowplant
Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. ex Sm.
Gymnema sylvestre is a perennial woody vine in the Apocynaceae family, native to Asia, Africa, and Australia. It is known by the common names cowplant and gurmar, a term in Hindi meaning 'sugar destroyer.' The plant has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine. It is widely distributed across several countries in Africa and parts of China.
Description
Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. ex Sm. is a member of the Apocynaceae family and is found in regions including Angola, Bangladesh, Cameroon, China South-Central, and many others. It is a climbing vine with a long history of use in traditional Indian medicine. The plant is known for its potential effects on sugar perception and has been studied for its medicinal properties. Its common names include cowplant and Australian cowplant. The species was first described in 1811.
Other common names
miracle fruitcowplant
Distribution
Angola · Assam · Bangladesh · Benin · Botswana · Burkina · Burundi · Cambodia · Cameroon · Cape Provinces · Caprivi Strip · Central African Repu · Chad · China South-Central · China Southeast · Comoros · Congo · Eritrea · Ethiopia · Gabon · Ghana · Guinea-Bissau · Guinea · Hainan · India · Ivory Coast · Kenya · KwaZulu-Natal · Laos · Madagascar
Synonyms
Apocynum alterniflorumStrophanthus alterniflorusMarsdenia sylvestrisPeriploca sylvestrisPeriploca tenuifoliaAsclepias geminataConocalpis umbellataCynanchum senegalenseCynanchum subvolubileGymnema affineGymnema alterniflorumGymnema formosanumGymnema humileGymnema melicidaGymnema mkeniiGymnema parvifoliumGymnema rufescensGymnema subvolubileGymnema sylvestre var. affineGymnema sylvestre var. ceylanicumGymnema sylvestre var. chinenseGymnema parviflorumGymnema fruticulosumGymnema sylvestre var. ceylanica
