Glehnia

Glehnia littoralis
File:Glehnia littoralis.jpg
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) 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.

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:

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External links

• GRIN Species Profile
• USDA Plants Profile
• Flora of China
• Photo gallery