Gynostemma | |
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Gynostemma pentaphyllum growing in potting soil | |
Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Cucurbitales |
Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
Tribe: | Gomphogyneae |
Genus: |
Gynostemma Blume [1] |
Species | |
See text |
Gynostemma is a genus of perennial climbing vines in the cucumber, gourd, and melon family, comprising at least 19 species, all native to the tropical East or Far East, inclusive of the Himalayas: China (with 9 endemic); the islands of Japan; Malaysia; and New Guinea. [2] The term Gynostemma is derived from Ancient Greek γυνή meaning "woman" or "female", [3] and στέμμα meaning " wreath" or " garland". [3] In (post-)classical Latin the form stemma is attested as Greek loanword. [4] [5] In Ancient Greek and Latin, stemma is of neuter gender. [3] [4] German-Dutch botanist Carl Ludwig Blume described Gynostemma from two species he named: [6] G. pedata (later changed, to pedatum) [7] and G. simplicifolia (also later changed, to simplicifolium). [8] Neither species was clearly designated by him as the type; however, the former species, G. pedatum is now considered to be a synonym of G. pentaphyllum ( Thunb.) Makino. [9] The genus was published in 1825, in Carl Ludwig von Blume's Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië ("Contributions to the flora of the Dutch East Indies"). [1] [6]
All species of Gynostemma have tendrils (usually branching); most are dioecious. The leaves are usually in palmately arrayed leaflets (3–9, ovate-lanceolate in shape), arranged alternately on the stem; a few species are leaved, but without leaflets. Inflorescences are either racemose or paniculate. Fruits can be capsular or pea-like, containing two or three seeds. [2]