false jessamine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Carolina-jasmine
• evening trumpet-flower
• gelsemium
• woodbine
• yellow-jessamine
• Carolina jasmine
• Carolina jessamine
• Carolina yellow jessamine
• yellow jessamine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Jeffersonia sempervirens
• Lisianthius volubilis
• Lisianthius sempervirens
• Bignonia sempervirens
• Gelsemium lucidum
• Gelsemium nitidum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Gelsemiaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Gelsemium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range across several regions of the United States. Within the South-Central U.S.A., it can be found growing in Texas. Moving into the Southeastern U.S.A., the species is also present in Alabama and Arkansas. Furthermore, its distribution extends into the southeastern states of Florida and Georgia. These locations highlight the preferred habitats where this medicinal plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Gelsemium sempervirens is intrinsically linked to its existence within the forest ecosystem, where it functions as a woody, climbing vine or liana. Within these forested environments, the plant typically thrives in shaded or semi-shaded understory layers, utilizing the structural support of larger trees to ascend toward light gaps. Its distribution is dictated by the availability of moist, well-drained soils and the specific microclimates provided by the forest canopy, which help maintain the humidity levels necessary for its growth. By occupying this niche, Gelsemium sempervirens participates in the complex vertical stratification of the forest, contributing to the structural diversity and nutrient cycling processes inherent to its woodland habitat.

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Gelsemium sempervirens is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence in its ecosystem. Throughout its life cycle, it maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and green year-round rather than shedding seasonally. This continuous leaf presence supports steady photosynthetic activity, contributing to its steady growth patterns as a woody, twining climber.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Gelsemium sempervirens is characterized by a woody growth form that typically manifests as a shrub. It functions as an obligatory climber, utilizing surrounding structures for support to reach its average plant height of approximately 3 meters. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological habit, neither functioning as an aquatic nor a semiaquatic species, and it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, remaining grounded as a terrestrial organism. Furthermore, it is an independent species that does not exhibit parasitic tendencies, maintaining its own structural and nutritional autonomy through its woody stems.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Gelsemium sempervirens is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and its nutritional metabolic processes. The leaves of this species exhibit a distinct size range, with leaf lengths typically measuring between a minimum of 0.3 cm and a maximum of 0.5 cm, while the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.9 cm and a maximum of 2 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition and symbiotic capabilities, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized physiological mechanisms or symbiotic relationships required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for its growth.

Leaf length max:

0.5 cm

Leaf length min:

0.3 cm

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

0.9 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Gelsemium sempervirens is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and specialized pollination mechanisms. The flowering period for this species typically begins in September and concludes in February, marking its seasonal reproductive window. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. This insect-mediated pollination process is a critical component of its reproductive success. Following successful fertilization, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules are dehiscent, meaning they are capable of splitting open at maturity to release the seeds, thereby completing its reproductive cycle.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flowering time :

Sep

Flowering time :

Feb

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Gelsemium sempervirens has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, root, stem.

Rhizome

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Root

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Gelsemium sempervirens has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include GELSEMINE, GELSEDINE, Gelsevirine, scopoletin, 1-Methoxy-gelsemine.

GELSEMINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Brain and nerve = Shinkei kenkyu no shinpo
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Journal of natural products

GELSEDINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

Gelsevirine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

scopoletin

1. Dr. Duke
2. European journal of pharmacology

1-Methoxy-gelsemine

1. Dr. Duke

21-Oxogelsemine

1. Journal of natural products

9-Hydroxysemperoside

1. Dr. Duke

Brasoside

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

Emodin monomethyl ether

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Gelsemium sempervirens has 74 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant, Anxiolytic, Cytotoxic, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Anxiolytic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antiadrenergic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Gelsemium sempervirens has 10 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include anxiety, cancer, anxiolytic, asthma, headache.

Anxiety

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces

Anxiolytic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Asthma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Headache

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Migraine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Nervous system

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Neuralgia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Whooping cough

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Gelsemium sempervirens has 9 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 2c and 9c dilutions, 2c dilution, An extract of the stem of Gelsemium sempervirens, MeOH extract of the stem, crude ethanolic extracts.

2c and 9c dilutions

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

2c dilution

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

An extract of the stem of gelsemium sempervirens

1. Journal of natural products

Meoh extract of the stem

1. Journal of natural products

Crude ethanolic extracts

1. Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces

Ethanolic extract

1. European journal of pharmacology

Ethanolic extracts

1. Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces

Homeopathic mother tinctures

1. Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces

Honey

1. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT