Apocynaceae FAMILY

Gymnema sylvestre

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

4/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Gymnema sylvestre is a climbing plant, producing stems up to 3 metres long. The stems scramble over the ground, climbing into the surrounding vegetation. Gumar is a well-known Ayurvedic herb with a very good reputation in the treatment of diabetes and is also used as a green vegetale. It is gathered from the wild for local use and is also sold in local markets as a food and a medicine[ 304 Title Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants Publication Author Kapoor. L. D. Publisher CRC Press, Florida. Year 2001 ISBN 0-8493-2929-9 Description A very detailed book on some of the key Ayurvedic herbs, giving both technical and non-technical information on each plant. The whole is very well referenced. , 1401 Title Vitamin C content of commonly eaten green leafy vegetables in fresh and under different storage conditions Publication Tropical Plant Research 2(3): 240-245, 2015 Author Umaramani M. & Sivakanesan R. Publisher Year 2015 ISBN 2349 - 1183 Description ]. The plant is widely used in India and is also commonly sold in other countries of the world, usually via the Internet.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeAfrica - Mauritania to Ethiopia, south to S. Africa; through Arabia to India, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

HabitatSecondary forest, riverine forest and dry shrub savannah, usually on sandy or loamy soils. It occurs scattered and is locally abundant and common[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ].