Glehnia


Glehnia is a genus in the carrot family, Apiaceae, with one species, Glehnia littoralis, known by several common names including beach silvertop and American silvertop in English, and bei sha shen and shan hu cai 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 contains naphthisoxazole A: