• Scientific Name: Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. ex Sm.
• Ref: Cycl. [A. Rees], (London ed.) 17 (1): n. 4. 1811
• Synonyms:
  • Apocynum alterniflorum Lour.
  • Asclepias geminata Roxb.
  • Conocalpis umbellata Bojer ex Decne.
  • Cynanchum senegalense Sieber ex Decne.
  • C. subvolubile Schumach. & Thonn.
  • Gymnema affine Decne.
  • G. alterniflorum (Lour.) Merr.
  • G. formosanum Schltr.
  • G. humile Decne.
  • G. melicida Edgew.
  • G. mkenii Harv.
  • G. parvifolium Wall.
  • G. rufescens Decne.
  • G. subvolubile (Schumach. & Thonn.) Decne.
  • Marsdenia sylvestris (Retz.) P.I.Forst.
  • Periploca sylvestris Retz.
  • P. tenuifolia Humb. & Bonpl. ex Schult.
  • Strophanthus alterniflorus (Lour.) Spreng.
• English Common Name: gurmar, small Indian ipecac
• Chinese Common Name: 匙羹藤 chígēng∙téng, 狗屎藤 gǒushǐ∙téng, 羊角藤 yángjiǎo∙téng, 金刚藤 jīngāng∙téng, 蛇天角 shé∙tiānjiǎo, 饭杓藤 fànsháo∙téng, 小羊角扭 xiǎo yángjiǎo∙niǔ, 武靴藤 wǔxuē∙téng, 乌鸦藤 wūyā∙téng
• Japanese Common Name: ホウライアオカズラ [蓬萊青葛/蓬萊青蔓] hōraiaokazura
• Family: Apocynaceae
• Genus: Gymnema
• Distribution: Open woods, bushland; 100-1000 m. Fujian, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [India, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam; Africa]
• Photo: 09/13/2014, Is. Nanji, Zhejiang

Stems to 8 m, sparsely lenticellate; young branchlets pubescent, glabrescent. Petiole 3-12 mm; leaf blade obovate to ovate, 3-8.5 × 1.5-5.5 cm, thick papery, adaxially pubescent to glabrous except for groove of midvein, abaxially tomentose to glabrous except for veins; lateral veins 4 or 5 pairs, convergent. Cymes much shorter than leaves, pubescent; peduncle 2-5 mm, rachis with close-spaced spiral of pedicel scars. Sepals ovate, ciliate. Corolla greenish white; lobes ovate, glabrous; appendages exserted. Stigma head exserted. Follicles mostly solitary, broadly lanceolate in outline, 5-9 × ca. 2 cm, glabrous, beak acuminate. Seeds ovate, ca. 8 × 4 mm; coma silky white, ca. 3.5 cm. Fl. Apr-Nov, fr. Sep-Dec. 2n = 22. (Flora of China)

09/13/2014, Is. Nanji, Zhejiang