Monday, October 6, 2008

Rehmannia

Rehmannia is a genus of six species of flowering plants in the order Lamiales, to China.

The genus was included in the family Scrophulariaceae or Gesneriaceae in some older classifications. The current placement of the genus is uncertain; it belongs to neither Scrophulariaceae s.s. nor Plantaginaceae s.l. , nor does it seem to belong with any of the other major clades of Lamiales. Molecular studies suggest that its closest relatives are the genera '''' and ''Mazus'' , which have been included in Phrymaceae .

Sometimes known as Chinese Foxglove due to its superficial resemblance to the genus ''Digitalis'', the species of ''Rehmannia'' are perennial herbs. The plants have large flowers and are grown as ornamental garden plants in Europe and North America, and are used medicinally in Asia. Known as dìhuáng or gān dìhuáng in , ''R. glutinosa'' is used as a medicinal herb for a variety of ailments such as anemia, dizziness and constipation. ''Rehmannia'' contains the vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as other useful compounds.

The name "Rehmannia" has also been given to a genus of Jurassic ammonites belonging to the Reineckeidae family.

Selected species


*''Rehmannia chingii''
*''Rehmannia elata''
*''Rehmannia glutinosa''
*''Rehmannia henryi''
*''Rehmannia piasezkii''
*''Rehmannia solanifolia''

No comments: