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Yellow Jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens
33.3813, -81.9542
Field Notes
Description:
Twining vine that can grow to 3–6 m high when given suitable climbing support in trees, with thin stems. The leaves are evergreen, lanceolate, 5–10 cm long and 1-1.5 cm broad, and lustrous, dark green. The flowers are borne in clusters, the individual flowers yellow, sometimes with an orange center, trumpet-shaped, 3 cm long and 2.5–3 cm broad. Its flowers are strongly scented and produce nectar that attracts a range of pollinators.
Habitat:
Native to warm temperate and tropical America from Guatemala north to the Southeastern United States. This one was photographed at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park in Augusta (Richmond County), GA.
Notes:
All parts of this plant contain the toxic strychnine-related alkaloids gelsemine and gelseminine and should not be consumed. Historically Gelsemium sempervirens was used as a topical to treat papulous eruptions. It was also used to treat measles, neuralgic otalgia, tonsillitis, esophagitis, dysmenorrhea, muscular rheumatism, and headaches.
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