GELSEMIACEAE

The Gelsemiaceae or yellow jessamine family comprises some 70+ species of tropical climbers and shrubs. It is closely related to the Logania family (Loganiaceae). The genus Gelsemium is highly toxic, it contains just three species, all are woody climbers, two from America (G. rankinii, G. sempervirens) and one in Asia (G. elegans). All parts of Gelsemium contain neurotoxic indole alkaloids like gelsemine and gelsemicine. They induce rapidly fatal convulsion and paralysis, death can occur within two hours after ingestion of Gelseium. The Carolina jessamine (G. sempervirens) is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. Its nectar contains enough toxin to cause colony death in non-native honeybee. Instances of human poisoning by Carolina jessamine is rare but well-documented. In contrast, the Asian Gelsemium elegans is infamous for causing many deaths including high-profile murders. It is not surprising that G. elegans is known locally as the ‘heartbreak grass’. According to Chinese legend, the forefather of traditional Chinese medicine, Shen-Nong was killed by the heartbreak grass. 

Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)

Gelsemium sempervirens, close up of flower.