gelsemium

American  

[jel-see-mee-uhm] / dʒɛlˈsi mi əm /

noun

plural

gelsemiums, gelsemia

1. the dried rhizome and root of yellow jasmine, formerly used as a sedative in the form of a powder, tincture, or fluid extract.

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gelsemium British  

/ dʒɛlˈsiːmɪəm /

noun

1. any climbing shrub of the loganiaceous genus Gelsemium, of SE Asia and North America, esp the yellow jasmine, having fragrant yellow flowers

2. the powdered root of the yellow jasmine, formerly used as a sedative

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Etymology

Origin of gelsemium

1870–75; < New Latin < Italian gelsom ( ino ) jasmine + Latin -ium -ium

Example Sentences

A pre-inquest hearing heard that traces of a rare and deadly poison from the gelsemium plant was found in his stomach.

From Reuters • Aug. 23, 2023

Experts at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew had identified an "unknown compound" in his system with the same atomic mass as gelsemium elegans, a plant toxin known as "heartbreak grass".

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2018

Traces of a chemical that can be found in the poisonous plant gelsemium were later found in his stomach.

From The Guardian • Mar. 9, 2018

A pre-inquest hearing heard that traces of a chemical that can be found in the poisonous plant gelsemium were later found in his stomach.

From The Guardian • Mar. 9, 2018

In the epidemic of 1867, I used gelsemium as an antipyretic in fifty cases or more, but the results were so unsatisfactory that I have quite abandoned its exhibition.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various