Goldshower

Overview

Galphimia glauca is a perennial shrub native to Mexico and Central America that has been introduced in tropical and sub-tropical warm regions to be used as a medicinal and ornamental plant. Currently it is listed as invasive only in Cuba. In Latin American traditional medicine, used for asthma and allergies. In Mexican traditional medicine, used as a sedative and tranquilizer for mental disorders and nervous excitement. The species has also been found to have other pharmacological uses, including an anti-inflammatory, anti-malaric, anti-allergic and anti-asthmatic effect.

Vernacular Names

Golden thryallis, Rain of gold, Slender golden shower, Spray of gold, Thriallis,Thryallis (Engl.), Jin ying (Chinese), Calderona amarilla, Flor estrella, Hierba del cuervo, Ojo de gallina, Hierbo de desprecio (Mexican).

Agroecology

G. glauca can be found naturalized in grasslands, disturbed sites and along roadsides. It grows in both dry and moist habitats, at elevations ranging from 700 to 2,300 m. It prefers well-drained soils with pH 5.6 to 7.5. It does well in dry sandy soils with mean annual temperature 17 - 28 ºC and mean annual rainfall 700-2,500 mm.

Morphology

• Stems sericeous when young, soon glabrous. Young stems are usually reddish in colour.
• Leaves are (1.5-) 2-5.6 cm long, (0.7-) 1.3-3.5 cm wide, elliptical to lanceolate or ovate, apex apiculate, base acute, glabrous; margin entire; petioles 0.4-1.5 cm long, sparsely sericeous to soon glabrous; glands usually a pair borne on the margin well above the base of the lamina, sometimes nearer the base, occasionally with additional tiny glands along the margin in the proximal half; stipules (1.4-) 2-3 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide, linear or narrowly triangular, glabrous, with scattered hairs on the margin.
• Inflorescence is a terminal raceme, the axes densely tomentulose; peduncles 3-7.5 mm long, pedicels (6-) 8-12 mm long; bracts 2-3 (-4) mm long, 0.5-0.8 mm wide, linear, bracteoles 1.5-2.5 mm long, 0.4-0.5 mm wide, linear, bracts and bracteoles glabrous or with scattered hairs on the margin. Sepals are 3-4 mm long, 1.3-2 mm wide, linear to oblong or elliptical, glabrous or with a few scattered hairs at base abaxially; glands absent. Petals are persistent, unequal, yellow, sometimes marked with red in age, glabrous; lateral petals: claw 1.5-2 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, limb 7.5-9.5 mm long, 5-6.5 mm wide, base gradually attenuate. Stamens have unequal length; anthers 2.4–3 mm long. Ovary is glabrous; styles 5.5–6.7 mm long.
• Fruits are schizocarps, coccus 2.5 mm long, 2 mm in diameter, glabrous. 

Cultivation

Propagated by seed. 

Chemical Constituents

Phenolics, flavonoids, galphimine B, triterpenoids.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

In Latin American traditional medicine, used for asthma and allergies. In Mexican traditional medicine, used as a sedative and tranquilizer for mental disorders and nervous excitement.