Jasmine or Jessamine (Jasminum) (from Persian yasmin, i.e. "gift from God", via Arabic) is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae),with about 200 species, native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the Old World. The majority of species grow as climbers on other plants or on structures such as chicken wire, gates or fences. The leaves can be either evergreen (green all year round) or deciduous (falling leaves in autumn), and are opposite in most species; leaf shape is simple, trifoliate or pinnate with up to nine leaflets.
Jasmine flowers are generally white, although some species have yellow flowers. Unlike most genera in the Oleaceae which have four corolla lobes ("petals"), jasmines often have five or six lobes. They are often strongly and sweetly scented. Flowering is in spring or summer in most species, but in a few species, notably J. nudiflorum, in winter on the bare branches of this deciduous species.
Selected species
* Jasminum albicalyx* Jasminum amplexicaule* Jasminum angulare* Jasminum angustifolium* Jasminum arborescens* Jasminum attenuatum* Jasminum auriculatum* Jasminum azoricum* Jasminum beesianum* Jasminum cinnamomifolium* Jasminum coffeinum* Jasminum craibianum* Jasminum cuspidatumkmkm* Jasminum dichotomum – Gold Coast Jasmine* Jasminum dispermum* Jasminum duclouxii* Jasminum elongatum* Jasminum flexile* Jasminum floridum* Jasminum fluminense – African Jasmine* Jasminum fruticans* Jasminum fuchsiifolium* Jasminum grandiflorum – Spanish jasmine* Jasminum guangxiense* Jasminum hongshuihoense* Jasminum humile – Yellow Jasmine* Jasminum lanceolaria* Jasminum lang* Jasminum latifolium* Jasminum laurifolium
* Jasminum longitubum* Jasminum mesnyi – Primrose Jasmine* Jasminum microcalyx* Jasminum molle - Indian Jui* Jasminum multiflorum – Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)* Jasminum nervosum* Jasminum nintooides* Jasminum nitidum – Shining Jasmine* Jasminum nudiflorum – Winter Jasmine* Jasminum odoratissimum* Jasminum officinale – Common Jasmine* Jasminum parkeri* Jasminum pentaneurum* Jasminum pierreanum* Jasminum polyanthum - Pink Jasmine* Jasminum prainii* Jasminum pubescens* Jasminum rehderianum* Jasminum rex* Jasminum roxburghianum* Jasminum rufohirtum* Jasminum sambac – Arabian Jasmine* Jasminum seguinii* Jasminum sinense* Jasminum stephanense* Jasminum subglandulosum* Jasminum subhumile* Jasminum tonkinense* Jasminum urophyllum* Jasminum wengeri* Jasminum yuanjiangense
The Jasmine is the National Flower of the following countries:* The Philippines, where it is known as "Sampaguita", and is usually strung on garlands which are then used to adorn religious images.* Indonesia, where the variety Jasminum sambac is the "puspa bangsa" (National Flower), and goes by the name "Melati", In the country, especially the island of Java, it is the most important flower in wedding ceremonies for ethnic Indonesians.* Pakistan, where Jasminum officinale is known as the "Chambeli" or "Yasmine" is the national flower.* Syria, it is the symbolic flower of Damascus, which is called the City of Jasmines.
In Sanskrit it is called "Mallika". Jasmine is cultivated at Pangala, in Karnataka, India, and exported to Middle Eastern countries. J. fluminense is an invasive species in Hawaii, where it is sometimes known by the inaccurate name "Brazilian Jasmine". J. dichotomum is also invasive in Florida.
In Thailand, jasmine flowers are used as a symbol of the mother. |