Jasmine (Jasminum) is a genus of shrubs

and vines in the in the 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. The leaves can be either evergreen or deciduous, and are opposite in most species; leaf shape is simple, trifoliate or pinnate with up to nine leaflets.

Jasmine
Jasminum polyanthum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Oleaceae Genus: Jasminum
Species
About 200 species, including: Jasminum angulare Jasminum azoricum Jasminum beesianum Jasminum dichotomum - Gold Coast Jasmine Jasminum floridum Jasminum fluminense - African Jasmine Jasminum fruticans Jasminum humile - Yellow Jasmine Jasminum mesnyi - Primrose Jasmine Jasminum multiflorum - Star Jasmine Jasminum nitidum - Shining Jasmine Jasminum nudiflorum - Winter Jasmine Jasminum officinale - Common Jasmine Jasminum parkeri Jasminum polyanthum Jasminum rex Jasminum sambac - Arabian Jasmine

Jasmine flowers are four-petalled, and mostly white, with some yellow flowered species. Unlike most genera in the Oleaceae which have four corolla lobes (’petals’), jasmines typically 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.

The common name ’jasmine’ is often given to unrelated plants with pale, sweetly-scented flowers and dark green leaves, such as Trachelospermum species (Confederate or star jasmine), Gardenia jasminoides (Cape jasmine), and Gelsemium species (Carolina jasmine).

Cultivation and uses

Jasmines are widely cultivated for their flowers, to be enjoyed in the garden, as house plants, and for cut flowers. The flowers are worn by women in their hair in southern and southeast Asia.

Jasmine flowers are also used to make tea, which typically has a green tea base. Many types yield an essential oil, which is used in the production of perfumes and incense.

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.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article “Jasmine”.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 28th, 2005 at 9:54 am and is filed under Aromatherapy and Essential Oils. Both comments and pings are currently closed.