Jasmine

Jasmine
Jasminum officinale, common jasmine
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Oleaceae
Tribe:	Jasmineae
Genus:	Jasminum L.
Type species
Jasminum officinale
Species
More than 200, see List of Jasminum species[1][2][3]
Synonyms[4]
Jacksonia hort. ex Schltdl Jasminium Dumort. Menodora Humb. & Bonpl. Mogorium Juss. Noldeanthus Knobl.

Common jasmine

Jasmine (taxonomic name Jasminum /ˈjæsmɪnəm/ YASS-min-əm^[5]) is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae). It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of Eurasia and Oceania. Jasmines are widely cultivated for the characteristic fragrance of their flowers. A number of unrelated plants contain the word "jasmine" in their common names (see Other plants called "jasmine").

Description[]

Jasmine can be either deciduous (leaves falling in autumn) or evergreen (green all year round), and can be erect, spreading, or climbing shrubs and vines. Their leaves are borne in opposing or alternating arrangement and can be of simple, trifoliate, or pinnate formation. The flowers are typically around 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in diameter. They are white or yellow, although in rare instances they can be slightly reddish. The flowers are borne in cymose clusters with a minimum of three flowers, though they can also be solitary on the ends of branchlets. Each flower has about four to nine petals, two locules, and one to four ovules. They have two stamens with very short filaments. The bracts are linear or ovate. The calyx is bell-shaped. They are usually very fragrant. The fruits of jasmines are berries that turn black when ripe. The basic chromosome number of the genus is 13, and most species are diploid (2n=26). However, natural polyploidy exists, particularly in Jasminum sambac (triploid 3n=39), (tetraploid 4n=52), Jasminum mesnyi (triploid 3n=39), and Jasminum angustifolium (tetraploid 4n=52).^[6]

Distribution and habitat[]

Jasmines are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Eurasia, Australasia and Oceania, although only one of the 200 species is native to Europe.^[7][8][9] Their center of diversity is in South Asia and Southeast Asia.^[10]

Several jasmine species have become naturalized in Mediterranean Europe. For example, the so-called Spanish jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum) was originally from West Asia and the Indian subcontinent, and is now naturalized in the Iberian peninsula.^[6]

(which is sometimes known by the inaccurate name "Brazilian Jasmine") and Jasminum dichotomum (Gold Coast Jasmine) are invasive species in Hawaii and Florida.^[11][12] Jasminum polyanthum, also known as White Jasmine, is an invasive weed in Australia.^[13]

Taxonomy[]

Species belonging to the genus are classified under the tribe Jasmineae of the olive family (Oleaceae).^[6] Jasminum is divided into five sections—Alternifolia, Jasminum, Primulina, Trifoliolata, and Unifoliolata.^[4]

Etymology[]

The genus name is derived from the New Persian word yāsamin through Arabic, Turkish and Latin.^{[14][7][15][16][17][18]}

Species[]

Species include:^[19]

• 

  Jasminum sambac "Grand Duke of Tuscany"

• 

  A double-flowered cultivar of Jasminum sambac in flower with an unopened bud.

• 

  Jasmine buds

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  Lifecycle of Arabian jasmine flower

• 

  Jasmine flowers

Cultivation and uses[]

Widely cultivated for its flowers, jasmine is enjoyed in the garden, as a houseplant, and as cut flowers. The flowers are worn by women in their hair in South and southeast Asia.

Jasmine tea[]

Green tea with jasmine flowers

Jasmine tea is traditionally consumed in China, where it is called Jasmine-flower tea (茉莉花茶; pinyin: mò lì huā chá). Jasminum sambac flowers are also used to make jasmine tea, which often has a base of green tea or white tea, but sometimes an Oolong base is used. Tea leaves and jasmine flowers are put in machines that control temperature and humidity. It takes about four hours for the tea to absorb the fragrance and flavor of the jasmine blossoms. For the highest grades of jasmine tea, this process may be repeated up to seven times. As the tea absorbs moisture from the fresh Jasmine flowers, it must be refired to prevent spoilage. The used flowers may be removed from the final product, as the flowers contain no more aroma. Giant fans are used to blow away and remove the petals from the denser tea leaves.

In Okinawa, Japan, Jasmine tea is known as snapin cha.

Jasmonates[]

Jasmine gave name to the jasmonate plant hormones, as methyl jasmonate isolated from the oil of Jasminum grandiflorum led to the discovery of the molecular structure of jasmonates.^[20] Jasmonates occur ubiquitously across the plant kingdom, having key roles in responses to environmental cues, such as heat or cold stress, and participate in the signal transduction pathways of many plants.^[21]

Plantation[]

Jasmine plantation is usually done using the stem of an existing plant, or one having roots. On rare occasions, the flowers bear dark purple fruits with seeds. The seeds will germinate when sowed and nurtured properly. The flowering shrubs are usually trimmed pre-summer, as fresh branches grow and bear flowers during the summer.

Cultural importance[]

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Jasmine is cultivated commercially for domestic and industrial uses, such as the perfume industry. It is used in rituals like marriages, religious ceremonies, and festivals. Jasmine flower vendors sell garlands of jasmine, or in the case of the thicker motiyaa (in Hindi) or mograa (in Marathi) varieties, bunches of jasmine are common. They may be found around entrances to temples, on major thoroughfares, and in major business areas.

A change in presidency in Tunisia in 1987^[22][23] and the Tunisian Revolution of 2011 are both called "Jasmine revolutions" in reference to the flower.

"Jasmine" is a common female given name.

• 

  surface of Jasmine tea

• 

  The White Jasmine Branch, painting of ink and color on silk by Chinese artist Zhao Chang, early 12th century

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  Jasmine used as garland

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  Jasmine flower blooming

National flower[]

Several countries and states consider jasmine as a national symbol.

• Syria: The Syrian city Damascus is called the City of Jasmine.^[24]
• Hawaii: Jasminum sambac ("pikake") is a common flower used in leis, and is the subject of many Hawaiian songs.^{[citation needed]}
• Indonesia: Jasminum sambac is the national flower, adopted in 1990.^[25] It goes by the name "melati putih" and is used in wedding ceremonies for ethnic Indonesians, especially on the island of Java.
• Pakistan: Jasminum officinale is known as the "chambeli" or "yasmin", it is the national flower.^{[citation needed]}
• Philippines: Jasminum sambac is the national flower. Adopted in 1935, it is known as "sampaguita" in the islands. It is usually strung in garlands which are then used to adorn religious images.^{[citation needed]}
• Thailand: Jasmine flowers are used as a symbol of motherhood.^[26]

Other plants called "jasmine"[]

References[]

Further reading[]

• "Jasminum Linn". Flora of Pakistan: 12. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
• Metcalf, Allan A. (1999). The World in So Many Words. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-95920-9.

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jasminum.

Wikispecies has information related to Jasmine.

Look up Jasmine or Jasminum in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• "Flora Europaea Search Results". Flora Europaea. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
• "African Plants Database". South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica.