Jasminum sambac
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| Jasminum sambac | ||||||||||||||||
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| Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton |
Jasminum sambac (syn. Nyctanthes sambac) is a species of jasmine native to southwestern and southern Asia, in the Philippines, India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Common names include Arabian Jasmine, Mogra (Hindi and Marathi), Mallikā (Sanskrit), Kampupot, Melati (Malay and Indonesian Language), Sampaguita (Filipino), Mallepuvvu (Telugu), Mallikaipu (Tamil), dundu Mallige (Kannada) and Kaliyan (Urdu). The botanic name sambac is derived from a misapplication of the Sanskrit name champaka, which refers to the fragrant flowered shrub Michelia champaca.
It is an evergreen vine or shrub reaching up to 1-3 m tall. The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three, simple (not pinnate, like most other jasmines), ovate, 4-12.5 cm long and 2-7.5 cm broad. The flowers are produced in clusters of 3-12 together, strongly scented, with a white corolla 2-3 cm diameter with 5-9 lobes. The flowers open at night, and close in the morning. The fruit is a purple-black berry 1 cm in diameter.
[edit] Cultivation and uses
It is widely grown throughout the tropics as an ornamental plant for its strongly scented flowers. Numerous cultivars have been selected, including some with fully-double flowers such as the cultivar "Grand Duke of Tuscany".
It is the national flower of the Philippines, adopted by its government in 1937. In the Philippines, the flowers are gathered and strung into leis, corsages and crowns or its oils distilled and sold in stores, streets, and outside churches. The garlands may be used to welcome guests, or as an offering or adornment in religious altars. It symbolizes purity and love. As a legend goes, there were two lovers, Lakambini and Lakam Galing. As Lakam Galing went off to a battle to defend their land, the two exchanged the words "Sumpa kita" as a pledge of their undying love for each other. When Lakambini heard that her lover died in the war, she died of grief and sorrow. At her gravesite, there soon sprouted a vine that bore fragrant white flowers echoing her purity and untainted love. It is also known that this flower was once used as a cure for a headache in the Philippines.
In Bengali, the flower is known as "beli" and is extremely popular for its sweet fragrance. It is used to make garlands to adorn women's hair.
In Hawaii, the flower is known as "pikake", and is used to make fragrant leis. In South India, jasmines are strung into thick strands and worn as a hair adornment. In China, the flower is processed and used as the main ingredient in jasmine tea.
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