Trachelospermum jasminoides
| Trachelospermum jasminoides | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Trachelospermum |
| Species: | T. jasminoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Rhynchospermum jasminoides Lindl. |
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Trachelospermum jasminoides is a species of flowering plant in the milkweed family, Apocynaceae, that is native to eastern and southeastern Asia, into Japan, Korea, southern China, and Vietnam. Common names include Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine, and Trader's Compass.[1][2]
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[edit] Description
Trachelospermum jasminoides is an evergreen woody liana growing to 10 feet (3.0 m) high. The leaves are opposite, oval to lanceolate, 2–10 cm long and 1-4.5 cm broad, with an entire margin and an acuminate apex.
The fragrant flowers are white, 1–2 cm diameter, with a tube-like corolla opening out into five petal-like lobes. The fruit is a slender follicle 10–25 cm long and 3–10 mm broad, containing numerous seeds.[1]
[edit] Uses
A valuable perfume oil is extracted from the steam distilled or tinctured flowers and used in high end perfumery. In a dilute form, tinctured flowers are much used in Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai incenses. A bast fibre is produced from the stems.[1] Authentic Thai Jasmine rice is made by steeping 20 flowers in a litre of water overnight and then using the strained water to cook long grain rice.
[edit] Cultivation
Trachelospermum jasminoides is commonly grown as an ornamental plant and houseplant. In gardens, public landscapes, and parks it is used as a climbing vine, a groundcover, and a fragrant potted plant on terraces and patios.
It is widely planted in California, and also particularly in the Southeastern United States where its hardiness, confined to USDA Zones 8-10, the area of the Confederate States of America, gives it the name "Confederate jasmine".[3] It gets another of its common names, "Trader's Compass" from an old Uzbekistan saying that it pointed traders in the right direction— if they were of good character.
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Plant in flower
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Flower closeup
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Trained on garden wall
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Blooming on trellis
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Trachelospermum jasminoides |
- ^ a b c Flora of China: Trachelospermum jasminoides
- ^ Germplasm Resources Information Network: Trachelospermum jasminoides
- ^ Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million.. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/11892.
