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 Jasminum polyanthum
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| Jasminum officinale L. |
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More than 200 species, see text. Sources: ING,[1] CPN,[2] UniProt[3] |
_in_Talakona_forest,_AP_W_IMG_8325.jpg)
Jasmine or Jessamine (Jasminum) (from Persian yasmin, i.e. "gift from God"[4][5], via Arabic[6]) 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.
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Description
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
Cultivation and uses
Jasmine is widely cultivated for their flowers, enjoyed in the garden, as house plants, and as cut flowers. The flowers are worn by women in their hair in southern and southeast Asia. Many species also yield an absolute, which is used in the production of perfumes and incense.
Jasmine tisane is 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 tea, which often has a base of green tea, but sometimes an Oolong base is used. The delicate Jasmine flower opens only at night during the full moon and is plucked in the morning when the tiny petals are tightly closed. They are then stored in a cool place until night. Between six and eight in the evening, as the temperature cools, the petals begin to open. Flowers and tea are "mated" in machines that control temperature and humidity. It takes four hours or so for the tea to absorb the fragrance and flavour of the Jasmine blossoms, and for the highest grades, this process may be repeated as many as seven times. Because the tea has absorbed moisture from the flowers, it must be refired to prevent spoilage. The spent flowers may or may not be removed from the final product, as the flowers are completely dry and contain no aroma. Giant fans are used to blow away and remove the petals from the denser tea leaves. If present, they simply add visual appeal and are no indication of the quality of the tea.
Cultural importance and other information
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 countriescitation needed. 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.
In Okinawa Japan Jasmine Tea is known as Sanpin Cha.
Gallery
_in_Talakona_forest,_AP_W_IMG_8326.jpg) Jasminum auriculatum at Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India. |
_in_Talakona_forest,_AP_W_IMG_8323.jpg) Jasminum auriculatum at Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India. |
References
- ^ "Jasminum" (HTML). Index Nominum Genericorum. International Association for Plant Taxonomy. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ "10. Jasminum Linnaeus" (HTML) . Chinese Plant Names 15: 307. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ UniProt. "Jasminum" (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ "jasmine, -in, jessamine, -in", OED
- ^ "jasmine." Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, 2002.
- ^ Metcalf, 1999, p. 123.
External links
Media related to Jasminum at Wikimedia Commons
Information related to Jasminum from Wikispecies.
The Wiktionary definition of Jasminum- Jasminum L. (TSN 32964). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 3 June 2008.
- "Flora Europaea Search Results" (HTML). Flora Europaea. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- "Jasminum Linn." (HTML) . Flora of Pakistan: Page 12. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- "Jasminum L. record n° 1950" (HTML). African Plants Database. South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica
- Jasmine Flower. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). "PLANTS Profile, Jasminum" (HTML). The PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- Metcalf, Allan A. (1999), The World in So Many Words, Houghton Mifflin, ISBN 0395959209
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 13 October 2008, at 02:03.
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