Genus: Jasminum

Common Name Jasmine

Andrea Michelle Johnson


Pictures donated by Nari Bhatia, see ref. 1

Basic Taxonomic Information (See ref. 2)

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass: Asteridae

Order: Scrophulariales

Family: Oleaceae

Genus: Jasminum

 

 

Jasmine, also known as Jessimine, is actually a common and confusing name given to an abundance of plants that contain certain oils. The jasmine oil "contains benzyl acetate, terpinol, jasmone, benzyl benzoate, linalool, several alcohols, and other compounds (14.1-10)."(See ref. 3)

There is a true jasmine and a false jasmine, and the two are commonly mistaken for each other because of the fragrance the plants release. The true jasmine is in the family Oleaceae, and is primarily a bushy shrub or climbing plant, and is nonpoisonous. The false jasmine, on the other hand, is in a completely different genus, Gelsemium, and family, Loganiaceae, and is considered very poisonous for human consumption. (See Ref. 4)

"The flower oil is important in high-grade perfumes and cosmetics, such as creams, oils, soaps, and shampoos. [The] flowers are used in jasmine tea and other herbal or black teas. . . As a medicinal plant, jasmine has traditionally been considered an aphrodisiac and calmative. The roots and leaves of some jasmine species have been used in folk medicine as an anthelmintic, active against ringworm and tapeworm (11.1-50). The plant has [even] been employed against cancer (14.1-18). Jasminum sambac (L.), commonly called Arabic jasmine, . . . has been used to flavor teas and is reported to have antimicrobial activity" (See Ref. 3).

According to Dr. Michael Dirr, the leaves of most jasmine plants grow in three to five leaflets per petiole. The stems are "slender, trailing, green, glaborous, angled, almost 4-sided" (See Ref. 5). There are numerous Jasmine species, most originating in the Eurasia and other tropical regions, but most adapt well to other hardiness zones. Some are not seriously susceptible to diseases or insects. A few could even be considered close to weed status because they are so easily adaptable to different climates. The plant's habitats range from full sun and well drained soils to full shade and wet areas. Some investigation would be needed to find the right jasmine for the climate and the area in which to plant.

 

 

J. albicalyx

 

 

J. attenuatum

 

 

J. beesianum

 

 

J. cinnamomifolium

 

 

J. coffeinum

 

 

J. crabianum

 

 

J. dispermum

 

 

J. duclouxii

 

 

J. elogatum

 

 

J. flexile

 

 

J. floridum

Showy Jasmine

Shrub, yellow flowers, alternate leaves

J. fuchsiifolium

 

 

J. grandiflorum

White Jasmine

 

J. guanxiense

 

 

J. humile L.

Yellow Jasmine

Creeper, yellow star shaped flowers, org. China

J. humile var. humile

 

 

J. humile var. microphyllum

 

 

J. lanceolaria

 

 

J. lang

 

 

J. laurifolium

 

 

J. laurifolium var. brachylobum

 

 

J longitubum.

 

 

J. mesnyi

Primrose Jasmine

Creeper, soft yellow flowers, org. China

J. microcalyx

 

 

J. multiflorum

Star Jasmine

Climber w/ heart shaped leaves, white flowers in clusters open up into star-shapes

J. nervosum

 

 

J. nintooides

 

 

J. nudiflorum

Winter Jasmine

 

J. nudiflorum var. nudiflorum

 

 

J. nudiflorum var. pulvinatum

 

 

J. officinale L.

Pitchy or Poet's Jasmine

Star-shaped White flowers, delicate leaves, very fragrant, no known org.

J. officinale var. officinale

 

 

J. officinale var. piliferum

 

 

J. officinale var. tibeticum

 

 

J. pentaneurum

 

 

J. pierreanum

 

 

J. polyanthum

Winter Jasmine

White flowers, very fragrant, org. China

J. prainii

 

 

J. rehderianum

 

 

J. rufohirtum

 

 

J. sambac

Arabian Jasmine

Many different variations, but most are gardenia white-rosette-shaped flowers, gradually turn purple as they age.

J. seguinii

 

 

J. sempervirens

 

 

J. sinense

 

 

J. subhumile

 

 

J. tonkinense

 

 

J. urophyllum

 

 

J. wengeri

 

 

J. X stephanense

Pink Jasmine

 

J. yuanjiangense

 

 

(List of Jasminum, see ref. 6)

 

 

References:

#1: Pictures by Nari Bhatia, Bhatia Nurseries, copywritten in 1995.

http://www.crel-media.com/bhatia.html

New address soon:

http://www.bhatia-nurseries.com/

#2: reference two
http://gypsy.fsl.wvnet.edu/gmoth/gtr/table4.html

#3: Simon, J.E., A.F. Chadwick and L.E. Craker. 1984. Herbs: An Indexed Bibliography. 1071-1980. The Scientific Literature on Selected Herbs, and Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of the Temperate Zone. Archon Books, 770pp., Hamden CT.

http://newcrop.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/med-aro/factsheets/JASMINE.html

#4: Encarta Online

http://encarta.msn.com/find/concise/default.asp?vs=x97&la=na&ty=1&vo=0F&ti=01b82000&pq=injasmine

#5: Dirr, Michael A., Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propogation and Uses, Fourth Ed., Stipes Publishing Company (Champaign, IL, 1990), p. 425-426.

#6: Missouri Botanical Garden: Flora of China names list

http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/TROPICOS/China/Jasminum.html