Telosma cordata
Telosma cordata (Chinese: 夜來香; lit. 'night-blooming fragrance') is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae (tribe Marsdenieae), native to China and Indo-China. It is cultivated elsewhere and may occur wild as an introduced species. Common names include Chinese violet, cowslip creeper, Pakalana vine, Tonkin jasmine and Tonkinese creeper. The plant bears clusters of golden yellow blooms along the vining stems during summer months. Individual blooms emerge successively over a period of weeks emitting a rich, heavy fragrance during the day and night.
| Telosma cordata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Telosma cordata[1] | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Telosma |
| Species: | T. cordata |
| Binomial name | |
| Telosma cordata | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Characteristics
Telosma cordata is classified as a creeper that can climb as far as 2–5 meters. The vine is small, round and very tough; it is considered poisonous for pigs. As the tree is older, the vine will change from green to brown. The top is covered with dense white bush that can cover other trees completely. The plant can be reproduced by cutting or seeding and grows in airy soil in bright sunlight. It can be found in evergreen, mixed deciduous forests, grove woods and dry forests all over Indo-China.
Leaf
Telosma cordata has single heart-shaped leaves growing in pairs. The leaf is about 4–7.5 cm wide and about 6–11 cm long with smooth underside. The leaf is very thin, with veins that can be clearly seen. The stem is about 1.2–2 cm long.
Flower
The flowers bloom as a bouquet consisting of about 10–20 flowers. The greenish-yellow flower has a strong fragrance especially in the evening. It has a diameter of about 1.5 cm with 5 petals and 5 stamens which are connected to each other and to the pistils. The blooming season is usually March–May, although sometimes flowers can be found in July–October.
Fruit
The fruit is smooth, green and round with pointed ends. The interior contains many flat seeds with white fluff attached to the ends. The produce season is around June–August.
Uses
The top, fruit and flowers can all be consumed as vegetables. The top is believed to be the most nutritious part. The flower is used in desserts and for ornamental purposes in bouquets and wreaths. The plant's vines are tough and can be used as ropes. The wood can be used for construction in some cases. The plant has also been used for traditional medicinal purposes, as an antipyretic, an antidote for poison, a tranquilizer, and for the relief of backbone pain.[3]
| Nutritions | Value per 100 g. |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrate | 10.6 g. |
| Protein | 5.0 g. |
| Fat | 1.1 g. |
| Fibre | 0.8 g. |
| Water | 80.5 g. |
| Vitamin A | 3.0 g. |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.0004 g. |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.0015 g. |
| Vitamin B3 | 0.0017 g. |
| Vitamin C | 0.68 g. |
| Calcium | 0.7 g. |
| Iron | 0.01 g. |
| Phosphorus | 0.9 g. |
See also
References
- illustration circa 1790 from James Edward Smith and James Sowerby – Icones pictae plantarum rariorum descriptionibus et observationibus illustratae
- Plants of the World Online (POWO), retrieved 12 October 2018
- Tanaka, Yoshitaka; Van Ke, Nguyen (2007). Edible Wild Plants of Vietnam: The Bountiful Garden. Thailand: Orchid Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-9745240896.
External links
- Glass-noodles with Shrimps and Pakalana Flowers
- ขจร สรรพคุณและประโยชน์ของดอกขจร 24 ข้อ ! (ผักสลิด,ดอกสลิด). 2016. ขจร สรรพคุณและ ประโยชน์ของดอกขจร 24 ข้อ ! (ผักสลิด,ดอกสลิด). [ONLINE] Available at: http://frynn.com/ขจร/. [Accessed 2 February 2016].