Jasmine

Jasmine can be either deciduous (leaves falling in autumn) or evergreen (green all year round), and can be erect, spreading, or climbing shrubs and vines. Their leaves are borne in opposing or alternating arrangement and can be of simple, trifoliate, or pinnate formation. The flowers are typically around 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in diameter. They are white or yellow, although in rare instances they can be slightly reddish. The flowers are borne in cymose clusters with a minimum of three flowers, though they can also be solitary on the ends of branchlets. Each flower has about four to nine petals, two locules, and one to four ovules. They have two stamens with very short filaments. The bracts are linear or ovate. The calyx is bell-shaped. They are usually very fragrant. The fruits of jasmines are berries that turn black when ripe. The basic chromosome number of the genus is 13, and most species are diploid (2n=26). However, natural polyploidy exists, particularly in Jasminum sambac (triploid 3n=39), Jasminum flexile (tetraploid 4n=52), Jasminum mesnyi (triploid 3n=39), and Jasminum angustifolium (tetraploid 4n=52).[6]

Jasmines are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Eurasia, Africa, Australasia and Oceania, although only one of the 200 species is native to Europe.[7][8][9] Their center of diversity is in South Asia and Southeast Asia.[10]

Several jasmine species have become naturalized in Mediterranean Europe. For example, the so-called Spanish jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum) was originally from West Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Northeast Africa, and East Africa, and is now naturalized in the Iberian peninsula.[6][11]

Jasminum fluminense (which is sometimes known by the inaccurate name "Brazilian Jasmine") and Jasminum dichotomum (Gold Coast Jasmine) are invasive species in Hawaii and Florida.[12][13] Jasminum polyanthum, also known as White Jasmine, is an invasive weed in Australia.[14]

Species belonging to the genus are classified under the tribe Jasmineae of the olive family (Oleaceae).[6] Jasminum is divided into five sections—Alternifolia, Jasminum, Primulina, Trifoliolata, and Unifoliolata.[4]

The name yāsamin (یاسمن‎) is derived from the Middle Persian word yāsaman. After the Muslim conquest of Persia it was borrowed as yāsamīn (يَاسَمِين) in Arabic. Through Arabic the name entered Ottoman Turkish and then to Middle French around 1570.[15][16] The word was first used in English in the 16th century.[16]

Species include:[17]

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  Jasminum sambac "Grand Duke of Tuscany"
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  A double-flowered cultivar of Jasminum sambac in flower with an unopened bud.
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  Jasmine buds
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  Lifecycle of Arabian jasmine flower
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  Jasmine flowers

Widely cultivated for its flowers, jasmine is enjoyed in the garden, as a houseplant, and as cut flowers. The flowers are worn by women in their hair in South Asia and southeast Asia.

Jasmine tea

Green tea with jasmine flowers

Jasmine tea is traditionally consumed in China, where it is called Jasmine-flower tea (茉莉花茶; pinyin: mò lì huā chá). Jasminum sambac flowers are used to make jasmine tea, which often has a base of green tea or white tea, but sometimes an Oolong base is used. Tea leaves and jasmine flowers are put in machines that control temperature and humidity. It takes about four hours for the tea to absorb the fragrance and flavor of the jasmine blossoms. For the highest grades of jasmine tea, this process may be repeated up to seven times. As the tea absorbs moisture from the fresh Jasmine flowers, it must be refired to prevent spoilage. The used flowers may be removed from the final product, as the flowers contain no more aroma. Giant fans are used to blow away and remove the petals from the denser tea leaves.

In Okinawa, Japan, Jasmine tea is known as sanpin cha.

Jasmine is cultivated commercially for domestic and industrial uses, such as the perfume industry.[20] It is used in rituals like marriages, religious ceremonies, and festivals.[21] Jasmine flower vendors sell garlands of jasmine, or in the case of the thicker motiyaa (in Hindi) or mograa (in Marathi) varieties, bunches of jasmine are common.[22] They may be found around entrances to temples, on major thoroughfares, and in major business areas.

A change in presidency in Tunisia in 1987[23][24] and the Tunisian Revolution of 2011 are both called "Jasmine revolutions" in reference to the flower.[25]

"Jasmine" is a common female given name.

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  surface of Jasmine tea
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  The White Jasmine Branch, painting of ink and color on silk by Chinese artist Zhao Chang, early 12th century
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  Jasmine used as garland
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  Jasmine flower blooming

• "Jasminum Linn". Flora of Pakistan: 12. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
• Metcalf, Allan A. (1999). The World in So Many Words. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-95920-9.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jasminum.

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Look up Jasmine or Jasminum in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• "Flora Europaea Search Results". Flora Europaea. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
• "African Plants Database". South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica.