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.
Flowers and fruit
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.[7][additional citation(s) needed]
The fruits of jasmines are
berries that turn black when ripe.
The name comes from Old French jessemin, from
Persian: یاسمن,
romanized: yāsamin[16] which is derived from the
Middle Persian word yāsaman and yāsamīn (يَاسَمِين) in
Arabic.[17][18] The word entered
Middle French around 1570 and was first used in English in
16th century England.[18] The Persian name is also the origin of the genus name, Jasminum.[19]
Taxonomy
Species belonging to the
genus are classified under the tribe
Jasmineae of the olive family (
Oleaceae).[7]Jasminum is divided into five
sections—Alternifolia, Jasminum, Primulina, Trifoliolata, and Unifoliolata.[20]
Jasmine is cultivated commercially for domestic and industrial uses, such as the perfume industry.[24] It is used in rituals like marriages, religious ceremonies, and festivals.[25] 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.[26] They may be found around entrances to
temples, on major thoroughfares, and in major
business areas.
Indonesia: Jasminum sambac is the national flower, adopted in 1990.[32] It goes by the name "melati putih" and is used in wedding ceremonies for ethnic Indonesians, especially on the island of
Java.
Philippines: Jasminum sambac is the national flower. Adopted in 1935, it is known as "sampaguita" in the islands. It is usually strung in garlands which are then used to adorn religious images.[34]
Thailand: Jasmine flowers are used as a symbol of motherhood.[35]
Tunisia: The national flower of Tunisia is jasmine. It was chosen as a symbol for the
Tunisian Revolution.
^USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program.
"Jasminum L." Germplasm Resources Information Network, National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. Archived from
the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2011.{{
cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^Demole E; Lederer, E.; Mercier, D. (1962). "Isolement et détermination de la structure du jasmonate de méthyle, constituant odorant caractéristique de l'essence de jasmin". Helv Chim Acta. 45 (2): 675–85.
doi:
10.1002/hlca.19620450233.
^Anabel Bachour (23 February 2017).
"Damascus, the City of Jasmine". Peacock Plume, Student Media, The American University of Paris, France. Retrieved 26 May 2019.