Jasminum multiflorum (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Jasminum multiflorum (Burm.f.) Andr.

Protologue: Bot. repos. 8: t. 496 (1807).

Synonym Jasminum pubescens (Retz.) Willd. (1797).

Vernacular names

• Star jasmine (En)
• Philippines: sampagitang-sunsong (Tagalog)
• Vietnam: nhài nhiều hoa.

Distribution

A native of India and cultivated in western Malesia.

Uses

In India the root is reportedly used as an emmenagogue or emetic. The flowers are applied as a lactifuge. A poultice of the leaves is used to treat indolent ulcers. In Malaysia J. multiflorum is grown in gardens to supply flowers for home Hindu altars.

Observations

A robust bushy climber up to 5 m long, young shoots densely pubescent-tomentose; leaves broadly ovate, 4-7 cm × 1.5-4 cm, base rounded or often cordate, apex acute or often mucronate, pubescent beneath especially at the veins, with 4-6 pairs of secondary veins, slightly bullate, petiole 6-10 mm long; inflorescence a compact, cymose panicle, terminal or at the extremities of short axillary branches, with up to 40 flowers, supported by large, ovate, acute foliaceous bracts; flowers with a 13-16 mm long calyx tube, lobes 7-10(-13) mm long, densely tomentose, corolla tube (15-)20-22 mm long, glabrous, with yellowish-green eye, with 6-9 lobes opening horizontally, recurved at the tip, up to 17 mm × 7-8 mm, overlapping at the base, slightly fragrant; fruit a globose berry, black, surrounded by the suberect calyx lobes.

Selected sources

460, 580, 731, 732, 741, 900, 921, 1021, 1178.

Authors

Joeni Setijo Rahajoe, R. Kiew & J.L.C.H. van Valkenburg