Jasmine flower

Scientific classification

•             Kingdom:Plantae

•             Order:Lamiales

•             Family:Oleaceae

•             Tribe:Jasmineae

•             Genus:Jasminum L.

List of Jasminum species

•             Jasminum abyssinicum

•             Jasminum adenophyllum

•             Jasminum angulare

•             Jasminum dichotomum

Cultivation and uses

•             Widely cultivated for its flowers, jasmine is enjoyed in the garden, as a house plant, and as cut flowers. The flowers are worn by women in their hair in southern and southeast Asia. The delicate jasmine flower opens only at night and may be plucked in the morning when the tiny petals are tightly closed, then stored in a cool place until night. The petals begin to open between six and eight in the evening, as the temperature lowers.

Jasmine tea

•             Jasmine tea is consumed in China, where it is called jasmine-flower tea (pinyin). Jasminum sambac flowers are also used to make so-called jasmine tea, which often has a base of green tea. Flowers and tea are "mated" in machines that control temperature and humidity.

•             It takes four hours or so for the tea to absorb the fragrance and flavour of the jasmine blossoms, may be repeated as many as seven times. Because the tea has absorbed moisture from the flowers, spoilage. The spent flowers may or may not be removed from the final product, as the flowers are completely dry and contain no aroma of the quality of the tea.

Jasmine syrup

•             The French are known for their jasmine syrup, most commonly made from an extract of jasmine flowers. In the United States, this French jasmine syrup is used to make jasmine scones and marshmallows .

Jasmine essential oil

•             Jasmine essential oil is in common use. Its flowers are either extracted by the labour-intensive method of enfleurage or through chemical extraction. It is expensive due to the large number of flowers needed to produce a small amount of oil. The flowers have to be gathered at night because the odour of jasmine is more powerful after dark.

Jasmine as a national flower

•             Indonesia, flower in wedding ceremonies for ethnic Indonesians, especially in the island of Java.

•             Pakistan, where Jasminum officinale " is the national flower.

•             Philippines, where it is known as "Sampaguita.

•             Hawaii.

•             Jasmine flowers are worn by women in their hair mainly for beauty and fragrance. They are also used in floral decorations for marriages and other important functions

•             Throughout most of India, especially in the western and southern states, including) is cultivated in private homes, within gardens or as potted plants. These flowers are used in regular worship at home as well as for hair ornaments (for the girls and women of the house). Jasmine is also cultivated commercially, for both the domestic purposes discussed above and other purposes (such as use in the perfume industry).

As a weed

•             Jasminum fluminense, which is sometimes known by the inaccurate name "Brazilian Jasmine", is an invasive species in Hawaii and Florida J. dichotomum, also called Gold Coast Jasmine, is also an invasive weed in Florida.