Tabernaemontana divaricata

Tabernaemontana divaricata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Tabernaemontana
Species:
T. divaricata
Binomial name
Tabernaemontana divaricata
R.Br. ex Roem. & Schult.
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Ervatamia coronaria (Jacq.) Stapf
    • Ervatamia divaricata (L.) Burkill
    • Ervatamia divaricata var. plena (Roxb. ex Voigt) M.R.Almeida
    • Ervatamia flabelliformis Tsiang
    • Ervatamia recurva (Lindl.) Lace
    • Ervatamia siamensis (Warb. ex Pit.) Kerr
    • Kopsia cochinchinensis Kuntze
    • Nerium coronarium Jacq.
    • Nerium divaricatum L.
    • Reichardia grandiflora Dennst.
    • Reichardia jasminoides Dennst.
    • Taberna discolor (Sw.) Miers
    • Tabernaemontana citrifolia Lunan
    • Tabernaemontana coronaria (Jacq.) Willd.
    • Tabernaemontana discolor Sw.
    • Tabernaemontana flabelliformis (Tsiang) P.T.Li
    • Tabernaemontana gratissima Lindl.
    • Tabernaemontana lurida Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.
    • Tabernaemontana recurva Lindl.
    • Tabernaemontana siamensis Warb. ex Pit.
    • Testudipes recurva (Lindl.) Markgr.
    • Vinca alba Noronha
    • Jasminum zeylanicum Burm.f.
    • Nyctanthes acuminata Burm.f.

Tabernaemontana divaricata, commonly called pinwheel flower,[3] crape jasmine, East India rosebay, and Nero's crown,[4] is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to South Asia, Southeast Asia and China.[1] In zones where it is not hardy it is grown as a house/glasshouse plant for its attractive flowers and foliage. The stem exudes a milky latex when broken, whence comes the name milk flower

Flowers in West Bengal, India.

Description

The plant generally grows to a height of 1.5–1.8 metres (5–6 ft) and is dichotomously branched. The large shiny leaves are deep green and about 15 cm (6 in) in length and 5 cm (2 in) in width. The waxy blossoms are found in small clusters on the stem tips. The (single) flowers have the characteristic 'pinwheel' shape also seen in other genera in the family Apocynaceae such as Vinca and Nerium. Both single and double-flowered forms are cultivated, the flowers of both forms being white. The plant blooms in spring but flowers appear sporadically all year. The flowers have a pleasing fragrance.[5] More than 66 alkaloids are found in the shrub.[6] Its habitats include montane brushwoods and sparse forests.[7]

  • A pair of flowers
    A pair of flowers
  • Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Flore Pleno'
    Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Flore Pleno'
  • Crape jasmine bunch
    Crape jasmine bunch
  • Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Pinwheel'
    Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Pinwheel'
  • Tabernaemontana divarcata yet to blossom
    Tabernaemontana divarcata yet to blossom
  • Caterpillar of Oleander hawk-moth feeding on pinwheel flower plant
    Caterpillar of Oleander hawk-moth feeding on pinwheel flower plant
  • Flower buds of crape jasmine at night
    Flower buds of crape jasmine at night

Phytochemistry

The species is known to produce many alkaloids including catharanthine, conolidine, coronaridine, dregamine, ibogamine, tabersonine, voacangine, voacamine and voacristine.[8] Ibogaine may occur in multiple Tabernaemontana species.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Lakhey, P.; Pathak, J. (2020). "crape jasmine". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T149853146A149853842. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T149853146A149853842.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br. ex Roem. & Schult". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  3. ^ NRCS. "Tabernaemontana divaricata". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  4. ^ Medicinal Plants of India and Pakistan, Dastur J.F., pub.1962 by D.P. Taraporevala Sons and Co. Private Ltd., Mumbai, 4th Indian reprint 1977[page needed]
  5. ^ The Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening ed. Chittenden,Fred J. 2nd ed. by Synge,Patrick M. Volume IV : Pt-Zy, p.2074 (as T. coronaria). Pub. Oxford at the Clarendon Press 1965. Reprinted 1984. ISBN 0-19-869106-8
  6. ^ Perry, Lily M. (1980). Medicinal Plants of East and Southeast Asia: Attributed Properties and Uses. MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-16076-6.[page needed]
  7. ^ "Tabernaemontana divaricata in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  8. ^ a b Kam TS, Pang HS, Choo YM, Komiyama K (April 2004). "Biologically active ibogan and vallesamine derivatives from Tabernaemontana divaricata". Chemistry and Biodiversity. 1 (4): 646–56. doi:10.1002/cbdv.200490056. PMID 17191876. S2CID 12805328.