茉莉花 mo li hua

Nyctanthes sambac Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 6. 1753.

Shrubs erect or scandent, to 3 m. Branchlets terete or slightly compressed, sometimes hollow, sparsely pubescent. Leaves opposite, simple; petiole 2-6 mm, articulate, pubescent; leaf blade orbicular to elliptic or obovate, 4-12.5 × 2-7.5 cm, papery, glabrous except for tufted hairs at vein axils abaxially, both ends blunt, sometimes base subcordate; primary veins 4-6 on each side of midrib. Cymes terminal, (1 or)3(or 5)-flowered; bracts subulate, 4-8 mm. Flowers very fragrant. Pedicel 0.3-2 cm. Calyx glabrous or sparsely pubescent; lobes 8-9, linear, 5-7 mm. Corolla white; tube 0.7-1.5 cm; lobes oblong to suborbicular, 5-9 mm broad. Berry purple-black, globose, ca. 1 cm in diam. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Jul-Sep. 2n = 26*.

Native to India, widely cultivated in S China and elsewhere in the world

Widely cultivated for its very fragrant flowers that are used in tea flavoring and in perfumes. The flowers and leaves are also medicinal.