Jasminium dichotomum, the Gold Coast jasmine, is a species of jasmine, in the family Oleaceae. It is an evergreen climber which grows as a rambling shrub or woody vine. The flowers are quite fragrant and open at night, coloured pink when budding then white; these appear at the leaf axils in cluster. It blooms year round. The leaves are opposite. The fleshy fruit is small.[2]

Jasminium dichotomum is native to tropical western and central Africa from Senegal east to Kenya and Ethiopia, south to Mozambique and Zambia, but it has been introduced to other regions and is reportedly naturalized in Florida and India.[1][3] In Florida, this plant is an invasive weed; introduced as an ornamental plant in the 1920. Spreading from gardens in the 1970s, in areas with soil disturbance, the species began occupying hammocks and forests.[4][5]

Its vining habit can be trimmed in a dense shrub. Glossy leaves are very ornamental in contrast with dark pink buds and snow white flowers.

Etymology

'Jasminum' is a Latinized form of the Persian word, 'yasemin' for sweetly scented plants.[6] [7]

  • Jasminium dichotomum plant
    Jasminium dichotomum plant
  • Fruit of Jasminum dichotomum
    Fruit of Jasminum dichotomum
  • Plant with flowers and buds
    Plant with flowers and buds

References

  1. ^ a b "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". apps.kew.org. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  2. ^ M., Vahl (1804–1805). "Martini Vahlii, profess. botan. Haun. membr. societ. lit. plur. Enumeratio plantarum". v.1. Impenis auctoris, & prostat apud J.H. Schubothe. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Flowers of India, rose bud jasmine
  4. ^ "Jasminum dichotomum Vahl - Gold Coast jasmine". luirig.altervista.org. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  5. ^ "Jasminum dichotomum". Vascular Plants. Atlas of Florida.
  6. ^ Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN 9780521685535 (paperback). pp 220
  7. ^ Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006). A Dictionary of First Names (2 ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 138. ISBN 978-0198610601. Jasmine: From the vocabulary word denoting the climbing plant with its delicate, fragrant flowers (from Old French, ultimately from Persian yasmin).

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