The Jasmine Plant

The jasmine plant , a climber that belongs to the family “Oleaceae” is a plant known to bear the jasmine flower. The jasmine is generally white but some of the species are found to even have yellow or off-white flowers with 5-6 petals (corolla lobes) making up the individual flower. The flower of the Jasmine plant is known for its fragrance and is a vital ingredient used in the perfume industry. Jasmine is also known as Jessamine or Jasminum and is seen to grow using the support of other plants. The leaves of the jasmine plants are found to be deciduous or evergreen .

It is the national flower of Indonesia (where it is known as “Melati”) and Philippines(known as “Sampaguita”).

The flowering season is observed to be mostly in summer or spring with a few species having winter as their flowering season.

Women use the jasmine flower to adorn their beautiful flowing locks in many parts of South Asia . It is also used in temples for the worship of gods and goddesses and is of great significance during the marriage ceremony .

The jasmine plant is cultivated for its flower that is used for making perfumes and incense sticks. It is also used in making flavoured jasmine tea that is considered an effective medicine for the prevention of specific types of cancer.

The cultivation of the jasmine plant is growing significantly and the jasmine flower features as a major item of export for many countries across the globe.