Night-blooming jasmine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Night-blooming Cestrum
• lady-of-the-night
• night-jessamine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chiococca nocturna
• Cestrum nocturnum var. mexicanum
• Cestrum suberosum
• Cestrum spicatum
• Cestrum scandens
• Cestrum leucocarpum
• Cestrum propinquum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Solanales, and the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Cestrum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in countries such as Burundi and Cameroon. It can also be found within the West-Central Tropical Africa region specifically around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Furthermore, the species is distributed throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Finally, its range extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Eritrea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cestrum nocturnum is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse topographical landscapes, spanning an elevational range from 0 m to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL. This species typically flourishes within specific environmental niches, primarily establishing itself in forest environments and riverine habitats where moisture levels and soil compositions support its growth patterns. Its ability to inhabit both lowland riverine zones and much higher montane elevations highlights a significant ecological plasticity, allowing it to persist in various microclimates ranging from tropical lowlands to more temperate high-altitude regions.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, riverine

Life history

The life history of Cestrum nocturnum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its visible stem and foliage above the ground level, contributing to its robust structural presence. This plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, maintaining a consistent green appearance regardless of the season.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cestrum nocturnum is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting plant. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a mean height of 2.5 m, though its vertical development can vary, ranging from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum height of 4 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cestrum nocturnum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing a standard carbon fixation process typical of many woody shrubs. The plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a non-succulent leaf structure, nor does it function as a nitrogen fixer. The foliar morphology shows significant variation in dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a mean of 10.5 cm, reaching a maximum of 15 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2 cm and a maximum of 7 cm, with an average width of approximately 3.8 cm.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

10.5 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.8 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cestrum nocturnum is characterized by a specific inflorescence structure and specialized fruit development. The inflorescence is relatively compact, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.07 m to a maximum of 0.1 m. Following pollination, the plant produces fruit classified as a berry. These berries are indehiscent in nature, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release seeds. The physical dimensions of the fruit vary, with a minimum length of 0.6 cm and a maximum length of 0.7 cm, though the mean fruit length is recorded at 4.075 cm. In terms of width, the fruit maintains a consistent profile, with minimum, maximum, and mean values all measured at 0.4 cm. The dispersal of the seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, specifically utilizing an endozoochorous mechanism, where the fruits are consumed and the seeds are subsequently dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

4.075 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

0.4 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.1 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.07 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cestrum nocturnum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Cestrum nocturnum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins, n-butanol.

Saponins

1. Parasitology research

n-butanol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Conditions

Cestrum nocturnum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include tumor.

Tumor

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Preparations

Cestrum nocturnum has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, leaves, methanolic extracts, n-butanol and polysaccharides extracts.

Extracts

1. Parasitology research

Leaves

1. Journal of natural products

Methanolic extracts

1. Journal of microbiology, immunology, and infection = Wei mian yu gan ran za zhi

N-butanol and polysaccharides extracts

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials