Jasminium Sambac (flower)

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• arabian-jasmine
• tuscan-jasmine
• Arabian jasmine
• Sambac jasmine
• Mogra

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Jasminum sambac var. goaense
• Mogorium sambac
• Jasminum sambac var. undulatum
• Jasminum undulatum
• Nyctanthes goa
• Nyctanthes sambac
• Jasminum quinqueflorum var. pubescens
• Jasminum quinqueflorum
• Jasminum sambac var. trifoliatum
• Jasminum sambac var. plenum
• Jasminum sambac var. duplex
• Jasminum sambac var. verum
• Jasminum sambac var. gimea
• Jasminum blancoi
• Jasminum sambac var. kerianum
• Jasminum sambac var. nemocalyx
• Jasminum sambac var. syringifolium
• Jasminum sambac var. heyneanum
• Jasminum heyneanum
• Mogorium goaense
• Mogorium gimea
• Mogorium undulatum
• Nyctanthes undulata

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 and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Lamiales and the family Oleaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Jasminum as the species Jasminum sambac.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions. Within the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in Mauritius and Madagascar. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it inhabits India and Bangladesh. Additionally, the species is located within the East Himalaya region of the subcontinent. These diverse locations highlight the wide ecological range of Jasminum sambac.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Jasminum sambac is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse topographical gradient, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 1800 m AMSL. Typically found in tropical and subtropical climates, this species favors environments with high humidity and well-draining, nutrient-rich soils, often colonizing forest edges, scrublands, or cultivated gardens where it can access dappled sunlight. Its distribution within this elevational range allows it to adapt to various microclimates, from the warm, coastal lowland regions at 0 m AMSL to the slightly cooler, more temperate montane zones as it approaches its maximum altitude. This wide altitudinal adaptability ensures its presence in diverse ecosystems, where it plays a role in supporting local pollinators, particularly nocturnal insects attracted to its fragrant blooms.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Jasminum sambac is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its survival through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and ecological classification, it exhibits a dual life form profile, functioning as a phanerophyte due to its woody, climbing, or shrubby habit where buds are borne on branches above the ground. Additionally, it can be categorized as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its tendency to maintain relatively small, woody stems that persist above the soil surface.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Jasminum sambac is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily functioning as a shrub that can also exhibit liana-like climbing tendencies. It is a terrestrial species, meaning it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, and it grows as an independent organism without parasitic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches an average height of approximately 3 meters. While it can act as a self-supporting shrub, its structural nature allows it to behave as a liana, utilizing its woody stems to navigate its environment.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Jasminum sambac is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure is defined by its leaf morphology, where the leaf length typically averages 8.25 cm, ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 12.5 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width exhibits significant variability, with a mean width of 4.75 cm, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 7.5 cm. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on soil-available nitrogen rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

12.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

8.25 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

7.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.75 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Jasminum sambac occurs through both sexual and asexual methods, with sexual reproduction facilitated by its fragrant, white, salverform flowers that attract various pollinators. Following successful pollination, the plant develops small, fleshy fruits that serve as the primary vehicle for seed dispersal. These fruits are characterized by highly consistent dimensions, maintaining a uniform size across different developmental stages. Specifically, the fruit length consistently measures approximately 1 cm, with a minimum, mean, and maximum value all recorded at 1 cm. Similarly, the fruit width is remarkably stable, exhibiting a minimum, mean, and maximum value of 1 cm. This uniformity in the fruit's morphology, where both the length and width are strictly 1 cm, ensures a standardized structure for the protection and eventual dispersal of the seeds contained within.

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Jasminum sambac has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, root.

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf

1. Journal of natural medicines

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Jasminum sambac has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Linalool, (E)-beta-ocimene, (E,E)-alpha-farnesene, BENZYL ACETATE, Citronellol.

Linalool

1. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology
2. Natural product communications

(E)-beta-ocimene

1. Natural product communications

(E,E)-alpha-farnesene

1. Natural product communications

BENZYL ACETATE

1. Natural product communications

Citronellol

1. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology

Daucosterol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Dotriacontanol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

cis-3-Hexenyl acetate

1. Natural product communications

Activities

Jasminum sambac has 18 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer.

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural medicines

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Jasminum sambac has 10 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include insomnia, breast cancer, bruises, colon cancer, dental caries.

Insomnia

1. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Breast cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Bruises

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Colon cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Dental caries

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastric cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Headaches

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Myocardial infarction

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Necrosis

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Oxidative stress

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Jasminum sambac has 6 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oils, flower extracts, intact and plucked flowers, leaf, methanol extracts.

Essential oils

1. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology
2. Frontiers in aging neuroscience

Flower extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Intact and plucked flowers

1. Natural product communications

Leaf

1. Journal of natural medicines

Methanol extracts

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Plucked and living flowers extracts

1. Natural product communications