orange jasmine

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Murraya paniculata var. exotica
• Chalcas japanensis
• Murraya scandens
• Connarus foetens
• Camunium exoticum
• Murraya exotica
• Murraya exotica var. buxifolia
• Murraya paniculata var. buxifolia
• Murraya amoena
• Murraya exotica var. paniculata
• Marsana buxifolia
• Chalcas paniculata
• Murraya japonensis
• Chalcas exotica
• Camunium exoticum var. pubescens
• Limonia malliculensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales, falling into the family Rutaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Murraya, specifically as the species Murraya paniculata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across multiple regions in Asia and Africa. In the Western Indian Ocean, its distribution includes the island nations of Comoros, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. It is also documented to grow within the territory of Réunion. Moving toward mainland Asia, the species can be found in the South-Central regions of China. These various locations highlight the broad ecological adaptability of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Murraya paniculata is characterized by its versatile ability to thrive across a wide altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to elevations of 2350 m AMSL. It demonstrates significant adaptability to diverse moisture regimes and forest structures, establishing itself within both lush rain forest environments and more seasonal dry forest habitats. This capacity to inhabit varying ecological niches allows the species to persist in a range of microclimates, from humid, shaded understories to drier, more open woodland settings.

Elevational range max:

2350 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

rain forest, dry forest

Life history

The life history of Murraya paniculata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its stem organs well above the ground, typically growing in a woody shrub or small tree form. It is specifically categorized as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its stature as a small woody plant. Throughout its life cycle, it maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage year-round rather than undergoing seasonal shedding.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Murraya paniculata is characterized by its woody growth form, primarily functioning as a self-supporting shrub. As a terrestrial plant, it maintains an independent existence, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits a significant vertical structure, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 5 meters, though it can reach an average height of approximately 7 meters under certain conditions. Because it is a self-supporting shrub rather than a liana or vine, it possesses a sturdy, woody architecture that allows it to stand upright without the need for external support.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

7 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Murraya paniculata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varied light conditions. The plant exhibits non-succulent foliage, lacking specialized water-storage tissues within its leaves. Morphologically, the leaves are defined by specific dimensional parameters, typically ranging in length from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 11.5 cm, while the leaf width varies between 1.2 cm and 3 cm. Additionally, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

11.5 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

1.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Murraya paniculata is characterized by the production of fleshy fruit, specifically classified as a berry. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents, but rather remain intact to protect the seeds within. The seeds contained within the fruit are uniform in their physical dimensions, with a consistent seed volume of 97 mm³ and a mean seed mass of 0.08333 g (with both minimum and maximum mass values also recorded at 0.08333 g). Regarding the movement of offspring, the plant exhibits an anthropochorous dispersal syndrome, indicating that its seeds are spread through human activity.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

berry

Seed mass mean:

0.08333 g

Seed volume max:

97 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Murraya paniculata has 1 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Scientific reports
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Chemicals

Murraya paniculata has 35 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Spathulenol, ALPHA-CARYOPHYLLENE, Flavonoid, Flavonoids, 4-aminobenzoic acid.

Spathulenol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Natural product communications
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

ALPHA-CARYOPHYLLENE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Flavonoid

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Scientific reports

Flavonoids

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

4-aminobenzoic acid

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

7-O-geranylumbelliferone

1. Organic & biomolecular chemistry

AEGELINE

1. Frontiers in plant science

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ar-Curcumene

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

BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE

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

Activities

Murraya paniculata has 7 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antianxiety, Antibacterial, Antidepressant.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia
3. Scientific reports
4. Chemistry & biodiversity

Analgesic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antianxiety

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antibacterial

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antidepressant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antimicrobial

1. Scientific reports

Antinociceptive

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Medicinal Uses

Murraya paniculata has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, pain, analgesic, antibiotic, anxiety.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations