Chinese star-jessamine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese star-jessamine
• Confederate-jessamine
• star-jasmine
• Star jasmine
• Star-jasmine or Confederate-jasmine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Trachelospermum jasminoides var. heterophyllum
• Trachelospermum jasminoides var. pubescens
• Rhyncospermum pulchrum
• Rhyncospermum jasminoides
• Parechites thunbergii
• Rhyncospermum jasminoides variegatum
• Parechites adnascens
• Trachelospermum divaricatum
• Rhyncospermum jasminoides var. variegatum
• Trachelospermum asiaticum var. pubescens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Apocynaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Trachelospermum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical range across various regions of China. It is commonly found throughout the South-Central areas and the tropical landscapes of Hainan. Its presence extends into the North-Central parts of the country as well. Furthermore, the species is distributed across the Southeast provinces. Finally, its habitat reaches into the high-altitude regions of Tibet.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Trachelospermum jasminoides is defined by its ability to thrive within specific altitudinal gradients, typically occupying montane environments. This species is found across an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 1100 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL. Within this vertical distribution, the plant adapts to the varying climatic conditions and atmospheric pressures characteristic of mid-to-high altitude ecosystems, playing a role in the complex biological interactions of its native habitats.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1100 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Trachelospermum jasminoides is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence in its environment. As an evergreen species, it maintains its lush foliage year-round, ensuring continuous photosynthetic activity and a consistent aesthetic appearance regardless of the season. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and permanent leaf retention enables the plant to form dense, climbing mats or vigorous vine structures that can expand steadily over many years.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Trachelospermum jasminoides is characterized by its growth as an obligatory climber, functioning as a liana or vine that requires external support to ascend. It exhibits a growth form categorized as a shrub, though it develops significant height, reaching a mean plant height of approximately 5.5367 meters. The plant is an independent organism that grows in a terrestrial habitat rather than as an epiphyte or parasite. In terms of its structural composition, the woodiness of the plant is described as variable.

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

5.53666666666667 m

Woodiness :

variable

Physiology

The physiology of Trachelospermum jasminoides is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. The plant's vegetative development is reflected in its leaf morphology, featuring ovate-shaped leaves with entire margins and an absence of leaf thorns or spines. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, maintaining a mean length of 6 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 4.5 cm, with an average width of 2.75 cm. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its physiological requirements.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.75 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Trachelospermum jasminoides 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 stem.

Stem

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Trachelospermum jasminoides has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Luteoloside, Tracheloside, apigenin, apigenin 7-O-beta-glucoside, apigenin 7-O-beta-neospheroside.

Luteoloside

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

Tracheloside

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

apigenin

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

apigenin 7-O-beta-glucoside

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

apigenin 7-O-beta-neospheroside

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

Preparations

Trachelospermum jasminoides has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethyl ester extracts, water extract.

Ethyl ester extracts

1. Planta medica

Water extract

1. Planta medica