Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
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| Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. |
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Night-flowering Jasmine) is a species of Nyctanthes, native to southern Asia, from northern Pakistan and Nepal south through northern India and southeast to Thailand.[1][2][3]
It is a shrub or a small tree growing to 10 m tall, with flaky grey bark. The leaves are opposite, simple, 6-12 cm long and 2-6.5 cm broad, with an entire margin. The flowers are fragrant, with a five- to eight-lobed white corolla with an orange-red centre; they are produced in clusters of two to seven together, with individual flowers opening at dusk and finishing at dawn. The fruit is a flat brown heart-shaped to round capsule 2 cm diameter, with two sections each containing a single seed.[2][3]
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[edit] Names and symbolism
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (sometimes incorrectly cited as Nyctanthes arbortristis or Nyctanthes arbor tristis) is commonly known as
- Night-flowering Jasmine
- Coral Jasmine
- Parijat (also spelled Paarijat or Paarijaata [4])
- Harsinghar [4]
- Shephali
- Maramalli or Pavazha malli in Tamil (Also spelled pavaza malli or pavala malli)
The tree is sometimes called the "tree of sorrow", because the flowers lose their brightness during daytime; the scientific name arbor-tristis also means "sad tree". The flowers can be used as a source of yellow dye for clothing. The flower is the official flower of the state of West Bengal, India, and for Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.
[edit] Mythology
Parijat appears in several Hindu myths. In one myth, Parijat appeared as the result of the Churning of the Milky Ocean. In another myth, Parijat was brought to earth by Krishna from Indra's garden.[4]
In Hindu mythology, there is a story involving Lord Krishna about a parijat and Krishna's two wives, Satyabhama and Rukmini. Satyabhama wanted this "Parijat" tree from the Heaven to be planted in her garden. Rukmini too, took a fancy to the flower. Krishna, wanting to keep both his wives happy, planted this tree so that the flowers fell in Rukmini’s garden while the tree remained in Satyabhama’s garden.[citation needed]
The tree was planted in the garden of Indra, the Lord of Heavens. Even as Krishna stole a branch of the tree he was spotted by Indra. However Indra desisted from placing a curse on Krisha since he was an incarnation of Vishnu. Still, Indra put forth a curse on the stolen branch that it will never bear fruits even as the flowers may bloom on the tree. Since the day the tree planted at Barabanki does flower but can not reproduce meaning it does not have seeds and the branch also does not take root.[citation needed]
[edit] Expanding The Story From Mythology
The tree was planted in the garden of Indra, the Lord of Heavens. Even as Krishna stole a branch of the tree he was spotted by Indra. However Indra desisted from placing a curse on Krisha since he was an incarnation of Vishnu. Still, Indra put forth a curse on the stolen branch that it will never bear fruits even as the flowers may bloom on the tree. Since the day the tree planted at Barabanki does flower but can not reproduce meaning it does not have seeds and the branch also does not take root.[citation needed]
[edit] Pharmacology
The seeds, flowers and leaves possesses immunostimulant, hepatoprotective, antileishmanial, antiviral and antifungal activities. [5]
The leaves have been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat sciatica, arthritis, fevers, various painful conditions and as laxative.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Germplasm Resources Information Network: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
- ^ a b Flora of Pakistan: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
- ^ a b AgroForestry Tree Database: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
- ^ a b c Our Tree Neighbours, by Chakravarti Venkatesh, 1976 [1]
- ^ Puri, A., Saxena, R., Saxena, R. P., Saxena, K. C., Srivastava, V., & Tandon, J. S. Immunostimulant activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. J. Ethnopharmacol. 42 (1): 31-37. Abstract
- ^ Saxena, R. S., Gupta, B., & Lata, S. (2002). Tranquilizing, antihistaminic and purgative activity of Nyctanthes arbor tristis leaf extract. J. Ethnopharmacol. 81 (3): 321-325. Abstract
 Bark in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
 Leaf, from below, in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
 Foliage and fruit in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
 Flowers in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
