| Murraya paniculata | |
|---|---|
| Line drawing of Murraya paniculata, showing flowers and fruit | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Genus: | Murraya |
| Species: | M. paniculata |
| Binomial name | |
| Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack |
|
Murraya paniculata, commonly called orange jasmine, is a tropical, evergreen plant bearing small, white, scented flowers, which is grown as an ornamental tree or hedge. Murraya is closely related to Citrus.
Contents |
Taxonomical synonyms for M. paniculata are:
Some of the common names include
Orange Jessamine, Chinese box, "mock orange", Mock lime, Satinwood [1], or Lakeview Jasmine (mainly in Florida)
Orange Jessamine is a small, tropical, evergreen tree or shrub growing up to 7 m tall. The plant flowers throughout the year. Its leaves are glabrous and glossy, occurring in 3-7 oddly pinnate leaflets which are elliptic to cuneate-obovate to rhombic. Flowers are terminal, corymbose, few-flowered, dense and fragrant. Petals are 12–18 mm long, recurved and white (or fading cream). The fruit of Murraya paniculata is fleshy, oblong-ovoid, coloured red to orange,[3] and grows up to 1 inch in length.[4]
M. paniculata is a native of South and Southeast Asia, China and Australasia. It is naturalised in southern USA.[1]
Traditionally, Murraya paniculata is used both in traditional medicine as an analgesic and for wood (for tool handles).
In the West, Murraya paniculata is cultured as an ornamental tree or hedge because of its hardiness, wide range of soil tolerance (M. paniculata may grow in alkaline, clayey, sandy, acidic and loamy soils), and is suitable for larger hedges. The plant flowers throughout the years and produces small, fragrant flower clusters which attract bees, while the fruits attract small frugivorous birds.[4]
The Orange Jessamine is sexually propagated by its seeds. The fruits are eaten by birds, who then pass the seeds out in their stool. It may also be artificially propagated by softwood cuttings.[4]
M. paniculata is vulnerable to soil nematodes, scales, sooty mold and whiteflies.[4]
M. paniculata is the preferred host to the insect pest Diaphorina citri, the citrus psyllid. This psyllid is the vector for the citrus greening disease.[5]
The crude ethanolic extract of leaves of Murraya paniculata has antidiarrhoeal, antinociceptive [6] and anti-inflammatory activities.[7]
Footnotes
References