Tabernaemontana divaricata

Tabernaemontana divaricata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Subfamily:	Rauvolfioideae
Genus:	Tabernaemontana
Species:	T. divaricata
Binomial name
Tabernaemontana divaricata R.Br. ex Roem. & Schult.
Synonyms[1]
List Ervatamia coronaria (Jacq.) Stapf Ervatamia divaricata (L.) Burkill Ervatamia flabelliformis Tsiang Ervatamia recurva (Roxb. ex Lindl.) Lace Ervatamia siamensis (Warb. ex Pit.) Kerr Jasminum zeylanicum Burm.f. Kopsia cochinchinensis Kuntze Nerium coronarium Jacq. Nerium divaricatum L. Nyctanthes acuminata Burm.f. Reichardia grandiflora Dennst. Reichardia jasminoides Dennst. Taberna discolor (Sw.) Miers Tabernaemontana citrifolia Lunan Tabernaemontana coronaria (Jacq.) Willd. Tabernaemontana discolor Sw. Tabernaemontana flabelliformis (Tsiang) P.T.Li Tabernaemontana gratissima Lindl. Tabernaemontana indica Willd. ex Roem. & Schult. [Illegitimate] Tabernaemontana lurida Van Heurck & Müll.Arg. Tabernaemontana recurva Roxb. ex Lindl. Tabernaemontana siamensis Warb. ex Pit. Testudipes recurva (Roxb. ex Lindl.) Markgr. Vinca alba Noronha

Tabernaemontana divaricata, commonly called pinwheel flower,^[2] is an evergreen plant. Its stem releases a milky latex when broken, which is why it is called milky flower (দুধফুল) in Bangladesh.^{[citation needed]}

Type and color

Two forms are cultivated, one type has a single blossom and the other has a clustered blossom. Both types have a white flower.

Description

The plant generally grows to a height of 5 to 6 ft. The large shiny leaves are deep green and about 6 inches in length and 2 inches in width. The waxy blossoms are found in small clusters on the stem tips. These blossoms have white five-petaled pinwheels.

The plant blooms in spring but flowers appear sporadically all year. The single blossom does not have any fragrance, but the cluster of blossoms has a beautiful smell.^{[citation needed]}

• 

  Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Flore Pleno'

• 

  Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Pinwheel'

Medicinal Use

The root and bulb taste bitter. These are used as Ayurvedic medicine to treat Ascariasis and Scabies^{[citation needed]}. Young stems are also good for teeth.^{[citation needed]}

References