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.

Tabernaemontana divaricata (Apocynaceae), commonly called pinwheelflower,[1] crape jasmine, East India rosebay and Nero's crown[2] is an evergreen shrub probably native to India and now cultivated throughout South East Asia and the warmer regions of continental Asia. In zones where it is not hardy it is grown as a house/glasshouse plant for its attractive flowers and foliage. The stem exudes a milky latex when broken, whence the name Milk Flower (দুধফুল), টগর or কাঠমল্লিকা in the Bengali language..It is known as நந்தியார்வட்டை "Nandiar vattai" in Tamil and "Nanthyaar vattam" (നന്ത്യാർവട്ടം) in Malayalam. It is known as wathusudda වතුසුද්ද (meaning "garden white") in the Sinhalese language. In the Kannada language it is called Nandi battalu [ನಂದಿ ಬಟ್ಟಲು], Telugu language it is called nandivardhanam [నందివర్దనం]. Other Indian names include chandni and taggar. In Cambodia, it is called phka nuon srei ផ្កានួនស្រី or phka dâk khut ផ្កាដកឃុត.[3] The plant contains several alkaloids and, like many other Apocynaceae, is toxic and medicinal.

Synonyms

a variety of Crape jasmine at Udumalpet,Tamilnadu

Description

The plant generally grows to a height of 5–6 feet (1.5–1.8 m) and is dichotomously-branched. The large shiny leaves are deep green and about 6 inches (15 cm) in length and 2 inches (5.1 cm) in width. The waxy blossoms are found in small clusters on the stem tips. The (single) flowers have the characteristic 'pinwheel' shape also seen in other genera in the family Apocynaceae such as Vinca and Nerium. Both single and double-flowered forms are cultivated, the flowers of both forms being white. The plant blooms in spring but flowers appear sporadically all year. The flowers of the single form are unscented but the double-flowered form has a pleasing fragrance.[5]

The roots have a bitter taste.

The leaves of this plant are eaten by the caterpillars of the Oleander Hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii).

Traditional medicine

They are used in Ayurvedic medicine and the tradional medicine of South East Asia, the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, and Ambon Island.

Chemical constituents

The plant has been reported to contain a variety of alkaloids, including, in the bark of the stem and root including tabernaemontanine, coronarine, coronaridine, and dregamine. Alkaloids are present in all the vegetative parts of this shrub.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Tabernaemontana divaricata". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  2. ↑ Medicinal Plants of India and Pakistan, Dastur J.F., pub.1962 by D.P. Taraporevala Sons and Co. Private Ltd., Mumbai, 4th Indian reprint 1977
  3. ↑ Mathieu LETI, HUL Sovanmoly, Jean-Gabriel FOUCHÉ, CHENG Sun Kaing & Bruno DAVID, Flore photographique du Cambodge, Toulouse, Éditions Privat, 2013, p. 97.
  4. ↑ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species".
  5. ↑ The Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening ed. Chittenden,Fred J. 2nd ed. by Synge,Patrick M. Volume IV : Pt-Zy, p.2074 (as T. coronaria). Pub. Oxford at the Clarendon Press 1965. Reprinted 1984. ISBN 0-19-869106-8
  6. ↑ Perry, Lily M. (1980). Medicinal Plants of East and Southeast Asia: Attributed Properties and Uses. MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-16076-5.
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