Common name: Night-blooming cestrum, Night blooming jasmine, Rat ki rani रात की रानी (Hindi), Thabal lei (Manipuri), Hasna hana (Bengali), Raatrani रातराणी (Marathi, Konkani)
Botanical name: Cestrum nocturnum Family: Solanaceae (potato family)
This sprawling shrub has glossy, smooth, simple leaves 4"-8" long. Vine-like
stems reach up to 12' in its native habitat, but it seldom reaches more than a
4' mound in a single season. It blooms in cycles throughout warm weather.
Greenish-creamy white tubular flowers rise from above leaves along the stem,
followed by shiny white, fleshy berries. Although the flowers are not showy to
the eye, their sweet scent can overpower.
The perfume is distinctly powerful at night - this feature has had its influence
on its common name in all languages. The Hindi name translates to queen of
the night, while the Manipuri name means moon flower.
No fragrant garden should be without this nocturnal beauty. While night blooming
jasmine is a gorgeous plant with charming blooms, the scent also produces
severe allergic reactions in some individuals.
| Photographed in Garden of Five
Senses, Delhi. |
Identification credit: Thingnam Sophia
|
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