Common name: Wild Jasmine • Hindi: बनमल्लिका Banmallika • Tamil: Kattumalligai • Malayalam: Kattumallika • Telugu: Adavimalli • Kannada: Kananamallika, Adavimallige • Sanskrit: वनमल्लिका Vanamallika, Asphota
Botanical name: Jasminum angustifolium Family: Oleaceae (Jasmine family)
Wild Jasmine is a small climbing shrub. Stem is smooth but branchlets
minutely pubescent. Oppositely arranged, simple leaves are very variable even
on the same plant. Leaves are 1-3 cm long, 7-20 mm broad, elliptic-ovate.
The smooth leaves are acute, base obtuse or almost rounded. One inch across
white, star-like flowers are exquisitely fragrant. The flowers are either
solitary or more usually in threes. Petals 7 or 8, but can be more in number.
Petals are linear, obtuse, very acute. Carpels two usually well developed.
Flowering: June–August.
| Photographed in J.N.U., Delhi. |
Identification credit: Nandan Kalbag
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