Jasminum multiflorum (Burm. fil.) Andrews

Frequently cultivated.

Shrub scandent. Branchlets, pedicels and calyx densely fulvous-villous. Leaves opposite, simple, ovate, acuminate, upper surface pubescent, becoming glabrous, ventral tomentose or pubescent, especially on the nerves; petiole stout, tomentose. Flowers sessile or subsessile, in dense capitate cymes, at the tips of dwarf lateral branchletes or axillary, fragrant. Calyx teeth 6-9, linear, c. 1 cm long. Corolla white, tube slender, exceeding the calyx, lobes 6-9, oblong-lanceolate, acute, 1-2 cm long. Berry simple or didymous, ellipsoid, c. 1 cm long, black when ripe, surrounded by the long hairy calyx teeth.

Shrubs, scrambler or weak climbers to 3 m. Branchlets terete, densely pilose. Leaves opposite, simple; petiole 5-10 mm, densely pilose; leaf blade ovate-cordate, often broadly so, 3-8 × 1.5-5 cm, papery, ± scattered pilose on both surfaces, glabrescent, except on midrib and veins, base cordate, apex acute to sometimes slightly acuminate, mucronulate; primary veins 3 or 4 on each side of midrib. Inflorescences terminal on side shoots, many flowered, congested; bracts leafy, basal ovate, 1.5-2 cm, upper linear, 3-5 mm. Pedicel 0-2 mm. Calyx densely pilose; tube ca. 1 mm; lobes 6-9, filiform, (2-)5-7 mm. Corolla white, sweetly scented; tube 1.2-1.5 cm; lobes 7-9, acute, 1-1.5 cm. Fruit not seen. Fl. Oct-Apr.

Subtropical Himalaya, India, Ceylon, Burma, China.

Distribution: Pakistan, India, from Himalaya to Ceylon and Tenasserim, Burma, China. Apparently wild in the lower hills up to 1200 m. from the Ravi eastwards; Nakial in Mirpur (RRS), Udhampur, Billawar and Jumu (Lambert).

300-1100 m

Fl. Per.: December-April and also during the rains.

Widely cultivated in southern China and round the world [Native to India and perhaps elsewhere in SE Asia, but certainly not in Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and doubtfully in Myanmar and Vietnam]

Nyctanthes multiflora N. L. Burman, Fl. Indica 5. 1768; Jasminum pubescens (Retzius) Willdenow.