Common Name: Coral Jasmine

General Information

Coral jasmine is a large shrub or small tree with spreading branches, growing up to 10 metres tall[].
The plant is particularly valued for its flowers which are used in traditional medicine, as a dye and a source of an essential oil[]. The plant has very fragrant flowers and is widely cultivated as an ornamental in tropical and subtropical regions all over the world[, ]. It is often planted near Hindu temples in India and Sri Lanka, as well as in Malaysia and Indonesia[, ].

Known Hazards

The bark contains a glycoside and alkaloids, suspected of being poisonous to animals and humans[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - India, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia.

Habitat

Rocky ground in dry hillsides, and as undergrowth in dry deciduous forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	8.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of tropical and subtropical areas, where it is found at elevations from sea level to 1,500 metres[]. It tolerates a wide range of rainfall patterns, from seasonal to non-seasonal[].
The plant tolerates moderate shade[].
The flowers open at sunset and usually wither after sunrise the next day[].
The shrub coppices readily[].
Some cultivars with ornamental value have been described in India, for instance 'Karna-phool' and 'Seeya Shrinagar'[].

Edible Uses

A saffron-yellow dye obtained from the flowers is used for colouring food[].

Medicinal

The flowers contain an abundance of mannitol and are emmenagogue[, ]. They are used medicinally to provoke menstruation[].

The bitter leaves are useful as a cholagogue, laxative, diaphoretic and diuretic[]. An extract is given to children for the expulsion of roundworms and threadworms[].
An anti-inflammatory activity of the leaves has been recorded recently[].
Substances found in the leaves include mannitol, ß-amyrin, ß-sitosterol, benzoic acid and derivates of kaempferol[].

Powdered seeds ameliorate scalp scurf[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Coral jasmine is sometimes planted in hedges[].

Other Uses

The bright orange corolla tubes of the flowers contain a saffron-yellow colouring matter, which was formerly used for dyeing silk, sometimes in conjunction with safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), turmeric (Curcuma longa), and indigo (Indigofera spp.)[]. Locally the dye is also used for dyeing cotton cloth and as a cheap substitute for saffron in colouring the robes of Buddhist priests[]. For dyeing, fabrics are immersed in a decoction of the corolla tubes. They impart a beautiful orange, yellow or golden colour like saffron, but the colour is easily washed out, and will fade rapidly in the sun[]. To make the colour more permanent, lime juice or alum is added to the dye bath, then the colour is moderately resistant to light, soap, alkali and acid[].
The dye is nyctanthin, which is allied to crocetin as found in saffron (Crocus sativus L.)[].

An insecticidal effect of an extract of the shade-dried leaves has been reported[].

The bark may be used as a tanning material[].

The leaves are sometimes used for polishing wood and ivory[, ].

The essential oil in the fragrant flowers, which is similar to the oil in jasmine, is used as perfume[].

The brown wood is moderately hard, fairly heavy and close-grained[]. It is sometimes used for boarding[].
The wood is sometimes used as firewood[].

Propagation

Coral jasmine is easily propagated by seeds or cuttings[].

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