Trachelospermum | |
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Trachelospermum jasminoides | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Subfamily: | Apocynoideae |
Tribe: | Apocyneae |
Genus: |
Trachelospermum Lem. |
Synonyms | |
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Trachelospermum /trəˌkiːloʊˈspɜːrməm/Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine, is a genus of evergreen woody vines in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, first described as a genus in 1851. All species are native to southern and eastern Asia.
They have long stems climbing to 12 m or more high in trees. The leaves are opposite, simple broad lanceolate to ovate, 2–8 cm long and 0.5–4 cm broad. The flowers are salverform (like those of Phlox), simple, 2.5–7 cm broad, with five white, pale yellow or purple petals joined together at the base to form a tube.
The generic name Trachelospermum comes from the Greek, literally meaning "neck seed", and referring to the seed shape.
Some species - notably T. asiaticum and T. jasminoides - are cultivated for their foliage and strongly-scented flowers.