Jasminum sambac (Arabian jasmine vine)

This jasmine is native to southern and southeastern Asia. It is the national flower of the Philippines, and one of the three national flowers of Indonesia. It has become naturalized in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Jasmines are popular garden plants, and it has been cultivated for so long that its origins are unknown, but it is believed to come from India.

Leaves: Ovate, with sharp tips, 1½–5 ⨉ ¾–3″ (4–12 ⨉ 2–7.5 cm). Leaf stems are 1/16–⅛″ (2–6 mm) long. They are smooth and shiny.

Flowers: White, waxy-looking, ¾–1″ (2–3 cm) in diameter, with 5-9 lobes. Flowers form on the ends of branches, in clusters of 3-12. They open at night, released a strong, pleasant scent, and turn somewhat pink as they age.

Habitats: Native from Bhutan to India, jasmine has been cultivated for centuries and is naturalized in many tropical habitats.

4/6/2011 · Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Maryland · ≈ 10 × 15″ (26 × 39 cm)

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin)
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Lamiales	Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary
Family	Oleaceae	Temperate climate shrubs, trees and a few vines, include forsythia, ash, jasmine, privet, olive, lilac, and many others
Genus	Jasminum	Originally from the Persian Yasameen,”gift from God”
Species	sambac	A common name, originally derived from the Sanskrit name champaka, which actually refers to a different shrub, Michelia champaca

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