Crape jasmine
Tabernaemontana divaricata

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows up to 5 m tall. The stems are thin and crooked. The stems have milky sap when broken. The leaves are large, shiny and dark green. They are 15 cm long and 5 cm wide. The flowers are waxy and have 5 petals arranged like pin wheels. The fruit is a narrowly oval and oblique follicle. It is 2-7 cm long by 1-2 cm wide.

Probably in a hot house in Slovenia. It contains many alkaloids.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows between 100-1,600 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Marquesas, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Rotuma, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tuvalu, West Indies

How it is used for food

The young leaves are fried with pig meat.

Edible parts

Leaves, poisonous

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Coffee rose, Melati kincir, Par-ar-si, Pinwheel flower, Taw-zalat, Zalat-setkya

Synonyms

Ervatamia coronaria (Jacq.) Stapf; Ervatamia divaricata (L.) Burkill; Ervatamia divaricata var. plena (Roxb. ex Voigt) M. R. Almeida; Ervatamia flabelliformis Tsiang; Ervatamia recurva (Roxb. ex Lindl.) Lace; Ervatamia siamensis (Warb. ex Pit.) Kerr; Jasminum zeylanicum Burm.f.; Kopsia cochinchinensis Kuntze; Nerium coronarium Jacq.; Nerium divaricatum Jacq.; Nyctanthes acuminata Burm.f.; Reichardia grandiflora Dennst.; Reichardia jasminoides Dennst.; Taberna discolor (Sw.) Miers; Tabernaemontana citrifolia Lunan; Tabernaemontana coronaria (Jacq.) Willd.; Tabernaemontana coronaria var. plena Roxb. ex Voigt; Tabernaemontana discolor Sw.; Tabernaemontana flabelliformis (Tsiang) P.T. Li; Tabernaemontana indica Wild. ex Roem & Schult. [Illegitimate]; Tabernaemontana lurida Van Heurck & Mull.Arg.; Tabernaemontana recurva Roxb. ex Lindl.; Tabernaemontana recurva Roxb.; Tabernaemontana siamensis Warb. ex Pit.; Testudipes recurva (Roxb. ex Lindl.) Markgr.; Vinca alba Noronha;