Jasmine sambac

Jasmine sambac is an evergreen climbing plant or shrub reaching a height of 0.5-3 meters. The species is very variable, possibly as a result of spontaneous mutation, natural hybridization, and autopolyploidy . Cultivated sambac usually does not carry seeds, and the plant is reproduced exclusively by cuttings, layering, market and other methods of asexual reproduction.

The leaves are ovoid, from 4 to 12.5 cm in length and from 2 to 7.5 cm in width. Phyllotaxia is the opposite or in three simple whorls (not cirrus, like most other jasmines). They are smooth, with the exception of a few hairs on the veins at the base of the leaf.

Flowers appear throughout the year and in groups of 3 to 12 together at the ends of the branches. They are very fragrant, with a white whisk from 2 to 3 cm in diameter with 5 to 9 petals . Flowers open at night (usually around 6-8 pm), and close in the morning at intervals of 12 to 20 hours. Fruits are berries from purple to black and 1 cm in diameter.

In addition to the Himalayas, sambac jasmine is also cultivated in other regions, especially in the vast territories of South and South-West Asia. Arab jasmine is grown in a number of countries and regions: in Mauritius , Madagascar , Maldives , Cambodia , Java ( Indonesia ), Christmas Island ( Australia ), Central America , South Florida ( USA ), the Bahamas , Cuba , Haiti , Jamaica , Puerto Rico , and the Lesser Antilles .

Despite the fact that jasmine sambac is sometimes called Arab jasmine, its homeland is not the Middle East , but southern Asia . Unlike the Middle East, the climate here is milder. In the Middle Ages, this type of jasmine was introduced to Europe by Arabs, who called zambag the oil obtained from any kind of jasmine . At first in Europe, the Latinized word zambac (sambacus or zambacca) was used in the same meaning as the Arabs. Later, the word sambac began to refer only to this type of jasmine.

The modern name of the species in some languages.

• "Orleans maiden" - has flowers with one layer of five or more oval-shaped petals. This variety is most often referred to as Sampaguita and pikake. It is also known as 'Mograw', 'Motiya', or 'Bela'.
• "Beauty of India" - has flowers with one or two layers of elongated petals.
• "Grand Duke of Tuscany" - has flowers with double the amount of petal. Flowers of this variety are similar to small white roses and less fragrant than other varieties. This variety is also known as “Rose jasmine” and “Butt Mograw”. In the Philippines, it is known as "kampupot."
• “Mali Chat” - resembles the “Beauty from India” variety, but the petals of its flowers are slightly shorter than the petals of “Beauty from India”.
• "Arabian Knights" - has a double layer of petals, but smaller in size than the variety "Grand Duke of Tuscany." ^[2]

According to The Plant List ^[4] :