Jasmines in India

[Anand Kumar Bhatt]

Various varieties of Jasmines are found in India, and matching their botanical names to prevalent Hindi names has always been a nightmare to me. Bose and Choudhury's book mentions the following Jasmines in the category of shrubs:
1. Jasminum humile. सोनजुही
2. Jasminum pubescens and J. pubescens 'Rubescens' कुंद
3. Jasminum sambac (Arabian jasmine). बेला
Various varieties are grown in In India:
a. Japapnese sambac 'Rai' and 'Japanese Rai' मोगरा. The two varieties differ in the size of the flower. Both have compact buds and flowers.
b. J. sambac 'motia' मोतिया
It is presumed that all these varieties are native to India.
 In the category of climbers they have mentioned a  larger number
1. Jasminum augustifolium
*2. J. auriculatum जूही
3. J.flexile
4. J. grandiflorum (Spanish Jasmine): Grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions, preferably in mild climate, for perfumery industry.
5. J. nitidum
*6. Jasminum officinale (white jasmine) चमेली, यास्मीन. Native of Persia, China and North India. It is the national flower of Pakistan, as well as of Phlippines and Indonesia.
7. J. sessiliflorum
*8. J. trinerve
*9. J. undulatum
All the varieties with asterisk are native. J. sambac is also named as Arabic Jasmine, so it could have been initially brought from arabia, althogh it has been naturalised centuries ago. It may be noted that the concept and design of formal gardens have been brought to India by Mughals only.
There are reportedly 200 species of Jasmine which are native to tropical and warm climate of the oid world. However, several varieties have duplicate names and in truth there seems to about 90 original varieties,
Another flower which is often considered Jasmine is Echites caryophyllata मालती, a large woody climber which flowers profusely in the late summer and rains. It is a native of Florida, Mexico and West Indies.
For several varieties I have not mentioned the Hindi equivalent. I don't know them. I would request the members for any help in this matter. Also any suggestions for improvement and correction are welcome.

P.S. I sent it earlier, but it has not appeared on the site. Therefore I am re-sending it.
akbhatt

--
Anand Kumar Bhatt
A-59, B.S.F.Colony, Airport Road
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Tele: 0751-247 2233. Mobile 0 94253 09780.
My blogsite is at:
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[Tabish]

A sweet-smelling topic! :-)
I will try to complement the information provided by AK Bhatt. Some
more names here:
Jasminum angustifolium - Wild Jasmine (Native)
Hindi: बनमल्लिका Banmallika • Tamil: Kattumalligai • Malayalam:
Kattumallika • Telugu: Adavimalli • Kannada: Kananamallika,
Adavimallige • Sanskrit: वनमल्लिका Vanamallika, Asphota
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Wild%20Jasmine.html
Jasminum nitidum - Angelwing Jasmine, Royal jasmine, Shining jasmine
(Introduced)
Hindi: राज चमेली Raj Chameli
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Angelwing%20Jasmine.html
Jasminum polyanthum - Pink jasmine, Winter jasmine, Chinese jasmine
(Introduced)
Hindi: गुलाबी चमेली Gulabi chameli • Tamil: ஜாதி மல்லி Jaadi-malli
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Pink%20Jasmine.html
Jasminum humile - Yellow Jasmine, Italian Jasmine (Native)
Hindi: पीली चमेली Peeli chameli, सोन चमेली Son chameli • Nepalese:
मसिनो जाई Masino Jaai
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Yellow%20Jasmine.html
Jasminum mesnyi - Primrose jasmine, Japanese jasmine (Introduced)
Hindi: Japani chameli जापानी चमेली
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Primrose%20Jasmine.html
Jasminum fluminense - River Jasmine, Brazilian Jasmine (Intrduced)
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/River%20Jasmine.html
Jasminum malabaricum - Malabar Jasmine (Native)
Marathi: कुसर kusar, रान मोगरा ran mogra • Tamil: கொடிவகை kotivakai •
Kannada: Kadu mallige • Sanskrit: मुद्गर mudgara
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Malabar%20Jasmine.html
Jasminum nervosum (Native)
Manipuri: Warakki Kundo • Telugu: Kundamu malle • Hindi: Kunda कुंद
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Wild%20Kundo.html
Jasminum officinale - Common Jasmine, True jasmine, Poet's jasmine
(Native)
Hindi: चमेली Chameli • Marathi: Jati-jai • Konkani: Sanjui • Sanskrit:
मल्लिका Mallika
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Common%20Jasmine.html
Jasminum multiflorum - Star jasmine, Downy jasmine (Native)
Manipuri: কুন্দো Kundo • Telugu: Kundamu malle • Hindi: Kunda कुंद •
Malayalam: Kurukuttimulla • Tamil: மகரந்தம் Makarandam • Gujarati:
ગુજરી Gujari
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Kunda.html

Kund (Jasminum multiflorum) find wide mention in ancient literature.
It was supposed to be a beautiful flower. beautiful teeth were
compared to kund buds. Instead of the common western phrase 'white as
snow', what often appears in Hindu mythological stories is 'white as
kund'. It is sad to see that today even many gardeners are not aware
of the name Kund कुंद.
Best wishes
- Tabish

[Anand Kumar Bhatt]

Thank you Tabish. This has enriched my knowledge. Reference to Flowers of India picture site is really very useful.
akbhatt

[J]

I wonder which jasmines my sister and I are - our names are Jai and Jui (marathi for jasmine). Everyone in the family tells us Jai is a slightly 'bigger' variety of jasmine than 'Jui'. My grandpa had both shrubs, but I'm still confused.

 

thanks & regards,

~ jai

[Anand Kumar Bhatt]

Jai is either common Jasmine (J. officinale)  चमेली or J.auriclatum जूही
Jui is yellow Jasmine सोनजुही or पीली चमेली. Jasminum humile. The elders are right in saying that J. officinale is bigger in size as compared to J. humile. However, there is no smell in Yellow Jasmine.
I am open to correction.
All the best Jai and Jui! May you spread fragrance all over.
akbhatt

[J]

Thanks for the information akbhatt! Just one change, Jui in marathi is same as Juhi in hindi.. so Jui = Jasminum auriculatum and Jai = J. officinale (my grandpa had both Jai and Jui in his garden and both were fragrant and white)

 

Thanks :)

 

~ J. officinale

[nabha meghani]

Hallo,

here is one from my garden, with great fragrance

Nalini