Trachelospermum ,Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607 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.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant FamiliesFlora of China Vol. 16 Page 166 络石属 luo shi shu Trachelospermum Lemaire, Jard. Fleur. 1: t. 61. 1851.
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 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.
Despite its common name, the species is not a "true jasmine" and not of the genus Jasminum.
Species
Trachelospermum asiaticum (Siebold & Zucc.) Nakai - China (incl Tibet + Taiwan), Japan (incl Ryukyu + Bonin Islands), Korea, Indochina, Assam, Borneo, W Malaysia Trachelospermum assamense Woodson - Assam, Bhutan Trachelospermum axillare Hook.f. - China, Himalayas (N + E India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet), Thailand, Myanmar Trachelospermum bodinieri (H.Lév.) Woodson - Tibet, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang Trachelospermum brevistylum Hand.-Mazz. - Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan, Tibet Trachelospermum dunnii (H.Lév.) H.Lév. - Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan, Zhejiang, Vietnam Trachelospermum inflatum (Blume) Pierre ex Pichon - Java, Sumatra Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem. Japan, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Tibet, Yunnan, Zhejiang Trachelospermum lucidum (D.Don) K.Schum. - Himalayas (N Pakistan, N + E India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand) Trachelospermum ninhii Lý - C Vietnam Trachelospermum vanoverberghii Merr. - Luzon in Philippines
Formerly included
Trachelospermum anceps = Kibatalia macrophylla Trachelospermum auritum = Epigynum auritum Trachelospermum curtisii = Epigynum auritum Trachelospermum difforme = Thyrsanthella difformis Trachelospermum esquirolii = Melodinus fusiformis Trachelospermum laurifolium = Kibatalia laurifolia Trachelospermum navaillei = Aganosma schlechteriana Trachelospermum obtusifolium = Anodendron wrayi Trachelospermum philippinense = Micrechites serpyllifolius Trachelospermum slootenii = Chonemorpha verrucosa Trachelospermum stans = Mandevilla foliosa Trachelospermum verrucosa = Chonemorpha verrucosa
Uses Some species - notably T. asiaticum and T. jasminoides - are cultivated for their foliage and strongly-scented flowers.
References
External links Trachelospermum jasminoides