Jasminum mesnyi

Jasminum mesnyi Hance, Jour. Bot. 20: 37. 1882; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 15: 311; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 15; keralaplants.in; J. primulinum Hemsl., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 109. 1895.

Shrub twiggy, evergreen, branches ** 4-angled, glabrous, slender, arching, overhanging. Leaves opposite, up to 10 cm long, palmately compound, trifoliate (or simple at base of branchlets); petiole 8-12 mm long, petiole margined; terminal leaflet larger, 3.5-6 cm x 1-2.2 cm, basally decurrent into a short petiolule, petiolule margined; lateral leaflets sessile, 2-4.2 cm x 1.1-1.9 cm, leaflet blade broadly ovate, elliptic, suborbicular or oblong-lanceolate, base cuneate, apex apiculate or blunt mucronulate, subleathery, glabrescent, veins obscure. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, hypogynous, lightly fragrant, trumpet-shaped, 2.8-3.5(-4.5) cm across, solitary on axillary peduncle; peduncle ca. 1.5 cm long, sulcate, green with 2 pairs of bracts, bracts leafy, obovate or lanceolate, 5-10 mm long; pedicel 3-8 mm. Calyx campanulate; tube very short; lobes 5-8, 7-8 mm x ca. 2.5 mm, leafy, oblong-lanceolate, apex acute, puberulent. Corolla single, double or semidouble, bright yellow, orange in throat; tube stout, 1-1.2 cm long; lobes 6-9, 1.1-2(-2.5) cm long, obovate, rounded, mucronate. Stamens 2, included, inserted at base of tube; filaments ca. 1 mm long; anthers 4-5 mm long, oblong, apiculate. Carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary bilocular, 2 ovules per loculus; style slender, 1-1.2 cm long; stigma clavate, included or slightly exserted.

** Branches can climb like a vine if given support. Without support it grows like mound, 5-10 ft. in height and spread.

Fruit a berry, didymous or simple, ellipsoid, 6-8 mm on diameter, each part containing 1 or 2 seeds. (Fruits not observed)

Flowering and Fruiting: February to March
Common Names: : Primrose Jasmine, Japanese Jasmine; Japani Chameli (Hindi)