Bio Diversity Park

Common Name : Night Jasmine, Coral Jasmine, Tree of Sorrow

Hindi Name : हार सिंगार | Scientific Name : Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
Family : Oleaceae
Uses : It is a very common ornamental species planted in many places for its fragrant flower. In the traditional Indian medicine system known as Ayurveda, this plant is used to treat sciatica (leg pain caused by lower back problems) and arthritis, leaf extract has anti-inflammatory activity. Flowers, leaves and especially seeds have compounds that stimulate the immune system. It also has antiviral, anti-fungal and anti-protozoan activity, as well as a protective effect on liver cells. In India, Pakistan, Thailand and Nepal, Coral Jasmine is considered a scared plant and is often planted near monasteries. Flower and leaf extracts contain compounds with mosquito larvicidal activity.
Native: Himalaya to Indo-China, Sumatera to Jawa
General Description:

A deciduous shrub or small tree, sometimes found in forest fringe as escape. Branchlets pubescent, 4-angled. Leaves ovate, shortly acuminate, distantly toothed or entire, coriaceous, scabrid, base rounded, cuneate or acute. Flowers white, sweet scented, sessile, 3-7 together on hairy quadrangular peduncles arranged in cymose panicles. Calyx tube funnel shaped, 4-5 toothed; corolla tube cylindrical, orange red, lobes white, 5-8, contorted in bud. Anthers subsesile near the mouth of the corolla tube. Ovary two celled, style cylindric,bifid. Fruit is a compressed orbicular capsule.