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Jasminum officinale. Common Jasmine or Jessamine.
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Class and Order.
Diandria Monogynia.
Generic Character.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
There is an elegance in the Jasmine which added to its fragrance renders it an object of universal admiration.
"It grows naturally at Malabar, and in several parts of
" India, yet has been long inured to our climate, so as
" to thrive and flower extremely well, but never produces
" any fruit in England. It is easily propagated by laying
" down the branches, which will take root in one year, and
" may then be cut from the old plant, and planted where they
" are designed to remain: it may also be propagated by cut-
"tings, which should be planted early in the autumn, and
" guarded against the effects of severe frosts.
"When these plants are removed, they should be planted
" either against some wall, pale, or other fence, where the
" flexible branches may be
supported. These plants should
" be permitted to grow rude in the summer, otherwise there
" will be no flowers; but after the summer is past, the luxu-
"riant shoots should be pruned off, and the others must be
" nailed to the support.
"There are two varieties of this with variegated leaves,
" one with white, the other with yellow stripes, but the latter
" is the most common: these are propagated by budding them
" on the plain Jasmine; they require to be planted in a warm
" situation, especially the white-striped, for they are much
" more tender than the plain, and in very severe winters
" their branches should be covered with mats or straw to pre-
"vent their being killed." Miller's Gard. Dict.
