Trachelospermum asiaticum is a species of plant in the familyApocynaceae, native to Asia. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Etymology
Trachelospermum is composed of Greek trachelos τραχελος 'col', and sperma σπερμα 'seed, seed', referring to the shape of the seeds, elongated-narrowed at the apex and terminated by an egret. The specific epithetasiaticum indicates "from Asia". It was first described by Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini in 1846. Bavarian physician and naturalist Siebold was able to set foot in Japan between 1823 and 1829, at a time when China and Japan. Back in Germany with his collections, he was assisted by Zuccarini, professor of botany at the University of Munich to describe under the name of Malouetia asiatica.
Description
Growing to tall, it is a woody, evergreenclimber with glossy, leathery leaves and strongly scented cream-coloured flowers in summer. They exude a milkywhite latex. Leaves are simple and opposite, persistent, borne by a petiole 2-10 mm, with an elliptic limb, narrowly ovate, 2-10 x 1-5 cm, membranous. Glossy green leaves have a brown-orange tinge stained reddish during the winter. The hardiestTrachelospermum species, this plant can be grown in temperate areas against a sheltered wall or fence. It has been known to spread rapidly, and can take over large sums of area. The white or cream flowers have a yellow heart and exhale a scent of jasmine. They are collected in terminal or axillary cymes. The five sepals are contiguous to the tube of the corolla and carry 10 basal glands. The hypocrateriform corolla consists of a tube 6-10mm long, with an enlarged throat, and five obovate lobes, as long as the tube. The stamens are inserted into the throat of the corolla tube. The anthers are exerted. The hairless ovary consists of two carpels. Flowering takes place from late spring to summer. The fruit consists of two linear follicles, 10-30 by 0.3-0.5 cm. The seeds are oblong with at one end a 3.5 cm egret.
Quite similar to the false jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides, T. asiaticum produces flowers with a slightly smaller yellow heart. It has faster growth in the early years and is a bit more rustic. Trachelospermum asiaticum provides an ornamental liana, to be climbed on a trellis along a wall, in semi-shade or sunny exposure, and giving a very fragrant bloom. It can withstand brief frosts of -15°C. It is grown in tanks or in the ground in mild climates.
Chemical composition
Many flavonoids were extracted from the leaves of Trachelospermum asiaticum var. intermedium: apigenin 7-Oglucoside, luteolin, luteolin-4, rhoifolin, lonicerine, kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside, quercitrin, and phenolic compounds such as: lignan and chlorogenic acid. Of triterpenes oleanolic type were also detected: the acid 2α, 3β, 19α, 23,24-pentahydroxyoléan-12-en-28-oic acid or trachélospérogénine E 8. The plant is used in Korea in traditional medicine to treat rheumatism, abscesses and ulcers.
