OLEACEAE

Jasminum fluminense

River Jasmine

Trees & Shrubs

Local Context

So far just recorded at the end of Bateleur on a rocky outcrop.

Identification

Growth: Shrub or climber (45 cm to 3 m tall), sometimes scrambling, with spreading or twiggy branches.
Flowers: Sweetly scented and usually solitary (rarely in groups of up to three) at the ends of short twigs; the flowers are white inside and flushed with pink or brick-red on the outside, featuring a slender tube (up to 3.2 cm long) that opens into a star-like shape with usually 9 to 12 lobes.
Leaves: Simple, shiny green, and papery; very variable in shape but typically oval to narrow (1.5–4.5 cm long) with rounded or pointed tips; they often dry to a brittle, blackish color.
Texture: The leaves are generally smooth and hairless, while the young twigs are persistently covered in dense, short hairs.
Fruit: A fleshy twin berry (although often only one side develops) that is round to oval-shaped (1–1.5 cm long); it starts green and shiny but turns black when ripe.

Did You Know?

Jasminum multipartitum plays a vital role in its ecosystem by acting as a host plant for the larvae of spectacular species like the Oleander and Death’s Head Hawk Moths. To ensure pollination, the plant intensifies its fragrance at night, transitioning from a delicate daytime scent to a powerful aroma designed specifically to attract these nocturnal visitors.

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