Jasmine can be either
deciduous (leaves falling in autumn) or evergreen (green all year round), and
can be erect, spreading, or climbing shrubs and vines. Their leaves are borne
in opposing or alternating arrangement and can be of simple, trifoliate, or
pinnate formation. The flowers are typically around 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in
diameter. They are white or yellow in color, although in rare instances they
can be slightly reddish. The flowers are borne in cymose clusters with a
minimum of three flowers, though they can also be solitary on the ends of
branchlets
Jasmine flower
Jasmine flower
Each flower has about
four to nine petals, two locules, and one to four ovules. They have two stamens
with very short filaments. The bracts are linear or ovate. The calyx is
bell-shaped. They are usually very fragrant. The fruits of jasmines are berries
that turn black when ripe. The basic chromosome number of the genus is 13, and
most species are diploid (2n=26). However, natural polyploidy exists,
particularly in Jasminum sambac (2n=39), Jasminum flexile (2n=52), Jasminum mesnyi (2n=39), and Jasminum angustifolium (2n=52}
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