Crape jasmine - Nandyar vattom
Botanical name: Tabernaemontana divaricata
Family: Apocynaceae (Oleander family)
Synonyms: Ervatamia divaricata, Nerium coronarium
Crape jasmine, a shrub very common in India, generally
grows to a height of 6 ft. However, it can also grow into a small tree with a
thin, crooked stem. Like many members of the Oleander family, stems exude a
milky latex when broken. The large shiny leaves are deep green and are 6 or
more inches in length and about 2 inches in width. Crape jasmine blooms in
spring but flowers appear sporatically all year. The waxy blossoms are white
five-petaled pinwheels that are borne in small clusters on the stem tips. Flowers
are commonly used in pooja in north and south India.
Pic: Kerala, IND
