Nyctanthes L.

Type species: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

Synonyms: Bruschia, Nictanthes, Nyctanthos, Pariaticu, Parilium, Scabrita

Distribution: E Asia

Number of species: 2(-3), other species have been transferred to Jasminum

Description (from Brandis 1906): A large deciduous shrub or small tree, branches quadrangular, rough all over with an uneven epidermis and stiff white hairs. Leaves ovate, acuminate, entire or with a few large distant teeth. Flowers sessile, in pedunculate bracteate fascicles of 3-5, arranged in short trichotomous cymes. Calyx campanulate, indistinctly dentate, corolla-lobes 5-8, white, crenate or emarginate, contorted in bud. Anthers sessile in the orange-coloured corolla-tube. Capsule chartaceous, flat, splitting into two 1-seeded cells, cotyledons flat, radicle inferior, albumen 0.

Note: Previously included in Verbenaceae, together with Dimetra.

Species list

• Nyctanthes extracted from the GRIN database

Images

• Nyctanthes arbor-tristis from TopTropicals

References

• Agardh, J. 1858. Nyctantheae. Theoria Syst. Pl.: 284.
• Airy Shaw, H. K. 1952. Note on the taxonomic position of Nyctanthes L. and Dimetra Kerr. Kew Bull. (1952): 271-272.
• Bigazzi, M. 1989. Ultrastructure of nuclear inclusions and the separation of Verbenaceae and Oleaceae (including Nyctanthes). Pl. Syst. Evol. 163(1-2): 1-12.
• Daniel, M. & Sabnis, S. D. 1984. A numerical evaluation of the taxonomical status of Nyctanthes. Indian Bot. Reporter, special volume (Deshpande Festschrift): 52-57.
• Das, V. S. & Rao, K. N. 1966. Chemotaxonomical investigation of Nyctanthes. Naturwissenschaften 53: 439.
• George, K. & Geethamma, S. 1984. Cytological and other evidence for the taxonomic position of Nyctanthes arbortristis L. Curr. Sci. 53: 439-441.
• Green, P. S. 1984. The lectotypification of Nyctanthes hirsuta L. Kew Bull. 39(3): 653-654.
• Kapil, R. N. & Vani, R. S. 1966. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn.: embryology and relationships. Phytomorphology 16: 553-563.
• Kiew, R. & Baas, P. 1984. Nyctanthes is a member of Oleaceae. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 93(3): 349-358.
• Kshetrapal, S. & Tiagi, Y. D. 1970. Structure, vascular anatomy and evolution of the gynoecium in the family Oleaceae and their bearing on the systematic position of genus Nyctanthes L. Acta Botanica Acad. Sci. Hungar. 16(1-2): 143-151.
• Kundu, B. C. & De, A. 1968. Taxonomic position of the genus Nyctanthes. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 10: 397-408.
• Kuriachen, P. M. & Dave, Y. S. 1989. Structural studies in the fruits of Oleaceae with discussion on the systematic position of Nyctanthes L. Phytomorphology 39(1): 51-60.
• Mohan, J. S. S. & Inamdar, J. A. 1983. Studies of the leaf architecture of the Oleaceae with a note on the systematic position of the genus Nyctanthes. Feddes Repert. 94(3-4): 201-211.
• Rohwer, J. G. 1994. Fruits and seeds of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. (Oleaceae): a comparison with some Verbenaceae. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 115(4): 461-473.
• Rohwer, J. G. 1997. The fruits of Nyctanthes aculeata (Oleaceae). Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 119(2): 293-299.
• Stant, M. Y. 1952. Anatomical evidence for including Nyctanthes and Dimetra in the Verbenaceae. Kew. Bull. 7: 273-276.
• Stuppner, H. & Müller, E. P. & Mathuram, V. & Kundu, A. B. 1993. Iridoid glycosides from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis. Phytochemistry 32(2): 375-378.
• Wallander, E. & Albert, V. A. 1999. Dimetra and Nyctanthes in Oleaceae. Flora Malesiana Bull. 12(5): 231.

Maintained by Eva Wallander | Last updated: 2006-12-25