Tabernaemontana divaricata commonly called pinwheel flower,[2] crape jasmine, East India rosebay and Nero's crown[3] is an evergreen shrub native to South Asia and now cultivated throughout South East Asia and the warmer regions of continental Asia. In zones where it is not hardy it is grown as a house/glasshouse plant for its attractive flowers and foliage. The stem exudes a milky latex when broken, whence the name milk flower.
Description
The plant generally grows to a height of 5–6 feet (1.5–1.8 m) and is dichotomously branched. The large shiny leaves are deep green and about 6 inches (15 cm) in length and 2 inches (5.1 cm) in width. The waxy blossoms are found in small clusters on the stem tips. The (single) flowers have the characteristic 'pinwheel' shape also seen in other genera in the family Apocynaceae such as Vinca and Nerium. Both single and double-flowered forms are cultivated, the flowers of both forms being white. The plant blooms in spring but flowers appear sporadically all year. The flowers of the single form are unscented but the double-flowered form has a pleasing fragrance.[4] More than 66 alkaloids are found in the shrub.[5]
Phytochemistry
The species is known to produce many alkaloids including catharanthine, coronaridine, dregamine, ibogamine, tabersonine, voacamine and voacristine.
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