Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Jasmine

Jas′mine

,
Noun.
[F.
jasmin
, Sp.
jazmin
, Ar.
yāsmīn
, Pers.
yāsmīn
; cf. It.
gesmino
,
gelsomino
. Cf.
Jessamine
.]
(Bot.)
A shrubby plant of the genus
Jasminum
, bearing flowers of a peculiarly fragrant odor. The
Jasminum officinale
, common in the south of Europe, bears white flowers. The Arabian jasmine is
Jasminum Sambac
, and, with
Jasminum angustifolia
, comes from the East Indies. The yellow false jasmine in the
Gelseminum sempervirens
(see
Gelsemium
). Several other plants are called
jasmine
in the West Indies, as species of
Calotropis
and
Faramea
.
[Written also
jessamine
.]
Cape jasmine
, or
Cape jessamine
,
the
Gardenia florida
, a shrub with fragrant white flowers, a native of China, and hardy in the Southern United States.