Sevenileaf Orange Jessamine (Murraya paniculata) Plant Profile and Photo Appreciation
Murraya paniculata is also called orange jessamine, seven-mile fragrance, nine-autumn fragrance, and so on. It is mainly distributed in southern China as well as the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and other places, and it is also a Chinese herbal medicine. So today, the editor will introduce to you the profile and photo appreciation of Murraya paniculata.
1. Morphological characteristics of Murraya paniculata
Murraya paniculata, also known as orange jessamine or seven-mile fragrance, is a small tree of the Rutaceae family. The plant can reach up to 12 m tall. The branches are white-gray and then pale yellow, slightly glossy. During the seedling stage, the leaves are solitary; when mature, they are single leaflets or two leaflets. The leaflets are dark green, glossy on the surface, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, with a narrow, long, acuminate tip and a short-pointed base. Inflorescences mostly grow in leaf axils or at the tips of small branches. An inflorescence consists of 5-10 flowers, with as many as more than 50. The flowers are pure white, with narrow, long elliptical petals and pale yellow transparent oil dots. The filaments are thread-like and white. The flowering period is from April to September, and some also bloom in autumn and winter. The fruit of Murraya paniculata is initially orange-yellow and becomes vermilion red when mature. It is narrowly elliptical, containing 1-3 seeds, and the seed coat is cottony and hairy.
2. Growth habits
Murraya paniculata prefers a warm and humid climate. The most suitable growth temperature is 20-30°C. It is drought-tolerant but not cold-tolerant. When the winter temperature drops to 5°C, it needs to be moved indoors to overwinter. If the temperature is too low, it easily causes leaf drop and affects the next year's growth. If the temperature is below minus zero, the plant may freeze to death. The indoor temperature should be kept at 5-15°C. If the temperature is too high, it will affect its dormancy and may even cause sprouting, affecting the next year's growth. Murraya paniculata is a sun-loving tree species and prefers a sunny environment. It needs at least about 6 hours of light per day. Only with sufficient sunlight can it have lush leaves and abundant flowers, and the flowers will have a relatively rich fragrance. Conversely, if there is insufficient light, its growth will not be robust, the flowers will have a weaker fragrance, the branches will be thin and soft, the leaf color will be lighter, and the number of flowers will be few or even none.
3. Main values of Murraya paniculata
Ornamental: The plant shape is graceful, the branches and leaves are beautiful, the flowers are pure white and lovely, the fragrance is rich and lasting, and the fruits are bright red. It can be planted in courtyards or around buildings, and can also be grown as an indoor potted plant.
Medicinal: The branches and leaves of Murraya paniculata can be used as medicine. They have the effects of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, detoxifying, and reducing swelling. External use can treat bruises and snake and insect bites, while internal use can treat rheumatic bone pain, stomach pain, abdominal bloating, and other symptoms.
Other: The flowers, leaves, and fruits of Murraya paniculata contain essential oils, which can be extracted to make cosmetics, food flavorings, seasoning spices, and so on.
The above is the editor's introduction to Murraya paniculata. Do you understand it all now?