0328 



RANGE: southern France and Italy. 



NOMENCLATURE. German, gelbe zwergfasmin, English, Italian yellow jasmin. 



USES. The flowers of the common jasmine are thought to be emollients and 

 resolutives, but they're not used medicinally. 



At Grasse in Provence this bush is carefully cultivated in gardens and in areas 

 along riverbanks. Every morning the flowers are gathered for transport to perfume 

 factories. There they're put into glazed earthenware vessels or in glass drawers coated 

 with a layer of unscented ointment that absorbs and retains their fragrance. This 

 procedure has to be repeated for several days if one wants to give the ointment a strong 

 scent of jasmine. An oil of jasmine also is prepared by placing layers of the flowers over 

 cotton soaked in ben oil, but none of the fragrance can be extracted by distillation. 



Both of these bushes add ornamentation to any garden. 



CULTIVATION. They're easily propagated, by laying down their branches or from 

 shoots. They grow in all areas, but loose, warm soil suits them the best. Sometimes they 

 lose some of their stems in severe cold, but the base of the plant doesn't die. 



KEY TO PLATES. 



1. Common jasmine. 2. Calyx. 3. Pistil. 4. Open corolla and stamens. 



1. Italian jasmine. 2. Calyx and pistil, enlarged. 3. Open corolla and stamens. 



