Trachelospermum jasminoides In Australia, Jasmine is usually associated with fragrant flowers of Jasminum polyanthum which belongs in the family Oleaceae and comes from China and Burma. However, another lovely fragrant climber, the Star Jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides, belongs to a different family, the Apocynaceae, and has its origins in tropical and subtropical rainforests of China, Japan Korea, Laos and Cambodia. Close relations are the Frangipanni (Plumeria rubra) and Oleander (Nerium oleander). The fragrance comes from glands at the base of flowers which produce the characteristic scent, and an essential oil extracted from the flowers is used in perfumery. A tincture obtained from the flowers is a popular ingredient in incense in China, Vietnam and Thailand. And importantly, the aroma comes from compounds called jasmonates, which turn out to be ubiquitous among plants and have now been described as a whole new family of plant hormones responsible for the defence response, events in germination and other aspects of development. Star Jasmine (or Confederate Jasmine, as it is sometimes referred to in the USA), is another of those species done to death in recent years by Australian landscape designers. In spite of its climbing and scrambling habit, it has been used extensively as a low growing hedging shrub around fast food outlets, shopping centres, and, dare we say it, universities! However, the flowers are delightfully fragrant and the plants are tough and require little in the way of maintenance. The milky sap, characteristic of most species in the family, is supposedly an excellent deterrent for possums. Another curious common name for this plant is Trader’s Compass, derived from an old maxim from Uzbekistan: supposedly the flower pointed traders to their desired destination, but only if they (the traders) were of good character! Other common names include Chinese Jasmine and Chinese Ivy. Map of distribution in south-east Asia has been modified from Encyclopedia of Life: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20m?map=Trachelospermum+jasminoides Alison Downing, Kevin Downing & Brian Atwell Department of Biological Sciences Monday, 10th November 2014 .