Gardenia

''Gardenia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Madagascar, Pacific Islands, and Australia.

The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus and John Ellis after Alexander Garden (1730–1791), a Scottish naturalist. The type species is '' Gardenia jasminoides'', as first published by Ellis in 1761.

Description

Gardenia species typically grow as shrubs or small trees, however some species, such as those native to New Guinea, may grow to 20-30m tall. A small number of species found in tropical East Africa and southern Africa grow as small pyrophytic subshrubs. At least one species, ''Gardenia epiphytica'', native to Gabon and Cameroon, grows as an epiphyte. Most species are unarmed and spineless, but some species such as some of those found in Africa are spinescent.

The leaf arrangement is typically opposite or verticillate may (arranged in whorls). Leaves vary by species; many species are glossy with a distinctly coriaceous (or leathery) texture such as that seen in '' Gardenia jasminoides'', whilst in others, leaves may be thin and chartaceous (or paper-like).

The flowers, particularly in the species most commonly grown in gardens, may be large and showy and white, cream or pale yellow in color, with a pleasant and strong, sometimes overpowering scent that may be more noticeable at night, something quite typical of moth-pollinated plants.

Gardenia flowers are hermaphrodite (or bisexual) with each individual flower having both male and female structures (that is, having both stamens and carpels). The arrangement of the flowers on the plant are solitary or in small terminal clusters or fascicles. The flowers vary across species, but most commonly have a funnel- or cylindrical-shaped corolla tube, normally elongated and narrow distally, surrounded by 5-12 or more lobes ( petals) contorted or arranged in an overlapping pattern.

Phytochemistry

Crocetin is a chemical compound usually obtained from '' Crocus sativus'', which can also be obtained from the fruit of ''Gardenia jasminoides''. Gordonin is a novel methoxylated flavonol secreted in golden-colored resinous droplets of ''Gardenia gordonii'', which is one of several critically endangered species of the Fiji Islands.

Many of the native gardenias of the Pacific Islands and elsewhere in the paleotropics contribute towards the production of a diverse array of natural products. Methoxylated and oxygenated flavonols, flavones, and triterpenes accumulate on the vegetative and floral buds as yellow to brown droplets of secreted resins. Many focused phytochemical studies of these bud exudates have been published, including a population-level study of two rare, sympatric species of Fiji, '' G. candida'' and '' G. grievei''. The evolutionary significance of the gums and resins of gardenias in attracting or repelling invertebrate herbivores, has yet to be explored by ecologists.

Species

''Plants of the World Online'' recognises 128 species in this genus, as follows:

* '' Gardenia actinocarpa''
* '' Gardenia anapetes''
* '' Gardenia angkorensis''
* '' Gardenia annamensis''
* '' Gardenia aqualla''
* '' Gardenia archboldiana''
* '' Gardenia aubryi''
* '' Gardenia barnesii''
* '' Gardenia beamanii''
* '' Gardenia boninensis''
* '' Gardenia brachythamnus''
* '' Gardenia brevicalyx''
* '' Gardenia brighamii''
* '' Gardenia buffalina''
* '' Gardenia cambodiana''
* '' Gardenia candida''
* '' Gardenia carinata''
* '' Gardenia carstensensis''
* '' Gardenia chanii''
* '' Gardenia chevalieri''
* '' Gardenia clemensiae''
* '' Gardenia collinsiae''
* '' Gardenia cornuta''
* '' Gardenia coronaria''
* '' Gardenia costulata''
* '' Gardenia crameri''
* '' Gardenia cuneata''
* '' Gardenia dacryoides''
* '' Gardenia elata''
* '' Gardenia epiphytica''
* '' Gardenia erubescens''
* '' Gardenia esculenta''
* '' Gardenia ewartii''
* '' Gardenia faucicola''
* '' Gardenia fiorii''
* '' Gardenia flava''
* '' Gardenia fosbergii''
* '' Gardenia fucata''
* '' Gardenia fusca''
* '' Gardenia gardneri''
* '' Gardenia gjellerupii''
* '' Gardenia gordonii''
* '' Gardenia grievei''
* '' Gardenia griffithii''
* '' Gardenia gummifera''
* '' Gardenia hageniana''
* '' Gardenia hainanensis''
* '' Gardenia hansemannii''
* '' Gardenia hillii''
* '' Gardenia hutchinsoniana''
* '' Gardenia imperialis''
* '' Gardenia invaginata''
* '' Gardenia ixorifolia''
* '' Gardenia jabiluka''
* '' Gardenia jasminoides''
* '' Gardenia kabaenensis''
* '' Gardenia kakaduensis''
* '' Gardenia kamialiensis''
* '' Gardenia lacciflua''
* '' Gardenia lamingtonii''
* '' Gardenia lanutoo''
* '' Gardenia latifolia''
* '' Gardenia leopoldiana''
* '' Gardenia leschenaultii''
* '' Gardenia longistipula''
* '' Gardenia magnifica''
* '' Gardenia mannii''
* '' Gardenia manongarivensis''
* '' Gardenia maugaloae''
* '' Gardenia megasperma''
* '' Gardenia moszkowskii''
* '' Gardenia mutabilis''
* '' Gardenia nitida''
* '' Gardenia obtusifolia''
* '' Gardenia ornata''
* '' Gardenia oudiepe''
* '' Gardenia ovularis''
* '' Gardenia pallens''
* '' Gardenia panduriformis''
* '' Gardenia papuana''
* '' Gardenia philastrei''
* '' Gardenia posoquerioides''
* '' Gardenia propinqua''
* '' Gardenia psidioides''
* '' Gardenia pterocalyx''
* '' Gardenia pyriformis''
* '' Gardenia racemulosa''
* '' Gardenia reflexisepala''
* '' Gardenia reinwardtiana''
* '' Gardenia remyi''
* '' Gardenia resinifera''
* '' Gardenia resiniflua''
* '' Gardenia resinosa''
* '' Gardenia rupicola''
* '' Gardenia rutenbergiana''
* '' Gardenia sambiranensis''
* '' Gardenia saxatilis''
* '' Gardenia scabrella''
* '' Gardenia schlechteri''
* '' Gardenia schwarzii''
* '' Gardenia sericea''
* '' Gardenia similis''
* '' Gardenia siphonocalyx''
* '' Gardenia sokotensis''
* '' Gardenia sootepensis''
* '' Gardenia stenophylla''
* '' Gardenia storckii''
* '' Gardenia subacaulis''
* '' Gardenia subcarinata''
* '' Gardenia taitensis''
* '' Gardenia tannaensis''
* '' Gardenia ternifolia''
* '' Gardenia tessellaris''
* '' Gardenia thailandica''
* '' Gardenia thunbergia''
* '' Gardenia tinneae''
* '' Gardenia transvenulosa''
* '' Gardenia trochainii''
* '' Gardenia tropidocarpa''
* '' Gardenia truncata''
* '' Gardenia tubifera''
* '' Gardenia urvillei''
* '' Gardenia vernicosa''
* '' Gardenia vilhelmii''
* '' Gardenia vitiensis''
* '' Gardenia vogelii''
* '' Gardenia volkensii''
* '' Gardenia vulcanica''

Cultivation and uses

Gardenia plants are prized for the strong sweet scent of their flowers, which can be very large in size in some species.

''Gardenia jasminoides'' (syn. ''G. grandiflora'', ''G. florida'') is cultivated as a house plant. This species can be difficult to grow because it originated in warm humid tropical areas. It demands high humidity to thrive, and bright (but not direct) light. It flourishes in acidic soils with good drainage and thrives on temperatures of during the day and in the evening. Potting soils developed especially for gardenias are available. ''G. jasminoides'' grows no larger than 18 inches in height and width when grown indoors. In climates where it can be grown outdoors, it can attain a height of 6 feet. If water touches the flowers, they will turn brown.

In Eastern Asia, ''Gardenia jasminoides'' is called () in China, () in Korea, and () in Japan. Its fruit is used as a yellow dye, used on fabric and food (including the Korean mung bean jelly called '' hwangpomuk''). Its fruits are also used in traditional Chinese medicine for their clearing, calming, and cooling properties.

In France, gardenias are the flower traditionally worn by men as boutonnière when in evening dress. In '' The Age of Innocence'', Edith Wharton suggests it was customary for upper-class men from New York City to wear a gardenia in their buttonhole during the Gilded Age.

Sigmund Freud remarked to the poet H.D. that gardenias were his favorite flower.

In tiki culture, Donn Beach, aka Don the Beachcomber, frequently wore a fresh lei of gardenias almost every day at his tiki bars, allegedly spending $7,800 for flowers over the course of four years in 1938. He named one of his drinks the mystery gardenia cocktail. Trader Vic frequently used the gardenia as a flower garnish in his tiki drinks, such as in the scorpion and outrigger tiara cocktails.

Several species occur in Hawaii, where gardenias are known as ''nau'' or ''nānū''.

Hattie McDaniel famously wore gardenias in her hair when she accepted an Academy Award, the first for an African American, for '' Gone with the Wind''. Mo'Nique Hicks later wore gardenias in her hair when she won her Oscar, as a tribute to McDaniel.

Gallery

Image:Starr_030523-0050_Gardenia_brighamii.jpg, ''Gardenia brighamii''
Image:White Gardenia flower.jpg, ''Gardenia jasminoides'' 'Plena'
Image:Gardenia_Flower.jpg, ''Gardenia jasminoides''l 'Radicans'
Image:Gardenia psidioides flower.jpg, ''Gardenia psidioides''
Image:Tiare_maori.JPG, ''Gardenia taitensis''
File:Pollen grains of Gardenia Gummifera.jpg, Pollen grains of Gardenia gummifera
Image:Gardenia thunbergia00.jpg,
Image:Gardeniavolkensii-flowerface.JPG, ''Gardenia volkensii'' flower
Image:Gardeniavolkensii-flowers&foliage&fruit.JPG, ''Gardenia volkensii'' flowers, foliage, fruit
Image:Blooming stages of gardenia flower 01.jpg, Blooming stages of gardenia flower (1 of 6)
Image:Blooming stages of gardenia flower 02.jpg, Blooming stages of gardenia flower (2 of 6)
Image:Blooming stages of gardenia flower 03.jpg, Blooming stages of gardenia flower (3 of 6)
Image:Blooming stages of gardenia flower 04.jpg, Blooming stages of gardenia flower (4 of 6)
Image:Blooming stages of gardenia flower 05.jpg, Blooming stages of gardenia flower (5 of 6)
Image:Blooming stages of gardenia flower 06.jpg, Blooming stages of gardenia flower (6 of 6)

References

External links

World Checklist of Rubiaceae

{{Authority control

Rubiaceae genera