Wild Jasmine is another common name of this flower with a lovely fragrance. In Marathi Malabar Jasmine is known as Kusar or Ran Mogra, in Tamil it is known as Kotivakai, in Kannada it is known as Kadu Mallige and in Sanskrit it is known as Mudgara. Botanical name is Jasminum malabaricum and belongs to Oleaceae family (Jasmine). Pictures the below creeper in the middle of the forests in Kodaikanal.
As the name suggests it is native of South India and grows in the wild. Malabar Jasmine grows to a height of 3 to 5 meters and usually takes the support of a tree to wind up in the forests.
The stems can be 4 to 8 cms in thickness.
Leaves are green and are 8 to 12 cm long, ovate with a tip. They complement the beautiful flowers that bloom at the end of the branches.
Flowers are white and have 6 to 10 petals. They are 2 cm long, fragrant, and the narrow tube is pink in color.
