Stephanotis

Stephanotis
Stephanotis floribunda
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Marsdenieae
Genus: Stephanotis
Thouars, 1806
Type species
Stephanotis thouarsii
Synonyms[2]
  • Chlorochlamys Miq. (1869)
  • Dregea E.Mey. (1838), nom. cons.
  • Isaura Comm. ex Poir. (1813), nom. superfl.
  • Pterophora Harv. (1838)
  • Pterygocarpus Hochst. (1843)
  • Traunia K.Schum. (1895)
  • Wattakaka Hassk. (1857)

Stephanotis is a genus of flowering plants first described in 1806.[3] The name derives from the Greek στεφανωτής (stephanōtís) meaning, by sense, “fit for a crown”—from στέφανος (stéphanos), “crown”. It contains evergreen, woody-stemmed lianas with a scattered distribution in several tropical and subtropical regions.[4][5]

Stephanotis are grown for their strongly perfumed, waxy, tubular, usually white flowers. Leaves are opposite, ovate to elliptic, and leathery. Stephanotis is a beautiful but difficult plant - it hates sudden changes in temperature, needs constant cool conditions in winter and is attractive to scale and mealy bug. The stems of Stephanotis can reach 10 ft or more, but it is usually sold twined around a wire hoop. The heavily scented waxy flowers appear in summer.[6]

The best known species is Stephanotis floribunda (Madagascar jasmine), which is cultivated as a tropical or hothouse ornamental, and whose flowers are a popular element in wedding bouquets.[citation needed]

The Stephanotis has grown in popularity over the past few years along with some of the other spring flowering vines. It is known by a few different names such as "Madagascar jasmine" and "bridal veil".[citation needed]

  1. ^ lectotype designated by Bullock, Ind. Nom. Genericorum Card (1957)
  2. ^ Stephanotis Thouars. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  3. ^ Thouars, Louis-Marie Aubert du Petit-. 1806. Genera Nova Madagascariensia 11.
  4. ^ Schatz, G. E., S. Andriambololonera, Andrianarivelo, M. W. Callmander, Faranirina, P. P. Lowry, P. B. Phillipson, Rabarimanarivo, J. I. Raharilala, Rajaonary, Rakotonirina, R. H. Ramananjanahary, B. Ramandimbisoa, A. Randrianasolo, N. Ravololomanana, Z.S. Rogers, C.M. Taylor & G. A. Wahlert. 2011. Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Madagascar. Monographs in systematic botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden.
  5. ^ "Tropicos". www.tropicos.org.
  6. ^ "Stephanotis". www.gflora.com.