West Bengal – Night-flowering Jasmine
Common Name: Night-flowering Jasmine
Local Name: Shiuli/ Parijat/har-shringar
Scientific Name: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
Description: Five to eight lobed petals surround an orange-red core in the blooms. But over the day, the blossoms become duller and eventually open at sunset. The tree only blooms in the fall, and the scent of its blossoms heralds the return of Mother Goddess. The reason the tree is known as the “tree of sorrow” is that in the early morning, the blossoming blossoms fall off, causing the foliage to droop.
Uses: The leaves have been used as a laxative and as a treatment for sciatica, arthritis, and fevers in homoeopathy and Ayurvedic medicine. Silk is dyed with nyctanthin, an orange dye derived from the corolla. Flowers are used for worship and to form garlands in India.