Parijataka ( Night Jasmine )

Names of the tree Parijataka ( Night Jasmine )  in different languages – (Hindi – Harsindhar, Gujarati – Jayaparvati, Kannada – Harsingh, Parijat, Sanskrit – Prajakta, Parijataka, Kharpathak, English – Night Jasmine, Latin – Nycthanthus Arbor – Tristis Kul – Oliaceae). Ms. 10 m. This evergreen shrub or small tree is native to India and is distributed in the sub-Himalayan region (from Chenab to 1,500 m in Nepal), Chota Nagpur, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and south to the Godavari. It is also found in Ruksha forest of Satpura (Khandesh).

However, it is widely planted in gardens for its fragrant and delicate flowers. Leaves are opposite and lanceolate [ Parnavinyas ], ovate, somewhat toothed, serrate above and serrate beneath, falling in April – May. Flowers small, white, in clusters of 3-7 (Tripad vallari) in August – December. Petals four to eight, white and loose above and connate in an orange tube below. The flowers bloom in the evening and in the morning only the crown falls off and they rot. The fruit (Bond) is round but flat and the seeds are 1-2 and flat. Other common symptoms are as described in Oleac clan (Parijatak clan). The orange part of the corolla contains 0.1% nyctanthin as a pigment. Earlier it was used to dye silk. It is mixed with saffron, turmeric, neel and kaat. The flower contains d-mannitol, tannin and glucose.

Must read – Pangara

Parijataka : Some of the new natural varieties discovered in the large plantation of Parijataka in the National Botanical Garden, Lucknow, from top to bottom : (1) Karnaphul, (2) Chakra, (3) Seea Shringar, (4) Dhruva, (5) Tara.

The seeds yield 12-16% pale, yellow brown, stable aromatic oil. Leaves contain carotene and ascorbic acid. Wood chips are used for medium hard roofing. The young branches make baskets. The bark is used to make leather and the leaves to glaze wood and ivory. Leaf juice is given to infants as a laxative. It is choleretic, expectorant and effective against fever and rheumatism. Hindus consider it a ‘heavenly tree’ and the flowers are sacred to the gods. Parijataka is mentioned in Manglashtakanta on the occasion of marriage. It is also mentioned in Mahabharata. It is one of the fourteen gems obtained from the churning of the sea by the gods and demons.

Parijataka trees grow densely in their habitats, covering arid hillsides and rocky ground. Even a little shade is human. As the goats do not eat the leaves, the forest becomes wild.
Planting of the tree is done from seeds or by cuttings or pressure cuttings.

Bhuri is the only important disease affecting Parijataka. It is caused by a fungus of the genus Oidium (a green leafy plant). The disease is spread through the air. This disease causes an ashy white fungal growth on the upper side of the leaves. This causes the leaves to fall. Grinding sulfur powder of 300 mesh prevents this disease.

Read also – Palas

Nagarmotha ( Cypriol )

Narkaya ( Gironira reticulata )

Source – Marathi vishwakosha –

पारिजातक