Telosma cordata (Chinese: 夜來香; lit. 'night-blooming fragrance') is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae (tribe Marsdenieae), native to China and Indo-China. It is cultivated elsewhere and may occur wild as an introduced species. Common names include Chinese violet, cowslip creeper, Pakalana vine, Tonkin jasmine and Tonkinese creeper. The plant bears clusters of golden yellow blooms along the vining stems during summer months. Individual blooms emerge successively over a period of weeks emitting a rich, heavy fragrance during the day and night.

Telosma cordata
Telosma cordata[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Telosma
Species:
T. cordata
Binomial name
Telosma cordata
Synonyms[2]
  • Apocynum odoratissimum Lour. ex Pritz.
  • Asclepias cordata Burm.f.
  • Asclepias odoratissima (Lour.) Roxb.
  • Cynanchum odoratissimum Lour.
  • Oxystelma ovatum P.T. Li & S.Z. Huang
  • Pergularia minor Andrews
  • Pergularia limbata Wall. ex Wight
  • Pergularia odoratissima (Lour.) Sm.
  • Pergularia viridis Buch.-Ham. ex Wight
  • Telosma minor (Andrews) W. G. Craib
  • Telosma odoratissima (Lour.) Coville

Characteristics

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Telosma cordata is classified as a creeper that can climb as far as 2–5 meters. The vine is small, round and very tough; it is considered poisonous for pigs. As the tree is older, the vine will change from green to brown. The top is covered with dense white bush that can cover other trees completely. The plant can be reproduced by cutting or seeding and grows in airy soil in bright sunlight. It can be found in evergreen, mixed deciduous forests, grove woods and dry forests all over Indo-China.

Leaf

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Telosma cordata has single heart-shaped leaves growing in pairs. The leaf is about 4–7.5 cm wide and about 6–11 cm long with smooth underside. The leaf is very thin, with veins that can be clearly seen. The stem is about 1.2–2 cm long.

 

Flower

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The flowers bloom as a bouquet consisting of about 10–20 flowers. The greenish-yellow flower has a strong fragrance especially in the evening. It has a diameter of about 1.5 cm with 5 petals and 5 stamens which are connected to each other and to the pistils. The blooming season is usually March–May, although sometimes flowers can be found in July–October.

 
Cowslip creeper flowers

Fruit

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The fruit is smooth, green and round with pointed ends. The interior contains many flat seeds with white fluff attached to the ends. The produce season is around June–August.

Uses

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In fried egg

The top, fruit and flowers can all be consumed as vegetables. The top is believed to be the most nutritious part. The flower is used in desserts and for ornamental purposes in bouquets and wreaths. The plant's vines are tough and can be used as ropes. The wood can be used for construction in some cases. The plant has also been used for traditional medicinal purposes, as an antipyretic, an antidote for poison, a tranquilizer, and for the relief of backbone pain.[3]

Nutritions Value per 100 g.
Carbohydrate 10.6 g.
Protein 5.0 g.
Fat 1.1 g.
Fibre 0.8 g.
Water 80.5 g.
Vitamin A 3.0 g.
Vitamin B1 0.0004 g.
Vitamin B2 0.0015 g.
Vitamin B3 0.0017 g.
Vitamin C 0.68 g.
Calcium 0.7 g.
Iron 0.01 g.
Phosphorus 0.9 g.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ illustration circa 1790 from James Edward Smith and James Sowerby – Icones pictae plantarum rariorum descriptionibus et observationibus illustratae
  2. ^ Plants of the World Online (POWO), retrieved 12 October 2018
  3. ^ Tanaka, Yoshitaka; Van Ke, Nguyen (2007). Edible Wild Plants of Vietnam: The Bountiful Garden. Thailand: Orchid Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-9745240896.
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  • Glass-noodles with Shrimps and Pakalana Flowers
  • ขจร สรรพคุณและประโยชน์ของดอกขจร 24 ข้อ ! (ผักสลิด,ดอกสลิด). 2016. ขจร สรรพคุณและ ประโยชน์ของดอกขจร 24 ข้อ ! (ผักสลิด,ดอกสลิด). [ONLINE] Available at: http://frynn.com/ขจร/. [Accessed 2 February 2016].