Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
Family: Verbenaceae
Arbor Tristis, Sad tree, Night Jasmine, Parijat
Origin: South Asia, India
This exotic small tree or shrub has highly perfumed flowers. The sweet scented flowers are small, 1-2″, attractive shape, with white corolla and an orange-red tube in center and bloom profusely, opening at night and casting off in the morning thus making a carpet of flowers. Used in Buddhist temples, for worship. The large attractive leaves are rough and hairy. Needs warmth during winter months. Use well drained soil and fertilize once a month. Stem is used for relief of headache, leaf – cholecystagogue, flower – antipyretic, treatment of faintness and vertigo.
According to mythology, this is a heavenly tree brought to earth by the god Krishna. A quarrel over it ensued between Satyabhama and Rukmini, Krishna’s wives. But Krishna planted the tree in Satyabhama’s courtyard in a way that when the tree flowered, the flowers fell in Rukmini’s courtyard. Another romantic story woven around the tree is about Parijataka, a princess. She fell in love with the sun but when he deserted her she committed suicide and a tree sprung from the ashes. Unable to stand the sight of the lover who left her, the tree flowers only at night and sheds them like tear-drops before the sun rises.
