What is "jasminum sambac"

Jasmine \Jas"mine\, n. [F. jasmin, Sp. jazmin, Ar. y[=a]sm[=i]n, Pers. y[=a]sm[=i]n; cf. It. gesmino, gelsomino. Cf. Jessamine.] (Bot.) A shrubby plant of the genus Jasminum, bearing flowers of a peculiarly fragrant odor. The Jasminum officinale, common in the south of Europe, bears white flowers. The Arabian jasmine is Jasminum Sambac, and, with Jasminum angustifolia, comes from the East Indies. The yellow false jasmine in the Gelseminum sempervirens (see Gelsemium). Several other plants are called jasmine in the West Indies, as species of Calotropis and Faramea. [Written also jessamine.]

Cape jasmine, or Cape jessamine, the Gardenia florida, a shrub with fragrant white flowers, a native of China, and hardy in the Southern United States.

Jasminum sambac is a species of jasmine native to a small region in the eastern Himalayas in Bhutan and neighbouring India and Pakistan. It is cultivated in many places, especially across much of South and Southeast Asia. It is naturalised in many scattered locales: Mauritius, Madagascar, the Maldives, Cambodia, Java, Christmas Island, Chiapas, Central America, southern Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Lesser Antilles.

Jasminum sambac is a small shrub or vine growing up to in height. It is widely cultivated for its attractive and sweetly fragrant flowers. The flowers are also used for perfumes and for making tea. It is known as the Arabian jasmine in English. It is the national flower of the Philippines, where it is known as sampaguita. It is also one of the three national flowers of Indonesia, where it is known as melati putih.