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{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Gardenia''
| image = Gardenia.brighamii02.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Gardenia brighamii''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Gentianales]]
| familia = [[Rubiaceae]]
| genus = '''''Gardenia'''''
| genus_authority = Ellis.
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
'''''Gardenia''''' is a [[genus]] of about 250 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Rubiaceae]], native to the [[tropical]] and [[subtropical]] regions of [[Africa]], southern [[Asia]], [[Australasia ecozone|Australasia]] and [[Oceania ecozone|Oceania]].
The genus was named by [[Carl Linnaeus]] after [[Alexander Garden (naturalist)|Dr Alexander Garden]] (1730-1791), Scottish-born American naturalist.
They are [[evergreen]] [[shrubs]] and small [[tree]]s growing to 1-15 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite or in whorls of three or four, 5-50 cm long and 3-25 cm broad, dark green and glossy with a leathery texture. The [[flower]]s are solitary or in small clusters, white or pale yellow, with a tubular-based corolla with 5-12 lobes ('petals') from 5-12 cm diameter. Flowering is from about mid-spring to mid-summer and many species are strongly scented.
;Selected species
*''[[Gardenia jasminoides]]'' ([[synonymy|syn.]] ''G. augusta'' (illegitimate name); '''Common Gardenia''', '''Cape Jasmine''' or '''Cape Jessamine'''). Southern China and Japan.
*''[[Gardenia brighamii]]'' ('''Hawaiian Gardenia''' or '''Na'u'''). Lowland [[Hawaii]] in tropical dry forests. A shrub or small tree, 1-6 m high.
*''[[Gardenia carinata]]''. [[India]], [[Malaya]].
*''[[Gardenia cornuta]]'' ('''Natal Gardenia'''). [[South Africa]].
*''[[Gardenia fortunei]]''. Eastern Asia.
*''[[Gardenia gummifera]]''. India. Small tree, to 3 m high.
*''[[Gardenia imperialis]]''. Tropical Africa. Small tree to 12 m.
*''[[Gardenia jasminoides]]''. Southern China.
*''[[Gardenia latifolia]]''. India. Shrub or tree, 5-10 m high.
*''[[Gardenia manii]]'' ('''Na'u'''). Hawaii.
*''[[Gardenia remyi]]'' ('''Na'u'''). Hawaii.
*''[[Gardenia resinifera]]'' (syn. ''G. lucida''; '''Brilliant Gardenia''', '''Cambi resin tree''', or '''Dikamali'''). [[India]]. Shrub or small tree, to 3 m high.
*''[[Gardenia resiniflua]]'' ('''Gummy Gardenia'''). South Africa.
*''[[Gardenia spatulifolia]]''. South Africa.
*''[[Gardenia tahitensis]]''. ('''Tiare''', '''Tahitian Gardenia'''). [[Polynesia]].
*''[[Gardenia ternifolia]]'' (syn. ''G. jovis-tonantis''; '''Large-Leaved Transvaal Gardenia'''). South Africa.
*''[[Gardenia thunbergia]]'' ('''White Gardenia''', '''Forest Gardenia''', or '''Witkatjiepiering'''). South Africa. Shrub or small tree, 2-5 m high.
*''[[Gardenia tubifera]]''. Southeastern Asia. Small tree to 15 m high.
*''[[Gardenia turgida]]''. India. Shrub or small tree to 4 m high, with spines.
*''[[Gardenia volkensii]]'' ('''Transvaal Gardenia''' or '''Savanna Gardenia'''). Tropical Africa.
===Cultivation and uses===
Gardenia plants are prized for the strong sweet scent of their flowers, which can be very large in some species. Unfortunately, the strong scent can trigger headaches, asthma, or other reactions in sensitive individuals {{fact|date=March 2008}}
Gardenias have a reputation for being difficult to grow. Because they originated in warm humid tropical areas, they demand high [[humidity]] to thrive. They flourish in acidic [[soil]]s with good drainage. [[Houseplant#Soil|Potting soil]]s developed especially for gardenias are available.
In Japan and China, ''Gardenia augusta'' is called '''Kuchinashi''' (Japanese) and '''Zhi zi''' (Chinese 梔子); the bloom is used as a yellow [[dye]], which is used for clothes and food (including the Korean [[mung bean]] jelly called ''[[hwangpomuk]]'').
==External links==
*[http://www.discoverplants.com/plant-types/shrubs-and-bushes/gardenia/gardening.php Growing Gardenias]<br>
<gallery>
Image:Gardenia.brighamii01.jpg|''Gardenia brighamii'' - flower
Image:Gardenia_Flower.jpg|Gardenia flower
Image:White Gardenia flower.jpg|Gardenia flower
Image:Gardenia_flower.jpg|Gardenia flower
Image:Gardenia thunbergia00.jpg|<center>''Gardenia thunbergia'' by Edith Struben (1868-1936)</center>
</gallery>
== See also ==
*[[Genipin]]
*[[Crocin]]
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Gardenia''
| image = Gardenia.brighamii02.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Gardenia brighamii''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Gentianales]]
| familia = [[Rubiaceae]]
| genus = '''''Gardenia'''''
| genus_authority = Ellis.
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
'''''Gardenia''''' is a [[genus]] of about 250 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Rubiaceae]], native to the [[tropical]] and [[subtropical]] regions of [[Africa]], southern [[Asia]], [[Australasia ecozone|Australasia]] and [[Oceania ecozone|Oceania]].
The genus was named by [[Carl Linnaeus]] after [[Alexander Garden (naturalist)|Dr Alexander Garden]] (1730-1791), Scottish-born American naturalist.
They are [[evergreen]] [[shrubs]] and small [[tree]]s growing to 1-15 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite or in whorls of three or four, 5-50 cm long and 3-25 cm broad, dark green and glossy with a leathery texture. The [[flower]]s are solitary or in small clusters, white or pale yellow, with a tubular-based corolla with 5-12 lobes ('petals') from 5-12 cm diameter. Flowering is from about mid-spring to mid-summer and many species are strongly scented.
;Selected species
*''[[Gardenia jasminoides]]'' ([[synonymy|syn.]] ''G. augusta'' (illegitimate name); '''Common Gardenia''', '''Cape Jasmine''' or '''Cape Jessamine'''). Southern China and Japan.
*''[[Gardenia brighamii]]'' ('''Hawaiian Gardenia''' or '''Na'u'''). Lowland [[Hawaii]] in tropical dry forests. A shrub or small tree, 1-6 m high.
*''[[Gardenia carinata]]''. [[India]], [[Malaya]].
*''[[Gardenia cornuta]]'' ('''Natal Gardenia'''). [[South Africa]].
*''[[Gardenia fortunei]]''. Eastern Asia.
*''[[Gardenia gummifera]]''. India. Small tree, to 3 m high.
*''[[Gardenia imperialis]]''. Tropical Africa. Small tree to 12 m.
*''[[Gardenia jasminoides]]''. Southern China.
*''[[Gardenia latifolia]]''. India. Shrub or tree, 5-10 m high.
*''[[Gardenia manii]]'' ('''Na'u'''). Hawaii.
*''[[Gardenia remyi]]'' ('''Na'u'''). Hawaii.
*''[[Gardenia resinifera]]'' (syn. ''G. lucida''; '''Brilliant Gardenia''', '''Cambi resin tree''', or '''Dikamali'''). [[India]]. Shrub or small tree, to 3 m high.
*''[[Gardenia resiniflua]]'' ('''Gummy Gardenia'''). South Africa.
*''[[Gardenia spatulifolia]]''. South Africa.
*''[[Gardenia tahitensis]]''. ('''Tiare''', '''Tahitian Gardenia'''). [[Polynesia]].
*''[[Gardenia ternifolia]]'' (syn. ''G. jovis-tonantis''; '''Large-Leaved Transvaal Gardenia'''). South Africa.
*''[[Gardenia thunbergia]]'' ('''White Gardenia''', '''Forest Gardenia''', or '''Witkatjiepiering'''). South Africa. Shrub or small tree, 2-5 m high.
*''[[Gardenia tubifera]]''. Southeastern Asia. Small tree to 15 m high.
*''[[Gardenia turgida]]''. India. Shrub or small tree to 4 m high, with spines.
*''[[Gardenia volkensii]]'' ('''Transvaal Gardenia''' or '''Savanna Gardenia'''). Tropical Africa.
===Cultivation and uses===
Gardenia plants are prized for the strong sweet scent of their flowers, which can be very large in some species. Unfortunately, the strong scent can trigger headaches, asthma, or other reactions in sensitive individuals {{fact|date=March 2008}}
Gardenias have a reputation for being difficult to grow. Because they originated in warm humid tropical areas, they demand high [[humidity]] to thrive. They flourish in acidic [[soil]]s with good drainage. [[Houseplant#Soil|Potting soil]]s developed especially for gardenias are available.
In Japan and China, ''Gardenia augusta'' is called '''Kuchinashi''' (Japanese) and '''Zhi zi''' (Chinese 梔子); the bloom is used as a yellow [[dye]], which is used for clothes and food (including the Korean [[mung bean]] jelly called ''[[hwangpomuk]]'').
==External links==
*[http://www.discoverplants.com/plant-types/shrubs-and-bushes/gardenia/gardening.php Growing Gardenias]<br>
<gallery>
Image:Gardenia.brighamii01.jpg|''Gardenia brighamii'' - flower
Image:Gardenia_Flower.jpg|Gardenia flower
Image:White Gardenia flower.jpg|Gardenia flower
Image:Gardenia_flower.jpg|Gardenia flower
Image:Gardenia thunbergia00.jpg|<center>''Gardenia thunbergia'' by Edith Struben (1868-1936)</center>
</gallery>
== See also ==
*[[Genipin]]
*[[Crocin]]
