7. Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R. Brown APOCYNACEAE

Crepe jasmine, moonbeam, East Indian rosebay; Hindi: chandani, चांदनी

This small tree is native to India but it is widely cultivated as an ornamental. The wood is used as incense and in perfumery; the red pulp surrounding the seeds as a dye; and the root is chewed for relief from toothache and to kill worms. The genus was named by Linnaeus after the German herbalist Jacob Dietrich, who was usually known by the Latinised form of the name of his birthplace, Tabernaemontanus (which means ‘Mountain Tavern’).