Jasmines
Original title: Jasmineiros
Account of the jasmine species found in Madeira, two of them native (Jasminum odoratissimum and J. azoricum) and others cultivated in gardens, plus Trachelospermum jasminoides, also called jasmine locally.
Several species of the genus Jasminum occur in Madeira, two of which – J. odoratissimum and J. azoricum – are native. The first of these Oleaceae, which generally has trifoliate leaves and yellow flowers, is found at São Gonçalo, at Caniço (‘reed’), etc. The second, which also has trifoliate leaves but with larger leaflets, and white flowers, has been found only in the vicinity of Serra de Água (‘water sawmill’). J. grandiflorum, from Malabar, and J. revolutum, from India, are grown in gardens, the former with white flowers and the latter with yellow.
Trachelospermum jasminoides is also known in Madeira as jasmine (jasmineiro), although it belongs to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae).
In this article
Place
Places mentioned · 03
- Caniço
Santa Cruz. Another locality of J. odoratissimum.
Caniço is a parish in the municipality of Santa Cruz, lying on the boundary between the captaincies of Funchal and Machico. Its early settlers included Gaspar Rego, Vasco Fernandes Rego and Álvaro de Ornelas, whose family founded morgados there; its alcaide and judge were appointed by the Funchal senate. The parish includes the Garajau statue, the Jesuits' Socorro residence and the Quinta do Barão da Conceição.
- São Gonçalo
Funchal. Locality where the native yellow jasmine J. odoratissimum grows.
São Gonçalo is a suburban parish at the eastern end of Funchal, created in the sixteenth century, part of whose territory was added in 1927, when it also became a julgado of the Funchal comarca. The Elucidário notes its professional embroiderers producing the finest work, its levadas, its hay supply to Funchal, its shearwater hunters, and that it was the birthplace of Padre Manuel Fernandes de Sant'Ana; it contains Alpires and the Quinta do Rochedo.
- Serra de Água
Ribeira Brava. Only area where the native J. azoricum has been found.
Serra de Água is an inland parish of Ribeira Brava whose name recalls former water-powered sawmills; it was created as a vicarage in 1676 and in 1834 formed part of Funchal municipality. It borders Estreito de Câmara de Lobos and the Encumeada pass, where a rest house was built in 1939, is a cherry-growing area, and was the planned site of a hydro-electric power station.