Lonicera japonica, a neglected plant in Persian botanical literature with a review on “Yass” and “Yassaman” in Iran

Authors

Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Abstract
Lonicera japonica is generally known as “Yass” or “Gole Yass” among Iranians, however, this vernacular name is not widely known in Persian botanical textbooks or encyclopedia. Moreover, specialists in plant science and horticulture recognize this plant as “Pich-e Aminoddoleh”, which has been already dedicated to another species, Lonicera caprifolium While the terms “Yassaman” and “Yassamin” were such widely used in the classical Persian literature that many scholars believe that the genus Jasminum hasits name derived from the Persian ‘Yassaman’, the word “Yass”, their shortened form, was not frequently used in the classical Persian literature and medicinal texts. Here, we reviewed ancient and new related pieces of literature and matched the correct terms of “Yass” and “Yassaman” with the correct scientific names on the basis of historical data and morphological characters, as well as the available identification keys. In this paper, Chrysojasminum is also added as a new genus for the flora of Iran.

Keywords


Akhter, R. 1986. Lonicera L. (Caprifoliaceae). In: Nasir, E. & Ali, S.I. (eds.). Flora of Pakistan, vol. 174. Pakistan, Agriculture Research Council, Islamabad. pp: 11-12.
Alam, M. 2011. Trees and shrubs of Afghanistan, A dendrological guide. Rossolis, Lausanne. pp: 280-287.
Bahmanyar, A. (ed.). 2010. Al-Abniyah a Haqayeq al-Adwiyah (Basic of Realities of Drugs) written by Al- HerawiHeravi, A.M. (In Arabic). 2ed edition. University of Tehran Press, Tehran. pp: 346. (In Persian).
Shams Ardekani, M.R. Rahimi, R. & Farjadmand, F. (eds.). 2017. Makhzan al-Adwiyah (Drug Treasure) Written by Aqili Alawi Khorasani Shirazi, S.M.H (In Arabic). 3rd edition. Choogan Publichers, Tehran. pp: 815. (In Persian).
Azadi, R. 2005. Oleaceae. In: Assadi et al. (eds.). Flora of Iran, No. 48. RIFR. Tehran. pp: 4-5 & 27-32.
Banfi, E. 2014. Chrysojasminum, a new genus for Jasminum sect. alternifolia (Oleaceae; Jasmineae). Nat. Hist. Sci. 1: 3-6.
Kasani, A. Sotoodeh, M. & Afshar, I. (eds.). 1973. Al- Saydanah fi al-Tibb (Book of pharmacy), written by Biruni, A.R. (In Arabic). Supreme Council of Culture and Art, Tehran. p: 1031. (In Persian).
Blakelock, R.A. 1980. Lonicera L. (Caprifoliaceae). In: Townsend, C.C. (ed.). Flora of Iraq, vol. 4. Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Republic of Iraq. Baghdad. pp: 13-19.
Browicz, K. 1976. Lonicera L. (Caprifoliaceae). In: Tutin, T.G. et al. (eds.). Flora Europaea, vol. 4. Cambridge University Press. London. pp: 45-48.
Chamberlain, D.F. & Long, D. 1972. Lonicera L. (Caprifoliaceae). In: Davis, P.H. (ed.). Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, vol. 4. Edinburgh University Press. Edinburgh. pp: 544-550.
Chang, M-Ch., Qiu, L-Q. & Green, P.S. 1996. Oleaceae. In: Flora of China, vol. 17. Published at www. efloras.org (accessed Dec. 2018). pp: 272-319.
Critopoulos, P. 1980. Jasminum L. & Syringa L. (Oleaceae). In: Townsend, C.C. (ed.). Flora of Iraq, vol. 4. Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Republic of Iraq. Baghdad. pp: 513-521.
do Amaral Franco, J. & do Rocha Afonso, M. 1972. Jasminum L. (Oleaceae). In: Tutin, T.G. et al. (eds.). Flora Europaea, vol. 3. Cambridge University Press. London. pp: 52-53.
Moein, M. (ed.). 1979. Borhan-e Qate written by Ibn-e Khalaf Tabrizi, M.H. (In Arabic). vol. 4. Amir Kabir Publishing Co. Tehran. p: 2418. (In Persian).
Faravashi, B. 1979. Pahlavi Persian dictionary. Iranian Culture Foundation, Tehran. p: 646.
Ghahreman, A. 1994. Cormophytes to Iran, vol. 3. Iran University Press. Tehran. pp: 75-86.
Ghahreman, A. & Okhovvat, A.R. 2010. Matching the old description of medicinal plants with the scientific ones. University of Tehran Press. Tehran. pp: 513- 514.
Ghahremaninejad, F., Ezazi, A. & Attar, F. 2009. A new record for the flora of Iran: Lonicera microphylla willd. ex Roem. & Schultes (Caprifoliaceae). Iranian Journal of Botany 15: 157-158.
Gledhill, D. 2002. The names of plants. 3rd edition. Cambridge University Press. New York. pp: 170, 184, 280.
Gol-e Golab, H. 1961. Gia. Tehran University Press. Tehran. pp: 140.
Grami, B. 2010. Flowers and plants in a thousand years of Persian poetry. 2nd edition. Sokhan Publishing Co. Tehran. p: 508
Grohmann, F. 1974. Oleaceae. In: Nasir, E. & Ali, S.I. (eds.). Flora of Pakistan, vol. 59. Feroz Sons Ltd. Rawalpindi. 27 pp.
Sharafkandi, A. 2000. Al-Qanun fi al–Tibb (The Canon of Medicine) written by Ibn Sina, A.A. (In Arabic). 10th edition, vol. 2. Soroush Press. Tehran. pp: 178. (In Persian).
Emami, S.A. Javadi, B. & Shams Ardekani, M.R. (eds.). 2017. Zakhireh Kharazmshahi (The treasure of Kharazmshahi: Simple and compound drags) written by Jorjani, S.E. (In Arabic). Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Mashhad. pp: 546. (In Persian).
Karimi, H. 1995. Plants of Iran. Iran University Press. Tehran. pp: 196, 197, 209.
Karimi, H. 2002. A dictionary of Iran's vegetation plants, vol. 1. Parcham Publication. Tehran. pp: 427, 428, 465.
Karimi, H. 2005. A dictionary of Iran's vegetation plants, vol. 2. Parcham Publication. Tehran. p: 284.
Karimi, H. 2006. A dictionary of Iran's vegetation plants, vol. 3. Parcham Publication. Tehran. pp: 179-181, 201.
Karimi, H. 2009. A dictionary of Iranian vegetation (Plants), vol. 10. Agriculture Science of Iran Press. Tehran. pp: 457-460, 522-524.
Khalighi, A. 2003. Floriculture. 8th edition. Roozbehan Press. Tehran. p: 304.
Khatamsaz, M. 1995. Lonicera L., Caprifoliaceae. In: Assadi et al. (eds.). Flora of Iran, No. 13. RIFR. Tehran. pp: 10-28.
Majlesi Koupaei, A., Ansari, M., Bemanian, M. & Fakhar Tehrani, F. 2013. Features of earliest park in Tehran, Amin-o-Dolleh park. In: The Scientific Journal of Nrc. For Art, Architecture & Urbanism 10: 99-112.
Mirheydar, H. 1994a. Maaref-e Giahi, vol. 5. Islamic Culture Press. Tehran. pp: 308-314.
Mirheydar, H. 1994b. Maaref-e Giahi, vol. 7. Islamic Culture Press. Tehran. pp: 103-109.
Moein, M. 1992a. A Persian dictionary. 8th edition, vol. 1. Amir Kabir Publishing Co. Tehran. p: 869.
Moein, M. 1992b. A Persian dictionary. 8th edition, vol. 4. Amir Kabir Publishing Co. Tehran. pp: 5243-5245.
Rahimi, R., Shams Ardekani, M.R. & Farjadmand, F. (eds.). 2007. Tohfata al-Momenin (Hakim Momen's gift) written by Momen, S.M. (In Arabic). Sepehr Press. Tehran. pp: 438, 654, 656. (In Persian).
Mozaffarian, V. 2000. Plant taxonomy. 2nd edition, vol. 2. Amir Kabir Publishing Co. Tehran. p: 439.
Mozaffarian, V. 2003. A dictionary of Iranian plants names. 3rd edition. Farhang Moaser Publisher, Tehran. p: 294.
Mozaffarian, V. 2005. Trees and shrubs of Iran. Farhang Moaser Publisher. Tehran. pp: 453, 479.
Mozaffarian, V. 2015. Identification of medicinal and aromatic plants of Iran. Farhang Moaser Publisher Tehran. pp: 128, 129, 742-754.
Murray, E. 1968. Oleaceae. In: Rechinger, K.H. (ed.). Flora Iranica, No. 52: 1-11. Akademische Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz.
Parsa, A. 1946. Darou Nameh. Danesh Press. Tehran. pp. 107.
Parsa, A. 1960. Flora de I' Iran, no. 8. University of Tehran Press. Tehran. pp: 102, 114.
Parto, A. 1998. Vazhe Yab (A dictionary of Persian equivalents foreign words.). 2nd edition, vol. 3. Asatir Press. Tehran. p: 2167.
Poyarkova, A.I. 2000. Lonicera L. (Caprifoliaceae). In: Schischkin, B.K. (ed.). Flora of the U.S.S.R., vol. 23. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh & Koeltz Scientific Books. Frankfurt. pp: 560-580.
Sabeti, H. 1976. Forests, trees and shrubs of Iran. Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Tehran. pp: 410-413, 442-450, 720, 721.
Soltani, A. 2004. Encyclopedia of traditional medicine dictionary of medicinal plants, 2nd edition, vol. 3. Iran University of Medical Sciences. Tehran. pp: 311-315.
Soltani, A. 2005. Encyclopedia of traditional medicine, medical plants. 2nd edition, vol. 3. Arjmand Press. Tehran. pp: 459-468.
Soltani, A. 2012a. Encyclopedia of traditional medicine (Dictionary of medicinal plants), vol. 4. Andisheh Avar Press. Tehran. pp: 100- 102.
Soltani, A. 2012b. Encyclopedia of traditional medicine, medicinal plants, vol. 4. Andisheh Avar Press. Tehran. pp: 141-143.
The International Plant Names Index. [Continuously updated]. www.ipni.org (accessed 20 Des. 2018).
The Plant List. [Continuously updated]. Version 1.1. www.theplantlist.org (accessed 20 Des. 2018).
Vasilev, V.N. 1952. Oleaceae In: Shishkin, B.K. & Bobrov, E.G. (eds.). Flora of the U.S.S.R., vol. 18. Izdatel'stov Academii Nauk SSSR Moskva. pp: 483-525.
Wendelbo, P. 1965. Caprifoliaceae. In: Rechinger, K.H. (ed.). Flora Iranica, no. 10. Akademische Druk-u. Verlagsanatalt, Graz. pp: 4-16.
World Checklist of Selection Plants Families (WCSP). [Continuously updated]. Kew.org (accessed 20 Dec. 2018).
Yaltirik, K. F. 1978. Jasminum L. In: Davis, P.H. (ed.). Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, vol. 6. Edinburgh University Press. Edinburgh. pp: 145-146.
Yang, Q., Landrein, S., Osbome, J. & Borosova, R. 2011. Lonicera L. In: Flora of China, vol. 19. Published on the Internet www. efloras.org (accessed Dec. 2018). pp: 620,621, 637.
Zahedi, E. 1959. Botanical dictionary. University of Tehran Press. p: 102.
Zargari, A. 1962. Plants identification methods, vol. 3. Amir Kabir Publishing Co. Tehran. pp: 30-37, 181, 182.
Zargari, A. 1991.Medicinal plants. 5th edition, vol. 2. Tehran University Press. Tehran. pp: 663-665.
Zargari, A. 1992. Medicinal plants. 5th edition, vol. 3. Tehran University Press. Tehran. pp: 343-349.
Volume 7, Issue 3 - Serial Number 25
Autumn 2020
Pages 363-373

  • Receive Date 08 June 2026
  • Publish Date 08 June 2026