Chinese Violet, East Coast Creeper, Cowslip, Fragrant Telosma, Night Fragrant Flower

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Article Summary

Telosma cordata is a flowering plant species inherent to India, Burma, Indochina and South China. It is cultivated elsewhere and occurs wild as an introduced species. Commonly it is also known as Chinese violet, Pakalana vine, cowslip creeper, Tonkin jasmine and Tonkinese creeper. The plant contains clusters of golden yellow which blooms during summer months along the vining stems. Individual blooms are found over a period of...

Key Takeaways

  • This article explains Facts of Chinese violet in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Chinese violet Scientific Classification in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Traditional uses in simple medical language.
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Definition

Telosma cordata is a flowering plant species inherent to India, Burma, Indochina and South China. It is cultivated elsewhere and occurs wild as an introduced species. Commonly it is also known as Chinese violet, Pakalana vine, cowslip creeper, Tonkin jasmine and Tonkinese creeper. The plant contains clusters of golden yellow which blooms during summer months along the vining stems. Individual blooms are found over a period of weeks which emits a rich and heavy fragrance during day and night.

Facts of Chinese violet

Name Chinese violet
Scientific Name Telosma cordata
Native The plant is a native to India, Burma, Indochina and South China.
Common/English Name Chinese Violet, East Coast Creeper, Cowslip, Fragrant Telosma, Night Fragrant Flower, Primrose Creeper, Pakalana Vine, Tonkin Creeper, Tonkin Telosma, Tonkin Jasmine, Tonkinese creeper, Chinese violet, Cowslip Creeper
Name in Other Languages Chinese: Y e-Lai-Xiang, Ye-Xiang-Hua, Yeh-Lai-Hsiang, Yeh-Hsiang-Hua, Táiwān yèlái xiāng (台湾夜来香), Yè lán xiāng (夜兰香), Yèlái xiāng (夜来香), Yè xiānghuā (夜香花);
French: Parfum Nocturne, Pergulaire;
Hawaiian: Miulana Ke’oke’o, Pakalana;
India:
Hindi: Surkilla,
Tamil: Cambangikkodi, kodi sambangi (கொடிச்சம்பங்கி),
Telugu: Alapaala, Konda Male-tige, Errumalle-tige, Seethamanoharamu;
Uttar Pradesh: Kusiyari, Kanjalate, Seetamanoharam;
Malaysia: Bunga Siam, Melati Tonkin, Bunga Tonkin;
Spanish: Fragancia Nocturna;
Thai: Salit;
Vietnamese: Hoa Thiên Lý, Thiên Lý
Plant Growth Habit Small, perennial, climber
Plant Size 10 meters long
Stem Much-branched, yellowish green
Leaves Heart-shaped, 4-7.5 cm wide, 6-11 cm long
Flowering Season Mid-Summer
Flower Greenish to yellow
Fruit shape & size Round with pointy ends
Fruit color Green
Seed Pale-brown, flat, 5-8 mm
Fruit Season October to December

 

Chinese violet Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Telosma cordata

Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom Viridiplantae
Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (Land plants)
Superdivision Embryophyta
Division Tracheophyta  (Vascular plants, tracheophytes)
Class Magnoliopsida
Subclass Asteridae
Order Gentianales
Family Apocynaceae  (Dogbane, apocyns)
Genus Telosma Coville
Species Telosma cordata (Burm. f.) Merr.
Synonyms
  • Asclepias cordata Burm.f.
  • Asclepias cordata N.L.Burman
  • Asclepias odoratissima (Lour.) Roxb.
  • Asclepias pallida Roxb.
  • Cynanchum odoratissimum Lour.
  • Cynanchum odoratissimum Loureiro
  • Oxystelma ovatum P.T. Li & S.Z. Huang
  • Pergularia coromandeliana Decne.
  • Pergularia glandulosa Blanco
  • Pergularia limbata Wall.
  • Pergularia limbata Wall. ex Wight
  • Pergularia minor Andrews
  • Pergularia montana Decne.
  • Pergularia odoratissima (Lour.) Smith
  • Pergularia odoratissima (Loureiro) Roxb. ex Smith
  • Pergularia viridis Buch.-Ham.
  • Pergularia viridis Buch.-Ham. ex Wight
  • Telosma minor (Andrews) Craib
  • Telosma minor (Andrews) W.G. Craib
  • Telosma odoratissima (Lour.) Coville
  • Telosma odoratissima (Loureiro) Coville

Plant

The plant is a small and perennial climber that grows to 10 meters long with yellowish green, much-branched stem which is pubescent when young that becomes pale grey and glabrescent. Leaves are found on 1.5 to 5 cm long petioles. Leaf lamina is ovate measuring 6 to 11 cm long having base deeply cordate with narrow . Flowers are 15 to 30 flowered and fragrant especially at night. Bract is linear and caducous. Sepals are puberulent on the outside and oblong-lanceolate. It has greenish to yellow to pale yellow corolla. Tube measures 6 to 10 × 4 to 6 mm, with ciliate, oblong-linear lobes. Follicles are lanceolate, glabrous, measuring 6 to 12 × 2 to 3.5 cm and are obtusely 4-angled. Seeds are broadly ovate, flat, 1 × 1 cm and margin membranous bearing 3 to 4 cm long silky coma. It is reproduced by seedling or cutting.

Leaf

Leaves are heart-shaped which grows in pairs. Each leaf measures 4-7.5 cm wide and 6–11 cm long with underside smooth. The thickness of leaf is very small and could be seen clearly. The stem measures about 1.2 to 2 cm long.

Flower

Flowers are greenish to yellow having a strong fragrance especially in the evening. It has 1.5 cm diameter with 5 petals and 5 stamens which is affiliated to each other and to pistils. The flower blooms from March to May.

Fruit

The fruit is smooth, green and round having pointy ends. The inside part of the fruit contains large amount of flat seeds having white fluff which attached to the end.

Traditional uses

  • Medicinally oil and flowers are used for treating conjunctivitis.
  • It is used as an antidote to poison and also reduces .
  • It provides relief from backbone aches and also lowers .

Precautions          

  • Avoid by allergic people.
  • Consult the health practitioner before treating health conditions.

How to Eat         

  • Unopened flowers and young leaves are consumed as vegetables in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Kampuchea.
  • It is cooked in soups or is stir fried with eggs and meat.
  • In Java, tuberous roots are consumed as sweetmeat.
  • The oil are used for cooking purposes.
  • Flower buds are used stir-fried or boiled in broth in Vietnamese cuisine, Southern Chinese cuisine and Northern Thai cuisine.

 


References

Doctor visit helper

Prepare before seeing a doctor

A simple rural-patient checklist to help you explain symptoms clearly, ask better questions, and avoid unsafe self-treatment.

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

  • Write when the problem started and how it changed.
  • Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
  • Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
  • Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
  • Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
  • How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
  • When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

  • Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
  • Basic physical examination by a clinician
  • CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

  • Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
  • Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
  • Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

  • Rest, drink safe water, and observe symptoms carefully.
  • Keep a written note of symptoms, duration, temperature, medicines already taken, and allergy history.
  • Seek medical care quickly if symptoms are severe, worsening, or unusual for the patient.

OTC medicine safety

  • For mild pain or fever, ask a registered pharmacist or doctor before using common over-the-counter pain/fever medicines.
  • Do not combine multiple pain medicines without advice, especially if you have kidney disease, liver disease, stomach ulcer, asthma, pregnancy, or take blood thinners.
  • Do not give adult medicines to children unless a qualified clinician advises it.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
  • Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
  • Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

  • Severe symptoms, confusion, fainting, breathing difficulty, chest pain, severe dehydration, or sudden weakness need urgent medical care.
Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Doctor / qualified healthcare provider
Tests to discuss with doctor
  • Basic vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level if needed
  • Relevant blood, urine, imaging, or specialist tests only after clinical assessment
Questions to ask
  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
  • Which tests are really needed now?
  • Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Safe pathway to proper treatment

Care roadmap for: Chinese Violet, East Coast Creeper, Cowslip, Fragrant Telosma, Night Fragrant Flower

Use this simple roadmap to understand the next safe steps. It is educational and does not replace examination by a doctor.

Go to emergency care if you notice:
  • Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
  • Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration
Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.
  1. Step 1

    Check danger signs first

    If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.

  2. Step 2

    Record the symptom story

    Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.

  3. Step 3

    Visit a qualified clinician

    A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.

  4. Step 4

    Do only useful tests

    Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.

  5. Step 5

    Follow up and return early if worse

    If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips
  • Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
  • Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
  • Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

Internal learning pathway

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