Definition

Noun: 1. A tropical shrub: Refers to a specific woody herbaceous plant, originally from the Old World (likely Asia), that is widely cultivated. It is characterized by its showy, large flowers that range in color from pink to red.

Usage Notes

• This is a botanical term. Its primary use is in gardening, horticulture, and botanical contexts to identify this specific plant species.
• It is a compound noun where "cayenne" likely refers to a color (reddish) and "jasmine" refers to the flower's appearance, though it is not a true jasmine.

Examples

• The cayenne jasmine in the conservatory is in full bloom.
• Botanists study the propagation methods of cayenne jasmine.
• She added a cayenne jasmine to her collection of tropical plants.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used precisely to distinguish this plant from other species with "jasmine" in their common names, such as star jasmine or night-blooming jasmine.

Variants and Related Words

• Madagascar periwinkle: This is the most common synonym and alternative name for the same plant ().
• Rose periwinkle: Another common synonym.
• Old maid: A regional common name.
• Catharanthus roseus: The formal botanical (Latin) name for the species.

Synonyms

• Madagascar periwinkle
• Rose periwinkle
• Old maid
• Vinca rosea (an older botanical synonym)

Notes on Different Meanings

• This term has a single, specific meaning as a plant name. It is not used idiomatically or in phrasal verbs.
• Do not confuse it with "cayenne pepper" (a spice) or true "jasmine" vines (genus ).

Noun

1. commonly cultivated Old World woody herb having large pinkish to red flowers