Jumellea fragrans, also known as faham, is a species in the family Orchidaceae native to the islands of Mauritius and Réunion.
Description The species blooms in March–April with a single flowered inflorescence with 3 basal bracts. The flower has a spur of approximately 39 mm long and is pollinated by hawk moths. Phytochemistry Coumarin, and two groups of diterpenes (kaurenes, phytadienes) have been isolated from this species foliage.Sing, A. S. C., Smadja, J., Brevard, H., Maignial, L., Chaintreau, A., & Marion, J. P. (1992). "Volatile constituents of faham (Jumellea fragrans (Thou.) Schltr.)." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 40(4), 642-646.
Taxonomy It was first described as Angraecum fragrans by Louis-Marie Aubert du Petit-Thouars in 1809. It was moved to the genus Jumellea as Jumellea fragrans by Rudolf Schlechter in 1914. It is sometimes confused with Jumellea rossii, which occurs at higher altitudes, whereas Jumellea fragrans occurs at lower elevations. The two species can be differentiated by the length of the spur, the leaf length, as well as the leaf width.Bertrand Mallet, Laurence Humeau, Laury Blambert, Fanny Rakotoarivelo, Claudia Baider, et al.. Différences morphologiques et identification de Jumellea rossii et Jumellea fragrans (Orchidaceae) à l’île de La Réunion : implications pour la conservation. Revue d’Ecologie, Terre et Vie, 2012, Sup11, pp.73-84. hal-03530468 Phylogeny Jumellea fragrans is the sister group to Jumellea rossii. It is also closely related to Jumellea tenuibracteata, Jumellea francoisii, and Jumellea alionae:Rakotoarivelo, F. P., Razafimandimbison, S. G., Mallet, B., Faliniaina, L., & Pailler, T. (2012). "Molecular systematics and evolutionary trends and relationships in the genus Jumellea (Orchidaceae): implications for its species limits." Taxon, 61(3), 534-544.
Distribution and habitat It is endemic to Mauritius, Reunion, where it grows as an epiphyte in the lowland rain forest at elevations of up to 500 m above sea level.
Conservation It is threatened due to unsustainable overcollection in wild habitats and lack of agricultural production.Laury Blambert. "Biologie et chimie des Jumellea aromatiques de la Réunion : application à la conservation et à la valorisation des espèces." Biodiversité et Ecologie. Université de la Réunion, 2016. Français. NNT: 2016LARE0034. tel-01525694 It is recommended to categorize Jumellea fragrans as vulnerable (VU) under the IUCN Red List criteria.
Uses The fragrant leaves and flowers are boiled in hot water to extract its aromatic qualities. This is used to flavour rum on Reunion Island. Other uses that have fallen out of favour include digestive aid, remedy for respiratory disease, ice cream and custards. The plant's use for medicinal purposes on Mauritius is thought to be critically endangered.
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