White Champaca

Magnolia × alba, the white champaca, white sandalwood or white jade orchid tree, is a hybrid flowering tree commonly cultivated in Southeast Asia and tropical East Asia. Its exact origin is uncertain, but it is considered a hybrid of Magnolia champaca and Magnolia montana. The name comes from the Indonesian cempaka putih or bunga kantil. It grows to 30 metres with evergreen leaves, and its strongly fragrant white flowers are widely grown as an ornamental. In Indonesia and Thailand the flowers are arranged with Jasminum sambac into garlands worn at traditional weddings. In Taiwan, unopened flowers are strung on wire and sold at the roadside. An essential oil is extracted from the flowers, and in China they are made into yulan tea and, in traditional Chinese medicine, used to move qi and relieve cough.