Gardenia, a genus of Cinchonaceæ, tropical and subtropical trees and shrubs, frequently introduced for their beautiful and fragrant flowers—e.g. G. florida and G. radicans from Japan, and other species from the Cape, where their hard timber also is esteemed. The fruit of other species is used in dyeing silks yellow. The colouring principle is identical with that of saffron (Crocin). The
Indian G. arborea and gummifera yield a yellow resin. The name was given by Liunæus in honour of Dr Alexander Garden, born in Scotland in 1830, who practised medicine in South Carolina, became eminent as a botanist, and died in London in 1791.