tanist's Repository under the name of J. gracile. We find 
it observed here, that * the geniculated and elbowed petiole 
of this plant, not observed in any other species of Jasmine, 
was thought the most eligible character to derive the spe- 
cific name from: and again, that Forster has made men- 
tion of a species of Jasmine under the name of JASMINUM 
simplicifolium, which however cannot be the same with J. 
geniculatum, since that learned botanist could not have 
silently passed over a character which so essentially distin- 
guishes the latter species ; besides that the name of simpli- 
cifolium is applicable to several species of this genus” On 
these passages we have to remark, that Forster's species is 
certainly quite distinct from the one here described, but is 
equally furnished with geniculated petioles, although he 
has taken no notice of them. As to the name of simplici- 
folium, it may be observed, that at the time when Forster 
described his plant, it was the only Jasmine with simple 
leaves known to him, for J. Sambac was then referred to 
NycTANTHES. At present this name is certainly inappli- 
cable; but the same may be said of that given by Ventenat 
to the species here figured and described; for, though no 
mention is made of it by Willdenow, Vahl, or any other 
describer we know of, yet it is not less true that all the 
simple-leaved species of Jasmine have geniculated petioles, 
as every one may easily observe, even in dried specimens. 
In some species it is more striking than in others, such as 
in glaucum, simplicifolium, and four undescribed species in 
the Banksian Herbarium from Java and Africa. "The fact 
is, that the leaves of the Jasmines are simple only by abor- 
tion, and that the part of the leaf-stalk where the knee ap- 
pears is exactly the same place where nature intended two 
other leaves to issue. This is particularly obvious in Jas- 
MINUM auriculatum, in which some of the leaves are simple, 
and have stalks furnished with a naked articulation, while 
others are withont, but exhibit at the same place two oppo- 
site leaflets. In those species with simple leaves, in which 
the knee is not distinctly visible in a dry state, we may be 
easily convinced of its presence by breaking off a leaf, when 
it will be found that the separation takes place regularly in 
the middle, while the lower part of the petiole remains in 
connexion with the branch." 
