128 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [ Olacinee. 
6,500 feet of elevation on the Mussooree range. ‘Vhe leaves are thick, coriaceous, finely serrate and 
smooth, the younger ones hairy.. The flowers, owing to the early fall of the leaves from the lower 
parts of the branches, appear to be lateral, but actually arise from the axilla of the fallen leaves, either 
solitary or 2-3-fascicled, short peduncled, supported by two small bractee (f.b), which are of the form 
and consistence of the sepals, but smaller. Sepals (a) 5, imbricate, unequal in size, coriaceous, the 
three inner the largest, rounded, ciliate, concave, and covered with a few hairs on the inside, one or two 
_ of them sometimes bifid. Petals (c) five, conjoined at the base, short and rounded at the apex, two 
exterior, larger. Stamens about fifteen in number, inserted into the receptacle ; anthers (f) adnate, 
point of filament projecting beyond the two lobes, which are placed on the opposite sides of the oblong 
connectivum, and open laterally by a longitudinal slit. Pistid none. In the female flowers, the calyx 
and corolla, as in the male. Ovary ovate. Styles 3, very short, spreading. Stigma simple. Capsule 
(d and e) 3-celled. Seeds flattish, triangular, numerous, suspended by a long funicle from an axillary 
placenta. 
30. OLACINEA. 
The place of this small order in the natural series is uncertain. By M. De Candolle 
‘it is placed next Aurantiacee, to which it has some affinities. | By Mr. Brown it has 
been shewn, that in possessing a unilocular ovarium, with a central columnar placenta, 
at the top of which three pendulous ovules are inserted, Olaz is allied to Santalacee ; 
but to this it has been objected, as originally stated by Mr. Brown himself, the double 
- floral envelope and ovarium superum of Olaz,which is opposed to the simple perianthium 
and ovarium inferum in Santalacee. Of this family there are several species belonging 
to the genus from which the order is named. The Indian species extend from Ceylon up 
to Monghir, and from Silhet along the foot and within. the valleys of the Himalaya to the 
most northern portion of the British territories. Olav scandens and zeylanica do not extend, 
the former beyond Rajmahl, and the latter the Peninsula. O. nana, allied in structure to 
them, was first found by Dr. Hamilton at Gorakpore. I have seen it in large 
quantities on the banks of the Tonse and Jumna, within the mountains, and beyond 31° 
of northern latitude. A species of the genus was found on the Congo, and the remainder 
referred by Labillardiere to the genus Spermaxyrum, in New Holland. Ximenia is 
found 
/ 
leaves are gathered, they are cured in houses which contajn small furnaces about three feet high, on each of 
which there is a large flat iron pan. Upon this,when heated, a few pounds of the fresh-gathered leaves are thrown. 
These crackle, and require frequent shifting. When all become properly roasted, they are thrown out with a 
shovel upon mats before the rollers, who, taking small quantities at a time, roll them in the palms of their hands 
in one direction,while others are fanning them, that they may cool the more speedily, and retain their curl. This 
process is said to be repeated two or three times, and should, in the first instance, on making any experiments 
on the subject, be intrusted to Chinese, who have been accustomed: to the process ; as was done in both Penang 
and Rio Janeiro: and there would be no difficulty in getting some of the numerous Chinese, who migrate 
to almost every part of Asia, to accept employment in the northern provinces of India. With a little scientific 
attention in the choice of a suitable climate and soil for the growth of the plant, and the application of prac- 
tical experience in the preparation of the leaf, there can be but little doubt, after the details we have entered 
into, with respect to the successful issue of an experiment, which need not be very expensive, if not commenced 
on too large a scale. 
