THE DICOTYLEDOXES 



1887 



serially in the leaf axils. These may produce either branches or flowers. 

 Extra-floral nectaries have been described in some species. 



The inflorescence is racemose or cymose containing a large number 

 of small flowers. Each flower stands in the axil of a bract and is subtended 

 by a pair of lateral bracteoles. 



The flowers (Fig. 1799) are regular, tetramerous and usually herma- 

 phrodite, but they may be polygamous in Froxinits or dioecious as in some 

 species of Olea. 



ft o 



Fig. 1799. — Floral diagrams of Oleaceae. Left, Fraxinus dipetala. Right, Olea 



europaea. [After Eichler.) 



The calyx is gamosepalous, valvate in aestivation and composed of 

 four sepals, or five to ten in jfasmifiiim, or absent in Fraxinus. 



The corolla is regular and gamopetalous (Fig. 1800), usually tubular 

 and composed of four petals or five to six in 

 Jasmimim. Aestivation is valvate except in 

 Jasminum where it is imbricate. 



The androecium is composed of two free 

 stamens usually placed transversely but some- 

 times median. In a few genera four stamens 

 occur. They are epipetalous and inserted on the 

 base of the corolla. The anthers dehisce laterally 

 by a longitudinal slit. 



The gynoecium is bicarpellary and syncar- 

 pous, the carpels alternating with the stamens 

 and therefore usually median. The ovary is 

 bilocular and superior, each loculus containing 

 two ovules which may be pendulous or ascend- 

 ing {Jasminum). Fraxinus has three ovules in 

 each loculus, the two laterals being abortive. In 

 Forsxthia four to ten ovules may be present. 



the fruit varies greatly; in Forsythia and ^ig. i%oo.—Forsythia suspensa 



,. .^ . • V • Longitudinal section oi 



Syringa it is a loculicidal capsule; in Ligustrum flower. 



