223 



upon each other, being imbricated and twisted in aestivation. Stamens 2, arising from the 

 corolla, enclosed within its tube. Ovarium destitute of a hypogynous disk, 2-celled, with 

 l-seeded cells, the ovules in which are erect ; style 1 ; stigma 2-lobed. Frtiit either a 

 double berry or a capsule separable in two. Seeds either with no albumen, or very little; 

 embryo straight; radicle inferior. — Shrubs, having usually twining stems. Leaves oppo- 

 site, mostly compound, ternate or pinnate, with an odd one ; sometimes simple, the petiole 

 almost always having un articulation. Flotvers opposite, in corymbs. R. Br. 



Affinities. Formerly combined with Oleacese, from which they are 

 distinguished by Mr. Brown by their ovules being erect, their seed with no, 

 or very little, albumen, in the sestivation of the corolla being imbricate, not 

 valvate, and in the number of its divisions being 5 or more, and conse- 

 quently not regularly a multiple of the stamens, instead of 4, which is 

 a multiple of them. But Ach. Richard (Ann. des Sc. 350.) endeavours 

 to shew that these differences are insufficient. He states, that the ovules 

 of Jasminese are originally pendulous, as in Oleacese ; but that they sub- 

 sequently become erect in consequence of the growth of the ovarium, whose 

 apex does not elongate, while its sides extend considerably during the 

 growth of the fruit. He says, upon the authority of his father, that albu- 

 men does exist in Jasminum and Nyctanthes ; a fact which had been pre- 

 viously mentioned by Mr. Brown in defining the orders, but to which that 

 distinguished botanist attached no importance, because only a small quantity 

 was found by him to exist, while it is very abundant in Oleacese ; and he pro- 

 bably conceived, as I certainly do, that it is the difference of its quantity 

 only which gives the albumen value as a mark of ordinal distinction. I 

 confess it does not appear to me that these remarks lessen the propriety 

 of dividing Jasminese and Oleacese, which are still known by abundantly 

 sufficient characters. The affinity of Jasminese, otherwise, is with those 

 monopetalous orders, in which the number of stamina is different from that 

 of the divisions of the corolla, as Labiatse, Scrophularinese, Verbenacese, 

 and the like, but particularly with the latter, which sometimes resemble 

 them in their fruit, as Clerodendron. Mr. Brown stations them between 

 Pedalinese and Oleacese (Prodr.) ; DecandoUe between Oleacese and Strych- 

 nese {Theorie, ed. 2.) ; Don suggests their affinity to his order Columellieae. 



Geography. Chiefly inhabitants of tropical India, in all parts of which 

 they abound. One Jasminum only is mentioned from South America, but 

 there are at least 3 species of Bolivaria on that continent ; a few are natives 

 of Africa and the adjoining islands ; New Holland contains several ; and, 

 finally, 2 extend into the southern climates of Europe. 



Properties. Not very different from Oleacese in qualities, except that 

 their oil is deliciously fragrant, and produced by the flowers, and not by the 

 pericarp. The genuine essential oil of Jasmine of the shops is produced by 

 Jasminum officinale and grandiflorum ; but a similar perfume is also pro- 

 cured from Jasminum Sambac. The leaves of Jasminum undulatum are 

 slightly bitter. The bitter root of Jasminum angustifolium, ground small 

 and mixed with powdered Acorus Calamus root, is considered in India as 

 a valuable external application in cases of ringworm. Aiyislie, 2. 52. In 

 India Proper the tube of the corolla of Nyctanthes arbor tristis is used as 

 a dye. Buchanan L. Tr. 13. 484. 



Examples. Jasminum, Nyctanthes, Bolivaria. 



