221 



priety of dividing Jasminese and Oleace^e, which are still known by abundantly 

 sufficient characters. The affinity of Jasmines, otherwise, is with those mo- 

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

 divisions of the corolla, as Labiatae, Scrophularineae, Verbenacea?, and the like, 

 but particularly with the latter, which sometimes resemble them in their fruit, 

 as Clerodendron. Mr. Brown stations them between Pedalineae and Oleacese 

 (Prodr.) ; Decandolle between Oleaceae and Strychnece (The'orie, 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 ex- 

 tend into the southern climates of Europe. 



Properties. Not very different from Oleaceae 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 of- 

 ficinale and grandiflorum ; but a similar perfume is also procured from Jasmi- 

 num 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. Jlinslie, 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. 



CCV. OLEACEAE. The Olive Tribe. 



Oleinejk, Hoffmannsegg et Link Ft. Port. (1806) ; Brown Prodr. 522. (1810) ; Lindl. Synops. 

 171. (1829).— Lilace^ Vent. Tabl. 1. 306. (1799.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with regular flowers, a superior 

 2 -celled ovarium with pendulous seeds, 2 stamens, and a valvate corolla. 

 Anomalies. Fraxinus is generally apetalous. 



Essential Character. — Flowers monoclinous, sometimes dioecious. Calyx monophyllous, 

 divided, persistent, interior. Corolla hypogynous, monopetalous, 4-cleft, occasionally of 4 pe- 

 tals, connected in pairs by the intervention of the filaments, sometimes without petals; (estiva- 

 tion somewhat, valvate. Stamens 2, alternate with the segments of the corolla or with the pe- 

 tals; anthers 2-celled, opening longitudinally. Ovarium simple, without any hypogynous disk, 

 2-celled; the cells 2-seeded; the ovules pendulous and collateral ; style 1 or 0; stigma bifid or 

 undivided. Fruit drupaceous, berried, or capsular, often by abortion 1-seeded. Seeds with 

 dense, fleshy, abundant albumen; embryo about half its length, straight ; cotyledons foliaceous, 

 partly asunder ; radicle superior ; plumula inconspicuous. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves oppo- 

 site, simple, sometimes pinnated. Flowers in terminal or axillary racemes or panicles ; the 

 pedicels opposite, with single bractca;. R. Br. 



Affinities. Very near Jasminese, with which they are combined by Ach. 

 Richard ; see the observations upon that order. To some, it, I believe, still ap- 

 pears expedient to separate the small tribe of Lilaceae, the representative of 

 which is the Lilac of the gardens ; but I am not aware of there being any 

 greater peculiarity in that plant than its capsular fruit, a character very rarely 

 of importance in distinguishing orders. Decandolle suggests (Essai Mtd. p. 

 204.) that the ash is related to the Maple tribe. I also find in the same work 

 the following very good observations upon this order : " However heteroge- 

 neous the Olive tribo may appear as at present limited, it is remarkable that 

 the species will all graft upon each other : a fact which demonstrates the ana- 



