CHAP, viii.] OLEINEiE. 137 



The Phillyrea is a handsome evergreen shrub, 

 very useful in shrubberies, from its forming a 

 close compact bush of a deep green, which makes 

 a good background to Tree Roses," Almond-trees, 

 Magnolia conspicua, or any other flowering plant 

 that would appear naked if its flowers were not 

 relieved by a back -ground of green. The flowers 

 of the Phillyrea are small and of a greenish 

 white. The fruit is a drupe, containing a two- 

 celled stone or nut, but with seldom more than 

 one perfect seed. 



The Olive {Oka satlva) has small white flowers, 

 resembling those of the Privet, and a fleshy drupe 

 like a Sloe, with a one or two celled stone or nut. 

 The oil is contained in the fleshy part of the fruit, 

 and the best oil is that which is obtained by 

 crushing the pulp of the fruit without breaking 

 the stone or nut. 



The Fringe-tree {Chionanthus virginica) differs 

 from the preceding genera in the length of the 

 segments of the limb of its corolla, which is cut 

 into lono: slender shreds like frinoje. In all 

 other respects except that the pulp of the fruit 

 does not contain oil, this genus is closely allied 

 to the Olive. 



The common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) has its 

 flowers disposed in a kind of panicled raceme 

 called a thyrsus. The calyx is very small, and 

 obscurely four-toothed (see a in Jig. QQ), and 



