OLEA EUROPZA, ORD. XVI. Sepearie. 281 
THIS tree usually rises about twenty feet in height, and sends 
off numerous long branches, covered with bark of a greyish colour: 
the leaves are firm, narrow, lance-shaped, entire, on the upper side 
of a bright green, on the under whitish, and stand in pairs upon. 
short footstalks: the flowers are small, white, numerous, and pro- 
ceed in clusters near the footstalks of the leaves: the calyx is 
tubular, and divided at the brim into four small erect deciduous 
segments: the corolla is a funnel-shaped petal, consisting of a short 
tube, about the length of the calyx, and divided at the border into 
four semiovate segments: the filaments are two, tapering, opposite, 
and crowned with erect anthere: the germen is round, and sup- 
ports a simple short style, furnished with a stigma, which is cleft 
in two, and each division notched at the apex: the fruit is of the 
drupous kind, of an oblong or oval shape, containing a nut of the 
same form. It is a native of the south of Europe, and flowers from 
June till August. 
The Olive, in all ages, has been greatly celebrated and held i in 
peculiar estimation, as the bounteous gift of Heaven; and in grati- 
tuide to the Deity, it was formerly exhibited in the religious ceremo- 
nies of the Jews. It is still considered as emblematic of peace and 
plenty; and the great quantity of oil which in some countries it 
produces, effectually realizes one of these blessings. The Olive has 
been long cultivated in Britain; it is mentioned in the Catalogues 
plantarum Horti Medici Oxoniensis, published in 1648 ; and when 
sufficiently sheltered, it bears the cold of our winters very well ; 
though in this country it rarely produces flowers, and we believe 
never ripens its fruit.* 
@ Miller says, that ** several Olive trees were planted against a warm wall at 
Cambden-house, near Kensington, which succeeded very well till their tops advan- 
ced above the wall; after which they were generally killed in winter, so far down 
as the top of the wall. These, in 1719, produced a good number of fruit, which 
grew so large as to be fit for pickling; but since that time their fruit has seldom 
grown to any size.” Dict. 
For an account of the management and cultivation of Olives, see Bernard, De 
POlivier, 1788, couronné par L’ Academie de Marseille, Couture, Traité del Olivier 
1786. Du Hamel, l.c. Sieuve, Observations, §c. 1769. 
No. 24.—von. 2. AB 
