40 NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 
other, a fact which demonstrates the analogy of their juices and fibres: thus the Lilac will 
graft upon the Ash the Chionanthus and the Fontanesia and I have even: succeeded in 
making the Persian Lilac live 10 years, on Pihillyrea latifolia. The Olive will take on the 
Phiilyrea, and even on the Ash, but we cannot graft the Jasmine on any plant of the 
Olive tribe, a circumstance which confirms the propriety of separating these two orders.” 
There certainly can be no doubt or hesitation, in admitting the propriety of their separa- 
tion, for in truth the only bond of union between the two families consists in both having 
regular monapetalous diandrous flowers, in all other points they are sufficiently distinct. 
iuindley even places themin different alliances, considering the Olives more akin to the 
Solanums and the Jasmines to the Borages and yet, in some essential points, the line of sepa- 
ration is almost imperceptible. he Jasmines for example, like the last section of Olives, have 
usually ascending ovules, and exalbumenous seed, some however, have the ovules suspended 
or actually pendulous ; but on the other hand, their flowers in all points, except the stamens 
and carpels, show a quinary tendency ; while those of the Olives are as constantly quater- 
nary: the carpels of the former, as they advance to maturity, have a tendency to separate 
and produce two berries from one flower, while in the Olive they remain united, producing 
only one, This tendency to separation is considered characteristic of the Borages, while 
union is viewed as the constant character of the Solanums, and on these premises, Lindey’s 
arrangement may rest on a firm foundation, though I confess, I am unable to trace the 
relationship. 
The Olive tribe has a wide geographical range, but evidently gives the preference 
tothe more temperate climates in both hemispheres, while many show a prediliction for 
the warmth of the tropics ; most, however, of the peninsular species, are found either on 
the higher ranges of hills, or in the cool shady jungles of the lower ones, very rarely if ever 
extending to the open plains, Of the European forms, the Ash is that which attains the 
highest latitude, but the Privets and Lilacs are hardy enovgh to endure the climate of Bri- 
tain one of them, the common Privet, being a native of England. 
The true Olive is famed for its oil, and every one knows the fruit as a preserve. Its 
bark also possesses medicinal properties. Manna is produced from the bark of several species 
of Ash and the Lilac possesses, in an eminent degree, the febrifugal properties of Peruvian 
bark. In the arts, the timber of all the larger trees is considered excellent and is in gene- 
ral use. That of the true Olive is spoken of as indestructible ! 
OLEA. 
Calyx shortly tubular, 4 toothed. Corolla hypogynous, shortly campanulate, limb 4-cleft, or 4-parted, 
2-celled, with 2 collateral ovules in each, pendulous from the apex of the partition. Style very short, stigma 
bifid, lacinee entire or emarginate, Drupe baccate, one or two seeded by abortion, putamen bony or fragile 
papery. Seed inverse, Embryo straight, in the axis of a fleshy or subfarinaceous albumen, and about the same 
le etl : Coly! ye fy qt p ior, 
axillary fascicled racemose or panicled flowers. 
I have here retained the genus as defined by Professor Endlicher, and adopted his character in prefer- 
ence to that of De Candolle, who constitutes the species here figured, the type of a new genus, on account of 
trees and shrubs with opposite entire, coriaceous leaves and 
