35 



Natural Order, Oleaceae. 



Olea Euoropaea. Ivinn. (Olive.) An evergreen tree ten to 

 twenty feet high, with angular branches opposite. Leaves 

 oblong, numerous, pointed, hoary beneath, giving in the wind 

 a silvery appearance, or what is known as olive-green. 

 Flowers small, whitish and slightly fragrant. No notice has 

 apparently ever been taken of its fruit, and the tree has revert- 

 ed to its wild condition. February to May. The olive being 

 mentioned as far back as 1612, would lead to the idea that it 

 was a native tree, except for the further remark on its exis- 

 tence, " but no great store." It is mentioned again in 1624 

 and in 1661. The Bermuda or Virginia Company ordered 

 olives to be planted on every shore. Lefro}' inclines to the 

 idea that the olive had ' ' become naturalized probably from 

 seeds sown by the crews of Spanish vessels visiting the islands 

 or wrecked on them in the sixteenth century." As olives are 

 successfully grown in California, it would seem they ought to 

 be successful here, with care and attention. The cultivated 

 olive of Europe has a much broader leaf than the wild Bermuda 

 species, 



Forestiera Porulosa. Poir. This tree is stated bj- Lefroy as 

 confined to Walsingham, and rare. Its flowers are minute on 

 short branches in December. 



Jasminum Gracile. Andr. (Wild jasmine.) A climbing 

 or creeping smooth shrub, with leaves ovate, pointed and op- 

 posite, shining or glossy, narrow. Flowers, yellowish-white, 

 fragrant. Summer months. Lefroy cites this plant as a re- 

 markable example of rapid naturalisation. Introduced at 

 Paynters Vale in 1840 by Archdeacon Spencer, it has now 

 overrun the Walsingham tract so as to make the rocks in 

 many places nearly impassable. It is also getting abundant 

 everywhere. 



Jasminum Fruticans. Linn, (yellow jasmine.) A bushy 

 shrub much branched. Leaves alternate, ovate, entire with 

 three to five leaflets. Flowers bright yellow, one inch in 

 diameter. Summer and autumn. Not uncommon, more fre- 

 quently outside gardens and shrubberies. 



