APOCYNACE^ 



IOI 



insect from which cantharides is chiefly obtained, 

 though some yellow and black Chinese beetles 

 are also used for that purpose. 



Another conspicuous insect, very rare with us, 

 but common on the Continent, the ashy-grey 

 caterpillar of which feeds on the ash and several 

 other trees, is the Clifden Nonpareil {Catocala 

 fraxini). The moth measures nearly 4 inches 

 across the broad forewings, which are bluish grey, 

 varied with paler markings, and with zigzag black 

 lines. The hindwings are black, with a broad 

 pale blue central band. Notwithstanding its 

 rarity, it is widely distributed in England, and 

 a few years ago a specimen was taken in Hyde 

 Park. 



The Lilac {Syringa vulgaris), a native of Persia, 

 is largely grown in gardens and shrubberies for 

 its fragrant clusters of lilac or white flowers. The 

 leaves are smooth, long, broad, and entire. The 

 flowers form large upright clusters, and appear 

 in May, and the long, compressed, pointed seed 

 capsules ripen in September. 



The Olive Tree {Oka europcea), which also 



belongs to this Order of plants, is universally 

 cultivated in Southern Europe and other regions 

 bordering on the Mediterranean. It is an ever- 

 green tree with entire leaves, and small clusters of 

 white flowers, yielding a purple stone fruit, from 

 which the valuable yellow olive oil is obtained. 

 The fruit is also pickled in salt and water as an 

 after-dinner relish. In England olive oil is chiefly 

 taken with salad. It is also used in the manu- 

 facture of soap, and medicinally as an application 

 to burns. 



Order L. Apocynacecs (1 genus) 



Our British representative of this Order is the 

 Periwinkle ( Vinca minor), which is found in bushy 

 places and shady woods. It has a creeping stem, 

 and smooth shining evergreen leaves, elliptical or 

 inclining to lanceolate, on short stalks. The blue 

 (or rarely white) flowers are tubular, with the calyx 

 and corolla 5-lobed, and 5 stamens. There are 

 2 ovaries, united above, with a common style and 

 stigma, and the seed capsule is double ; the seeds 



