126 BOTANY. 



of the jfilaments, sometimes ; aestivation somewhat valvate. Stamens two 

 (rarely four), alternate with the corolline segments ; anthers dithecal, with 

 longitudinal dehiscence. Disk 0. Ovary free, two-celled ; ovules in pairs, 

 collateral or pendulous ; style one, or ; stigma entire or bifid. Fruit 

 drupaceous, baccate or capsular, sometimes samaroid. Seeds often by 

 abortion solitary ; albumen dense, fleshy, abundant ; embryo straight, about 

 half the length of the albumen ; cotyledons leafy ; radicle superior. Trees 

 or shrubs, with opposite leaves, which are either simple or compound. 

 Found chiefly in temperate regions. They occur in North America, Asia, 

 Europe, and New Holland. There are two sections of the order: 1. Olece, 

 with a drupaceous or berried fruit. 2. Fraxinece, with a samaroid (winged) 

 fruit. Lindley mentions twenty-four genera, including 130 species. 

 Examples : Olea, Ligustrum, Chionanthus, Fraxinus, Syringa. 



The most important plant of this order is the olive, Olea europaea, whose 

 fruit yields olive oil by expression. The best oil comes from Provence and 

 Florence. Castile soap is made from olive oil and soda. Potash and oil 

 make a soft soap. A species (Olea americana) indigenous in the southern 

 United States, is called devilwood. The so-called flowers of tea are, in 

 part, the blossoms of Olea fragrans, a Chinese species. The Lilac, Syringa 

 vulgaris, and the Privet, Ligustrum vulgare, belong to this order, and are 

 both naturalized in some parts of the United States. Chionanthus or the 

 Fringe tree is a very ornamental American species. The timber of 

 Fraxinus or the ash, is highly valuable. 



Olea europaea, the Olive (Europe) {pi. 62, fig. 3) ; a, a flower branch 

 reduced ; h, a flower ; c, pistil ; d, vertical section of do. ; e, do. of fruit ; 

 f and g, sections of the nut ; A, embryo. 



Order 101. JasminacejE, the Jessamine Family. Flowers », calyx five- 

 to eight-divided or teethed, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, 

 regular, salver-shaped, five- to eight-divided ; aestivation twisted or valvate. 

 Stamens two, inserted on the corolla, included ; anthers bilocular, with 

 longitudinal dehiscence. Disk 0. Ovary free, two-celled ; ovules erect, 

 anatropal, one to four in each cell ; style one ; stigma two-Iobed. Fruit a 

 double berry, or a pyxidium, or a two-valved capsule. Seeds usually 

 solitary, rarely in pairs, albuminous or exalbuminous ; embryo straight ; 

 radicle inferior. Shrubs, often with twining stems, and opposite or alternate, 

 pinnate leaves. They abound chiefly in the tropical parts of India. They 

 have frequently fragrant flowers which yield oils, and their leaves and roots 

 are sometimes bitter. There are five genera and one hundred species. 

 Examples : Jasminum, Nyctanthes, Bolivaria. Species of Jessamine 

 (Jasminum) have become naturalized in the Southern States. 



Jasminum officinale (Southern Asia) {pi. 62, fig. 4) ; a, calyx ; b, corolla 

 displayed. 



Order 102. MYRsiNACEiE, the Myrsine Family. Flowers hermaphrodite 

 or occasionally unisexual. Calyx four- to five-cleft, persistent. Corolla 

 monopetalous, hypogynous, four- to five-cleft, equal. Stamens four to five, 

 inserted into the corolla, and opposite to its segments ; filaments distinct, 

 rarely united, sometimes 0, occasionally five sterile petaloid alternating 

 126 



