lxxiv GARDEN BOTANY. 



Leaves evergreen, coriaceous : lobes of white corolla narrow. . 2. OLEA. 

 Leaves later than the showy yellow flowers, which appear in early 



spring, along the last year's shoots : seeds numerous ! . . 3. FORSYTHIA. 

 Corolla of 2 or i greenish petals or none : flowers polygamous or 



dioecious : leaves pinnate 4. FRAXINUS. 



1. Syrillga, Lilac. Hardy shrubs, everywhere familiar, with large and 

 dense panicles of fragrant flowers, in spring. 



S. vulgaris, Common Lilac. Leaves ovate or cordate ; flowers in dense 

 panicles, lilac, and a white variety. 



S. Persica, Persian Lilac Leaves lanceolate-oblong ; branches slen- 

 der ; panicles loose ; flowers of various shades of lilac, also a white variety. 



2. Olea fragrans is a greenhouse shrub, with green and glabrous oblong 

 leaves, and small panicles of small white flowers, very sweet-scented. 



3. Forsythia viridissima, a Chinese shrub, recently introduced, perfectly 

 hardy, much prized for its handsome bright-yellow flowers on the naked long 

 shoots in early spring ; the leaves oblong and lanceolate, shining green. 



4. Fraxinus, Ash. Besides our own species, Man. p. 357, two European 

 ones are planted, viz. : — 



F. excelsior, English Ash. Leaflets 9 to 13, bright green, lanceolate- 

 oblong, almost sessile, serrate ; petals none ; key broadly linear. 



F. Ornus, Flowering Ash. Leaflets 7 or 9, lanceolate ; petals 4. Not 

 common. 



Order NYCTAGINACEJE. Fotjr-o'-clock Family. 



Manual, p. 360. — Two genera are in the gardens, one of them very common. 



Flower solitary, apparently with a green cup-shaped calyx and a mono- 

 petalous corolla ; but the calyx is really an involucre, which in 

 other cases surrounds several flowers, and the apparent corolla is 

 a colored calyx. Stamens 5 1. MLRABILIS 



Flowers capitate, with an involucre of small bracts : calyx colored like a 



corolla, salver-form, plaited. Stamens 5. ..... 2. ABRONIA. 



1. Mirabilis, Marvel of Peru, or Fodr-o'-clock. Huge-rooted peren- 

 nials, with opposite ovate or cordate leaves, and large showy flowers, opening 

 towards evening. 



M. Jalapa, Common M. Flower tubular-bell-shaped, red, white, yel- 

 low, &c, also variegated. 



M. longiflora, Long-flowered M. Flower with a very long and nar- 

 row tube, white or pinkish, fragrant. 



2. Abronia umbellata, from California. Prostrate ; leaves oblong; flow- 

 ers rose-purple, handsome. 



Order CHENOPODIACEiE. Goosefoot Family. 



Manual, p. 361. — Two exotic esculents and one ornamental plant, viz. : — 



U. Beta vulgaris, Garden Bket. Flowers perfect, nearly as in Cheno- 

 podium, but the fruit hardened or corky in the dry calyx ; leaves ovate-oblong 

 wavy, smooth, often purplish ; root fleshy, biennial. 



