J A S 



J A S 



JASMINUM, a genus containing plants of 

 the hardy and tender deciduous and evergreen 

 shrubby kinds. 



It belongs to the class and order Diandria 

 T\hmngyiiia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Sepiarioe. 



The characters are: that the calyx is a one- 

 leafed perianthium, tubulated, oblong: mouth 

 five-toothed, upright, permanent : the corolla 

 one- petalled, salver-shaped: tube cylindric, long: 

 border five-parted, flat: the stamina have two 

 short filaments: anthers small, within the tube 

 of the corolla : the pistillum is a roundish germ: 

 style filiform, length of the stamens : stigma 

 bifid : the pericarpium is an oval berry, smooth, 

 two-celled, or two-capsuled : the seeds two, 

 large, ovate-oblong, arillated, convex on one 

 side, flat on the other. 



The species cultivated are: 1. J. officinale, 

 Common White Jasmine; 2. ./. frutkans, 

 Common Yellow Jasmine ; 3. J. Immile, Italian 

 Yellow Jasmine ; 4. J. odnratissimum, Yellow 

 Indian Jasmine; 5. J. grandiflorum, Spanish, 

 or Catalonian Jasmine ; 6". J. Sambac, Arabian 

 Jasmine; 7 . J. sizoricum, Azorian Jasmine. 



The first has a shrubby, weak, climbing, 

 round, smooth, branching stem : the leaflets 

 usually seven, broad, lanceolate, quite entire, 

 smooth, dark green, the end one larger and 

 more pointed than the rest : the peduncles few- 

 flowered: the calycine segments capillary: the 

 corolla white and odorous : the flowers appear 

 most part of summer. Its native country is not 

 well ascertained ; probably the East Indies. 



It varies with white striped leaves, and with 

 yellow striped leaves. 



The second species has weak angular branches 

 which require support, and rise to the height of 

 eight or ten feet, if planted against a wall or 

 pale: the leaves arc trifoliate, simple, alternate: 

 the flowers are yellow, coming from the sides and 

 ends of the voting branches. It is a native of the 

 south of Europe. It sends out numerous suck- 

 ers from the roots. 



The third has shrubby firm stalks and angular 

 branches, of low strong growth, and bushy: the 

 flowers are generally larger than those of the 

 preceding, but have very little scent, and are 

 seldom produced so early in the season : the 

 simple leaves arc frequently intermixt with the 

 terriate ones. Its native country is not known; 

 but it flowers from July to September. 



The fourth species rises with an upright woody 

 Stalk eight or ten feet high, covered with a 

 brown bark, sending out several branches, w hich 

 want no support : the leaflets are of a lucid 

 green, ovate and entire, continuing green all 

 the year, the two side ones much less than the 

 8 



end one: the flowers are produced at the ends 

 of the shoots in bunches, of a bright yellow 

 colour, and a most grateful odour. It is a na- 

 tive of the island of Madeira, flowering from 

 July to October and November, which are fre- 

 quently succeeded by oblong oval berries. 



The fifth has much stronger branches than 

 the first sort: the leaflets are placed closer, and are 

 of a lighter green ; the side ones are obtuse, but 

 the odd one ends in an acute point : the (lowers 

 are axillary, on peduncles two inches long, each 

 sustaining three or four (lowers, of a blush red 

 on their outside, hut white within. It is a na- 

 tive of the East Indies, flowering from Julv to 

 November. 



The sixth species rises with a winding stalk to 

 the height of fifteen or twenty feet, sending out 

 many small branches ; the leaves are smooth, 

 near three inches long, and almost two broad, 

 of a light green, on short foot-stalks, endiiv 

 in acute points : the flowers are produced at the 

 end of the branches, and also upon the side 

 shoots, on short peduncles, each generally sus- 

 taining three flowers, the two lower opposite, 

 and the middle one longer : these flowers are of 

 a pure white, and have a most agreeable odour, 

 somewhat like orange flowers, but sweeter; 

 when fully blown they drop out of their cups 

 upon being shaken, and frequently fall out in 

 the night, changing soon to a purplish colour : 

 the plants continue flowering great part of the 

 year, when they are kept in a proper tempera- 

 ture of warmth. It is a native of the East In- 

 dies. 



There are varieties of it with single and dou- 

 ble flowers, and with large double flowers. 



The seventh has longer slender branches, 

 which require support, and may be trained 

 twenty feet high : the leaves are of a lucid 

 green, continuing all the year : the flowers ter- 

 minaiing, in loose bunches, of a while colour, 

 and very agreeable scent. It is a native of the 

 Azores, flowering from May to November. 



Culture. — The first sort is readily increased 

 by layers or cuttings. The young branches 

 should be laid down in the early autumn, and 

 in the following autumn be taken oft", and plant- 

 ed where they are to grow. The cuttings of 

 the young shoots may be planted either at the 

 same time or in the eaijy spring, being protect- 

 ed in the first case, in severe weather, in the 

 winter. When they 1 arc well rooted, they may 

 be removed, with balls of earth about their roots, 

 to the places where they are to grow. 



The different varieties are increased by bud- 

 ding, or grafting them upon stocks of the 

 plain or common kind. See Budding and 



GRAFTING. 



