282 OLIVE FAMILY. 



ovate-elliptic, the midrib below (like the branchlets and pedicels) hairy ; 

 iruifc shining black. 



* * Inflorescence thyrsoid or paniculate and mostly terminal; calyx 



smooth, or nearly so. 



L vulgare, Linn. PRIVET, PRIM. Flowers white (fading reddish) in 

 an ordinary Lilac-like thyrse ; the corolla tube flaring and about twice 

 as long as the small calyx ; leaves elliptic-lanceolate ; fruit black. Much 

 used for low hedges and run wild E. Eu. 



L. Japdnicum, Thunb. (L. CALIFORNICUM, L. OVALIF6LIUM, and 

 CALIFORNIAN PRIVET). Strong hardy shrub from Japan and China; 

 cult, for its handsome long-persistent foliage and abundant white flow- 

 ers ; leaves oval ; flowers several to many on slender short branchlets of 

 an elongated panicle ; the corolla tube slender and 3 or 4 times as long 

 as the rather loose truncate calyx. 



5. OLE A, OLIVE. (The classical Latin name.) Flowers small, and 

 in small panicles or corymbs, in spring. * 



0. Europcea, Linn. OLIVE of the Levant, planted far S. and on the 

 Pacific coast; tree with lanceolate or lance-oblong pale entire leaves, 

 whitish-scurfy beneath, and oblong edible oily fruit. 



6. OSMANTHUS. (Greek : perfume and flower.} 



0. fragrans, Lour. Cult, in greenhouses from China, under the name 

 of OLEA FRAGRANS ; shrub with very fragrant white flowers, and thickish 

 ovate or obovate veiny, often denticulate, smooth leaves. 



O. Americanus, Benth. & Hook. DEVILWOOD. Wild along the 

 coast from N. Car., S. ; small tree, with lance-oblong and entire very 

 smooth green leaves (3'-6' long), and spherical dark-purple fruit. 



7. CHIONANTHUS, FRINGE TREE. (Name of the Greek words 

 for snow and blossom, from the very light and loose panicles of droop- 

 ing snow-white flowers.) 



C. Virginica, Linn. River banks from Penn., S., and planted for 

 ornament ; shrub or low tree, with entire, oval, or obovate leaves (3'-5 ; 

 long), the lower surface often rather downy ; loose panicles of flowers in 

 late spring or early summer; petals 1' long, and fruit blue-purple with 

 a bloom. 



8. FRAXINUS, ASH. (Classical Latin name.) Timber trees, with 

 light and tough wood, dark-colored buds, and small insignificant flow- 

 ers appearing in spring with or rather before the leaves of the season, 

 from separate buds in the axils of the leaves of the preceding year. 



* Petals present ; flowers polygamous. 



F. Ornus, Linn. FLOWERING ASH of S. Eu., the tree which furnishes 

 manna, not hardy N., sometimes planted S. ; petals 4, either distinct or 

 slightly united, or sometimes only 2, narrow, greenish ; leaflets 5-9, 

 lanceolate or oblong, small. 



* * Petals wanting ; flowers generally dioecious (or polygamous in the last) . 



- Lateral leaflets stalked ; calyx evident. 



++ Fruit terete at the base, winged from the other end (Lessons, Fig. 389) ; 

 leaflets 7-9, or sometimes 5, either sparingly toothed or entire. 



F. Americana, Linn. WHITE ASH. Large forest tree of low grounds, 

 furnishing valuable timber ; with ash-gray branches, smooth stalks, ovate 



