CONTORTS. 



547 



the flowers open before the foliage appears. Ligustrum (Privet) has 

 berries. Olea (0. europcea ; Olive) has drupes-, the pulp and seeds 

 of the ellipsoidal fruits are rich in oil. The lanceolate leaves are 

 grey on the under surface, being covered with stellate hairs. In 

 the wild state it is thorny (modified branches). Phillyrea; 

 Chionanthus. Few species of Linociera have 4 stamens. 



TIG. 633. Fraxinus ornus : A flower; ca calyx; co corolla; B gynoeceum and calyx; 

 C longitudinal median section of gynoeceum; D fruit. 



180 species ; chiefly in the northern temperate zone. The Olive-tree (')lea 

 europcea) has been an important cultivated plant from ancient times (Olive oil, 

 Provence oil, " Sweet oil "). The best oil is extracted from the fruit-pulp. 

 The fruits are edible. Home: Western Asia, Eastern Mediterranean. TIMBER : 

 the Ash (Fr. excelsior). OFFICINAL : the Manna Ash (Fr. ornus), cultivated in 

 the Mediterranean countries for the sake of its saccharine juice, which flows 

 out and coagulates into " Manna." The following are ornamental plants : 

 species of Ligustrum and Syringa (introduced in the 16th century, from S.E. 

 Europe and Asia), Forsythia (China, Japan ; the large, yellow flowers are borne 

 on dwarf-branches with scale-like leaves, before the opening of the foliage- 

 leaves), Chionanthus. 



Order 6, Jasminaceae. The aestivation of the corolla is imbricate ; the 

 ovules are erect ; seeds almost without endosperm; radicle directed downwards. 

 The number of lobes in the calyx and corolla is not 4, but e.g. 5, 8, 10, and 

 variations are sometimes found in the same individual. The fruit is a berry or 

 capsule. Many species are twiners, and their scattered or opposite leaves are 

 most frequently imparipinnate. 120 species ; especially in Trop. Asia (K. India). 

 Some Jasminum-syecies are cultivated as ornamental shrubs in the warmer dis- 

 tricts on account of their elegant foliage, and beautiful, sweet-scented flowers, 

 the essential oil of which is also used in perfumery ; the best known are : J. 

 sambac and grandiftvirtim. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis opens its sweet-scented 

 flowers only at night (E. India). 



Order 7 (?). Salvadoracese. 8-9 species; Asia, Africa. Saluadora. 



