MYRSINACEJE JASMINACE.& OLE ACE-.E. 451 



938 Order 121. rayrsinaceie, the Myrsine Family. (Monopet. 

 Hypog.) Flowers hermaphrodite or occasionally unisexual. Calyx 

 4-5-cleft, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, 4-5-cleft, 

 equal. Stamens 4-5, inserted into the corolla, and opposite to its 

 segments ; filaments distinct, rarely united, sometimes 0, occasionally 5 

 sterile petaloid alternating ones; anthers sagittate, erect, bilocular, 

 with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary free or slightly adherent, unilo- 

 cular ; ovules definite or indefinite, campylotropal, immersed in a free 

 central placenta ; style single ; stigma simple or lobed. Fruit fleshy, 

 1- or many-seeded. Seeds angular or roundish, with a concave hilum, 

 and a membranous spermoderm ; albumen horny ; embryo usually 

 curved, often heterotropal ; cotyledons short ; radicle horizontal when 

 the seed is solitary, inferior when there are several seeds. Trees, 

 shrubs, or undershrubs, with alternate or opposite, coriaceous, exsti- 

 pulate leaves. They are much restricted as regards their geographical 

 limits, and they are said to abound chiefly in islands with an equable 

 temperature. They are found in Africa, Asia, and America. Little 

 is known regarding their properties. Theophrasta Jussicei is a prickly- 

 leaved shrub, which is called Coco in St. Domingo. Its seeds are 

 eatable, and a kind of bread is made from them. The Ardisias are 

 prized for the beauty of their foliage. There are 31 known genera, 

 and 325 species. Examples Myrsine, Ardisia, Msesa, Jacquinia. 



939. Order 122. Jasminacete* the Jasmine or Jessamine Family. 

 (Monopet Hypog.) Flowers . Calyx with 5-8 divisions or teeth, per- 

 sistent. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, regular, salver-shaped, with 

 5-8 divisions ; aestivation twisted or valvate. Stamens 2, inserted on 

 the coroUa, included ; anthers bilocular, with longitudinal dehiscence. 

 Disk 0. Ovary free, 2-celled ; ovules erect, anatropal, 1-4 in each 

 cell ; style 1 ; stigma 2 -lobed. Fruit a double berry, or a pyxidium, 

 or a 2-valved capsule. Seeds usually solitary, rarely in pairs, albu- 

 minous 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 fre- 

 quently fragrant flowers which yield oils, and their leaves and roots 

 are sometimes bitter. The essential oil of Jasmine is procured from 

 Jasminum officinale, grandiflorum, odoratissimum, and Sambac. There 

 are 5 known genera, and 100 species. Examples Jasminum, Nyc- 

 tanthes, Bolivaria. 



940. Order 123. Oleacete, the Olive Family. (Monopet. Hypog.) 

 (Fig. 254.) Flowers $ , sometimes J $ . Calyx gamosepalous, divided, 

 persistent. Corolla gamopetalous, hypogynous, 4-cleft, sometimes of 

 4 petals which are connected in pairs by means of the filaments, some- 

 tunes ; aestivation somewhat valvate. Stamens 2 (rarely 4), alternate 

 with the corolline segments ; anthers dithecal, with longitudinal dehis- 

 cence. Disk 0. Ovary free, 2-celled ; ovules in pairs, collateral or 



