OLIVE FAMILY. 279 



LXXI. OLEACE^, OLIVE FAMILY. 



Trees or shrubs, chiefly smooth, without milky juice, dis- 

 tinguished among mouopetalous plants with free ovaiy by the 

 regular flowers having stamens almost always 2, and always 

 fewer than the 4 (sometimes 5 or more) divisions of the 

 corolla, the ovary 2-celled and (except in Jasminum and For- 

 sythia) Avith one pair of ovules in each cell; style, if any, 

 only one, rarely 2-cleft, A few are nearly or quite polypetal- 

 ous; others apetalous. Leaves opposite, simple, or pinnate. 



* Calijx and corolla with 5-S lobes ; a sinyle erect ovule ami seed in each cell. 



1. JASMINUM. Corolla salver-shaped, the lobes convolute in the bud. Stauicn.s 2, in- 



cluded in the tube. Ovary and the berry-like fruit 2-lobed, 2-seeded. 



» » Calyx and corolla icith the parts in fours, or sometimes (in Praxinu.s) one or both 

 wanting. Ovules hanging, usually a pair in each cell, many in Xo. •_'. Leaves 

 opposite, except accidentally. 



-I- Leaves simple {tri/oUolatc in one of No. 2) ,• floicers perfect and complete. 



++ Ovules and seeds numerous, or several in each cell of the ovary and pod. 



2. FOESTTHIA. Corolla golden yellow, bell-shaped, 4-lobed, the lobes convolute in the 



bud. The 2 stamens and style short. Pod ovate. Leaves deciduous. 



++ ++ Ovules a pair in each cell, but the seeds often fetoer. 

 ■=- Fruit a dry pod. 



3. SYEINGA. Corolla saher-fonn, the lobes valvate in tlie bud, the tube mostly much 



longer than the 4-toothed calyx. Pod 4-seeded, flattened contrary to the narrow parti- 

 tion, 2-valved, the valves almost conduplicate. Seeds slightly wing-margined. Leaves 

 deciduous. 



= =- Fruit fleshy, berry-like. 



4. LIGUSTRITM. Corolla short funnel-form, with spreading ovate obtuse lobes, valvate 



in the bud, white. Fruit a 1-4-seoded black berry. Leaves firm and thickish, but 

 deciduous. 



5. OLE.^. Corolla white, short, bell-shaped, or deeply cleft into 4 spreading lobes, which 



are valvate in tlie bud. Fruit a drupe, the hard stoiio often becoming 1-celled and 

 1-seeded. Leaves evergreen. 

 C. OSMANTHUS. Distinguished from Olea chiefly by the imbricated a>stivation of the 

 corolla. Flowers small, in axillary fascicles or r.aceiiies. Stigma small. Leaves 

 mostly deciduous. 



7. CHION.VNTHUS. Corolla while, 4-parted, or of 4 very long and n.irrow linear petals 



slightly or scarcely united at their base ; to which the 2 (rarely .3 or even 4 in cultiva- 

 tion) very short stamens barely adhere. Fruit a fleshy and globular drupe, the stone 

 becoming 1-celIed and commonly 1-seeded. Leaves deciduous. 



•*- + Leaves pinnate; flowers polygamous or diwc.ious, in most species apetalous, ap- 

 pearing in advance of the foliage. 



8. FRAXINUS. Calyx small, sometimes obsolete or wholly wanting. Petals 4, 2, or 



none. Anthers large. Fruit a .simi)le samara or key (Lessons, Fig. 389), usually 

 becoming.' 1-cellcd and 1-sceded. Leaves deciduous. 



