OLIVE FAMILY. 281 



* Tube of the corolla Innrj and slender; flavers normally purple, but 



rnnnimj into white varieties. 



H- Leaves green on both sides. 



*+ Base of leaves broad, cordate or deltoid. 



S. vulgaris, Linn. Common L. Common bush, with ovate and more 

 or less heart-shaped leaves, and lobes of corolla moderately spreading and 

 concave or boat-shaped ; flowers lilac or pale-violet (and a white variety), 

 appearing after tlie leaves. Nurserymen offer many forms. E. Eu. 



S. oblata, Lindl. Stout hardy shrub, with thick leaves, flowering a 

 week or more before the last ; leaves broadly cordate or deltoid, siiarply 

 acuminate ; flower cluster short and broad, the flowers large and appear- 

 ing as the leaves unfold ; lobes of the corolla round and flat. China, but 

 unknown wild ; possibly an offshoot of the preceding. 



^ -w Base of the leaves narrower or tapering. 



S. Chinensis, Willd. (S. Rotiiomagknsis). Rouen L. Apparently a 

 hybrid between the first and the next ; cult, in China, whence it may 

 have been derived ; leaves ovate, contracted at the base (or occasionally 

 rounded) ; lobes of the corolla obtuse and sometimes mucronate, spread- 

 ing, the margins inflexed ; lax clusters of reddish (or white) flowers very 

 large and numerous. A liardy and showy plant. 



S. Persica, Linn. Persian L. Slender and open in habit, with lance- 

 ovate leaves, and loose clusters of lilac-purple, or paler, or sometimes 

 white flowers, border of the corolla with ovate slightly spreading inflexed 

 lobes, the tube very slender ; pods linear. Later than the common Lilac. 



W Asia 



•«- -^ Leaves whitish beneath. 



S. villbsa, Vahl. Vigorous and hardy ; leaves broadly ovate or ovate- 

 lanceolate, contracted into a short and stout grooved petiole, with rough 

 margins and prominent veins, the underside (especially the veins) fur- 

 nished with scattering long hairs ; thyrse long and often interrupted ; 

 tube of the pale corolla 4 times the length of the calyx ; corolla lobes 

 erect or spreading, with inflexed margins. Blooms two weeks later than 

 the common Lilac, but less fragrant. N. China. 



S. Josikcea, Jaeq. Josika L. Leaves mostly narrower than in the 

 last, and not villous below. Now commonly cult, for its vigorous growth, 

 handsome shining foliage, and late lilac flowers, but unknown wild (all 

 plants in cultivation having sprung from a plant discovered in Hungary 

 by Baroness von Josika), and perhaps derived from the last. 



* » Tube of (he corolla very short; flowers white. 



S. Amurensis, Hupr. (S. ligustrina and S. Pekinensis). Hardy 

 shrub, with leaves ovate or oblong, and either obtuse or acuminate, con- 

 tracted into a long grooved petiole, pale but smooth beneath ; thyrse 

 compact ; tube of the corolla included in the smooth calyx, the lobes 

 obtuse ; fragrant. Also a weeping variety. Mandshuria and Japan. 



S. Japonica, Maxim. Leaves broadly ovate and sharply acuminate, 

 dark green and glossy, leathery, rounded or slightly cuneate at the base, 

 villous beneath ; calyx slightly pubescent, including the tube of the 

 creamy-white corolla. Flowers very late. Japan. 



4. LIGUSTRUM, PRIVETor PRIISL (Classical Latin name.) Shrubs 

 of Old World, planted for ornament, with short-petioled entire leaves 

 and panicles of small flowers, in early summer. 



* Inflorescence spiciform on the ends of lateral branchlets ; calyx hairy. 

 L. Ibota, Sieb. (L. Amtrensi:). Japan and Chinn. Flowers white, 



slender, the tube three times as long as the calyx ; leaves elliptic or 



