660 JASMINUM 



J. FRUTICANS, Linnceus. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 461.) 



A semi-evergreen shrub, producing a dense mass of slender, erect stems 

 from 3 to 5 ft. high, but thrice as much against a wall ; young shoots angular, 

 smooth. Leaves alternate ; composed of three leaflets on a common stalk 

 about \ in. long, or of one leaflet only. Leaflets narrow-oblong or linear- 

 obovate, j to f in. long, one-third as much wide ; tapering at the base, more 

 rounded at the apex, deep green, smooth on both surfaces, but edged with 

 minute hairs. On strong sucker shoots, the leaflets are occasionally twice as 

 large. Flowers yellow, produced from June onwards, usually in threes or fives 

 at the end of short twigs. Corolla f in. long and wide ; calyx bell-shaped, 

 with five slender lobes. Fruit globose, shining black, the size of a pea. 



Native of S. Europe, N. Africa, and Asia Minor; cultivated since the 

 middle of the sixteenth century, perhaps before. The largest plant I have 

 seen is growing on a house front between Kew Bridge and the entrance to 

 Kew Gardens ; it covers the wall up to 10 or 15 ft. high. On the hills above 

 Hyeres, I have seen it growing abundantly and quite handsome in the fall of 

 the year by reason of the crop of shining black berries. There the shrubs are 

 mostly i-|- to 3 ft. high. In hot seasons it fruits freely in England. 



J. NUDIFLORUM, Lindley. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 4649 ; J. Sieboldianum, Blum:.") 



A deciduous shrub of rambling habit, growing 12 to 15 ft. high against a 

 wall, with long, slender, pendulous, smooth, four-angled branchlets. Leaves 

 opposite, composed of three leaflets borne on a common stalk about J in. long. 

 Leaflets oval-oblong, ^ to ij ins. long, one-third to half as wide, tapered at 

 both ends, deep lustrous green, not toothed, but furnished at the margin when 

 young with tiny hairs. Flowers bright yellow, f to I in. diameter, produced 

 from November to February ; they are solitary on stalks J in. long, clothed 

 with several small, narrow, green bracts. Corolla tubular at the base and 

 nearly I in. long, spreading into six divisions. Calyx-lobes six, linear, pointed. 



Native of China ; introduced by Fortune for the Horticultural Society in 

 1844. A very hardy plant, of great value in gardens because of its habit of 

 flowering during the very darkest months. No plant does so much to lighten 

 up in midwinter dull suburban streets of London, and the fact that it will 

 thrive in such places adds much to its worth. It blossoms best against a 

 sunny wall, but, after warm summers especially, flowers very freely in the open 

 ground. A pleasing arrangement -is to plant it in association with Berberis 

 Aquifolium, against whose purplish winter-shade of leaf the leafless flower- 

 laden sprays of this jasmine are peculiarly bright and effective. 



Var. FOLIIS AUREIS has leaflets blotched with yellow. 



J. OFFICINALE, Linnceus. COMMON JASMINE. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 31.) 



A deciduous, or nearly deciduous, climbing shrub, making shoots 6 ft. or 

 more long in one season, and ultimately, if carefully trained, reaching 40 ft. 

 in. height; young shoots very slender, angled, smooth or soon becoming so. 

 Leaves opposite, pinnate, composed of five, seven, or nine leaflets, which are 

 \ to i\ ins. long, \ to I in. wide ; slightly downy at or about the margin, the 

 terminal one much the largest and stalked ; side one stalkless. Flowers 

 white, deliciously fragrant, produced from June until October in a terminal 



