EBENALES. 505 



plants ovaries two-celled, each cell with one to three ovules ; stamens 

 two. The species, 280 in number, are distributed widely over tem- 

 perate and tropical regions. 



Olea Europcea, the Olive, probably a native of Western Asia, is now 

 extensively cultivated in all warm temperate climates. It is a small 

 evergreen tree, and produces a bluish oily drupe, from which by 

 pressure Olive Oil or Sweet Oil is obtained. The wood of the Olive 

 Tree is very hard and is used in turnery and cabinet-making. 



Fraxinus excelsior, the Ash Tree of Europe and North Africa, is a 

 large tree, yielding a white, hard, tough and elastic timber, highly 

 prized in the manufacture of implements, in turnery, coach-making, 

 etc. The tree is frequently planted in the United States. 



F. Americana, The American White Ash of the Eastern United 

 States, is larger than the preceding, attaining frequently a height of 

 thirty metres (100 feet) or more. Its timber resembles that ot the Ash 

 of Europe, but is even more valuable. 



F. Oregana, of Oregon and Northern California, furnishes a timber 

 much like that of the White Ash. 



F. sambucifolia, the Black Ash of the Northeastern United States, 

 is a large tree usually found in moist situations ; the annual layers of 

 its wood easily separate into thin strips admirably suited to make into 

 barrel hoops, baskets, etc. Other native species also supply more or 

 less valuable timber. 



In Jamaica a species of Linociera produces a very hard, fragrant and 

 excellent timber known as Jamaica Rosewood. A species of Notdcea, 

 in Australia and Tasmania, yields a hard timber called Iron- wood, much 

 used in making ship-blocks, and for other purposes where hardness is 

 required. Several genera afford ornamental plants, e.g., Jasminum,ot 

 many species, Jessamine ; Syringa, the Lilac; Ligustrum, the Privet; 

 Chionanthu8,tl\e Fringe Tree ; ForsytMa, etc. 



584. Cohort XVI. Ebenales. Shrubs or trees with al- 

 ternate leaves, regular flowers, and superior ovary ; ovules 

 usually solitary in the two to many cells ; stamens generally 

 alternate with the corolla lobes. 



Order Styracacese. Plants with a watery juice and mouoclinous 

 flowers. There are about 220 species in the order, found almost en- 

 tirely in the tropical parts of America, Asia, and Australia. 



Styrax officinale, of the Levant, yields from incisions in the bark 

 Gum Storax, and from S. benzoin of the Malay Islands, Gum Benzoin is 

 similarly obtained. 



A few species afford dyes, but none are widely used. 



Halesia tetraptera, the Silver-Bell or Snow-Drop Tree of the South- 

 ern United States, is a highly ornamental shrub. 



Order Ebenaceee. The Ebony Family. Plants with a watery 



