256 



There are about 120 species of jasminum or jasmine, 2 of 

 forsythia, 6 or more of syringa or lilac, over 30 of fraxinus, 

 about 25 of ligustrum or privet, and 35 of olea or olive. 



The Convolvulus or Morning-glory family, Convolvulacese, 

 has some 800 species, some of which are trees, and 32 genera. 

 The dodders, peculiar parasitic plants, of which several are 

 natives of the United States, belong here, as does also the 

 sweet potato. 



There are about 30 species of Phlox described, nearly all na- 

 tives of North America. The common Phlox Drummondii is a- 

 native of Texas. These plants, with cobsea, polemonium, 

 gilia, and some other genera, belong to the family Polemoniacese. 



Solanaceae is a large and important order, containing many 

 esculent plants and many poisons. Here belong the potato, 

 tomato, egg-plant, red pepper, and strawberry or husk tomato ; 

 also tobacco, belladonna, and nightshade. There are 66 genera 

 and from 1200 to 1500 species. The genus solanum alone, to 

 which the potato and egg-plant belong, contains from 700 to 

 900 species. Lycopersicum, the tomato genus, has about a 

 half dozen species. 



There are about 140 genera and 2600 species in the Labiatse 

 or Mint family. The order comprises a few tree-like and a few 

 climbing plants. The species are aromatic, and most of our 

 cultivated sweet herbs, and all the mints, belong to the family. 

 It comprises many ornamental species, among the most promi- 

 nent being species of coleus, of which about 50 species are de- 

 scribed. 



The Nettle family or Urticacese comprises many dissimilar 

 plants. Here belong the nettles, mulberry, fig, bread-fruit, 

 hackberry, osage-orange, elm, hemp, and hop. The family has 

 hi the neighborhood of 1500 species, and the accepted genera are 

 108. Five elms and 2 mulberries are native to North America, 

 and 3 wild figs grow in southern Florida. 



Five genera and about 30 species belong to the Juglandacese 

 or Walnut family. All the hickories, 8 or 10, are natives of 

 North America. There are 2 walnuts and 1 butternut in the 

 United States. 



