JASMINUM OFFICINALE-JESSAMINE, 



CLASS, DIANDRIA ; ORDER, MONOGYNIA. 

 NATURAL ORDE2, JASMINACE^E. 



GEN. CHAR. Corolla salver-form, five to. eight cleft. Berry 

 two-seeded, each seed solitary, arilled. SPEC. CHAR. Leaves 

 pinnate, opposite. Leaflets acuminate. Buds almost upright. 



The name of this genus is derived from an Arabian word that 

 signifies perfect fragrance. It was introduced into England in 1 548, 

 and came to America with the early settlers ; the lightness of its 

 branches and the delicate star like lustre of its flowers, and their 

 great abundance and lavishness of perfume, had made it too great 

 a favorite to be dispensed with. Its flexible branches form an 

 elegant covering for our trellised arches and windows, realizing 

 with every breath of air, the atmosphere of Araby the blest. 

 From its property of accommodating itself to all circumstances, 

 enduring the various extremes of heat and cold, and being still the 

 same happy, useful and agreeable being, by universal acclamation 

 it has received the signification of Amiability. Its flowers, which 

 are the favorite resort of the gay and painted butterfly, which is 

 never seen to greater advantage than when sipping honey out of its 

 perfumed cups, are in bloom from June to October. 



Robert Tyas says that this beautiful plant grew in Hampton 

 Court garden at the end of the seventeenth century ; but being lost 

 there, was known only in Europe in the garden of the Grand Duke 

 G 



