COROLLlFLORjE. 305 



Affinities, &c. The relations of this Order are rather obscure. Some 

 authors connect them with the Jasniinaceae ; but although some of the 

 genera approach that Order in structure, they appear to be distinct in 

 their valvate corolla, adnate (dorsilixed) anthers, pendulous ovules, and 

 the nature of the perisperni. They are also related to Apocynaceas and 

 Rubiaceae. The Salvadoraceae are also to be regarded as a neighbouring 

 family. Lindley thought the Order allied to Solanaceae. 



Distribution. A small Order, the members of which are chiefly found 

 in temperate climates. 



Qualities and Uses. The most important plant of the Order is the Olive 

 (Oka europcea), so largely cultivated for the bland oil expressed from the 

 fleshy pericarp. Ornus europcea, O. rotundifolia, and Fraxinus excelsior 

 have a sweet juice which hardens into the substance called Manna. 

 Fraxinus excelsior is the common Ash-tree, so valuable for its tough 

 wood ; it only produces Manna in a warmer climate than Britain ; its 

 bark, as well as that of the Olive and Garden Lilac (Syringa wdgaris), 

 has decided febrifuge qualities. The leaves of the Ash act like senna. The 

 flowers of Oleafrayrans were formerly used in China to flavour Tea. This 

 Order contains several of the commonest flowering shrubs of our gardens, 

 the Lilac (Syringa), Privet (Ligustrum), Phillyrea, Chionanthus, &c. 



JASMINACEyE. The Jasmine Order consists of shrubs, often with 

 twining stems ; leaves opposite or alternate, mostly compound ; calyx 

 and corolla hypogynous, 5-8-parted, corolla imbricated in the bud ; 

 stamens 2, projecting from the tube of the corolla; ovary superior, 2-lobed, 

 2-celled, with 1-4 erect ovules in each cell ; fruit a berry or capsule ; 

 seeds with little or no perisperni, radicle inferior. Illustrative Genera : 

 Jasminum, L. ; Nyctanthes, Juss. 



Affinities, &c. This Order is distinguished from the Oleaceae by the im- 

 bricated aestivation of the corolla, the erect ovules, and the small quan- 

 tities of perisperm in the seeds, besides the number of the organs in the 

 floral envelopes, which is seldom a multiple of the stamens : most authors 

 place it near Oleaceae, others near Apocynaceae and Ebenaceae ; but 

 Lindley thinks it has little connexion with them, and really approaches 

 more closely to Verbenaceae. 



Distribution. The Order is not very extensive ; the major part of the 

 plants are East-Indian ; a few occur scattered, two even in South Europe. 



Qualities and Uses. The leaves and roots appear to possess a certain 

 acridity ; but the most remarkable quality is the fragrance of the flowers 

 of many kinds, from the presence of a volatile oil. Jasminum officinale, 

 J. rjrandiflorum, and J. Sambac especially yield this. Nyctanthes Arbor- 

 tristis is also exceedingly fragrant, but in the night-time only ; its corollas 

 yield an orange dye. 



SALVADORACE^E are a small Order of shrubs or small trees with 

 opposite leathery leaves, panicled small flowers ; calyx, corolla, and 

 stamens 4-merous, hypogynous; ovary superior, 1 -2-celled ; stigma 

 sessile; ovule 1-2, erect; fruit fleshy, 1-seeded, and the seed without 

 perisperm. It is related by its 4-nary structure to Oleaceae and to Plan- 

 taginaceae, having a membranous corolla like the last ; also resembling 



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