POPULAR FLORA. 189 



72. JESSAMINE FAMILY. Order JASMINACEiE. 



Shrubby, mostly climbing plants, with opposite and mostly compound (pinnate) leaves, 

 and periect flowers with a salver-shaped corolla of 5 or more lobes overlapping in the bud, 

 but only 2 stamens. Ovary 2-celled, with 2 or 3 ovules erect from the base of each cell. 

 No wild species ; but in gardens and houses we have the common Qldsminuni) *Jess amine. 



73. OLIVE FAMILY. Order OLEACE^. 



Shrubs or trees, with opposite leaves ; the corolla, when there is any, 4-lobed, and the 

 lobes valvule (edge to edge) in the bud, but the stamens only 2 and short: sometimes 

 there are 4 distinct petals ; and all our species of Ash are without petals. Ovary 2-celled, 

 with 2 ovules hanging from the top of each cell : the fruit often one-celled and one-seeded ; 

 either a stone-fruit, as in the Olive and Fringe-tree ; a berry, as in Privet ; a pod, as in 

 Lilac ; or a key, as in the Ash. x 



Corolla salver-shaped or funnel-shaped, with a 4-lobed border : flowers perfect, in thick 

 panicles. Leaves simple, entire. 

 Corolla salver-shaped with a long tube: fruit a flat 4-seeded pod, {Syringa) *Lilac. 



Corolla short, funnel-shaped ; fruit a 1- or 2-seeded berry. Low shrub, (Ligustrum) *Privet. 

 Corolla of 4 very long and narrow petals, barely united at the bottom. Drupe one-seeded. 

 Low tree or shrub, with simple leaves, and slender drooping panicles of delicate 

 snow-white blossoms, ( Chiondnthm) Fringe-tree. 



Corolla none : even the calyx small or sometimes .none : stamens 2, rarely 3 or 4, on the 

 receptacle : fruit a key, winged at the top or all round, one-seeded. Trees, with 

 opposite pinnate leaves, (Frdxinus) Ash. 



Lilac. Syringa. 



1. Common Lilac. Leaves more or less heart-shaped; flowers lilac or white, in spring. Cultivated: 



one of the commonest ornamental shrubs. S. vulr/dris. 



2. Persian Lilac. Leaves oblong or lance-shaped; clusters more slender. Cultivated. S. Persiai. 



Ash. Frdxinus. 

 The flowers in all our species appear in early spring, in clusters, and are dioecious, or nearly so. 

 * Key winged from the top only: leaflets stalked. 

 L White Ash. Shoots and stalks smooth; leaflets 7 to 9, pale (smooth or downy) beneath; body of 

 the key marginless and blunt. F. Americana. 



2. Bed Ash. Shoots and stalks velvety; leaflets 7 to 9, downy beneath ; body of the kej^ 2-edged, 



acute at the base, the wing long and narrow. F. pubescens. 



3. Green Ash. Smooth throughout; leaflets 5 to 9, green both sides; key as in No. 2. F. viridis. 



* * Key winged all round, oblong. ^ 



4. Black Ash. Leaflets 7 to 11, sessile; oblong-lanceolate, tapering to a point, green both sides; no 



calyx to the fertile flowers. Swamps ; common N. F. sambucifdlia. 



£. Blue Ash. Branchlets square ; leaflets 7 to 9, short-stalked, lance-ovate. W. F. quadrangulata. 



