CXLI. JASMINES. 543 



Styracece inhabit Asia and tropical America ; there are a few in Japan, in the hotter parts of 

 South America, and in the eastern Mediterranean region. [Many species of Symplocece are Indian, and 

 several temperate Himalayan.] 



Storax and Benzoin are two balsams, composed of an aromatic resin in combination with a volatile 

 oil and an acid which crystallizes into needles, named Benzoic acid. These balsams, formerly adminis- 

 tered internally as stimulants, are now only used externally. Storax flows spontaneously or from incisions 

 in the stem of the Styrax officinale, a tree of the Mediterranean region ; and Benzoin is derived from the 

 Styrax Benzoin, which grows in the Moluccas. Some species of Symplocos yield dyes, and S. Alstonia is 

 used as tea in Central America. [Several species are employed as tea, and for dyeing yellow in the 

 Himalayas.] 



CXLI. JASMINES. 



(JASMINEARUM genera, Jussieu. JASMINES, Br. JASMINACE^E, Lindl.} 



COEOLLA monopetalous, 58-fid, hypogynous, anisostemonous, aestivation imbricate. 

 STAMENS 2, inserted on the corolla. OVABY of two ~[-2-ovuled cells ; OVULES collateral, 

 ascending, anatropous. FRUIT a berry or capsule. ALBUMEN disappearing when ripe. 

 RADICLE inferior. STEM woody. 



Small TREES or SHRUBS, often twining or climbing. LEAVES opposite or 

 alternate, 1-3-5-7-foliolate, exstipulate. FLOWERS ? , regular or sub-regular, in a 

 corymb or panicle ; pedicels trichotomous, many-flowered. CALYX 5-8-fid or -toothed, 

 persistent. COROLLA hypogynous, monopetalous, hypocrateriform, 4-5-6-lobed, 

 aestivation imbricate. STAMENS 2, inserted on the corolla-tube, included, opposite to 

 the 2 outer petals in the 4-lobed corollas ; in the 5-lobed corollas, when one of the 

 outer petals is doubled, one of the stamens is inserted between these two petals, and 

 the other remains opposite to the single outer petal ; in the 6-lobed corollas the 

 same change takes place in the 2 staminiferous petals ; filaments very short, or ; 

 anthers 2-celled, introrse, basifixed, dehiscence longitudinal. OVARY free, 2- celled ; 

 style terminal, very short ; stigma capitate or 2-lobed ; ovules 1-2 in each cell, at 

 first pendulous near the base of the septum, finally ascending, anatropous. BERRY 

 didymous, often one-seeded by arrest (Jasminum), or a cordate 2-celled 2-partible 

 capsule (Nyctanthes}. SEEDS erect, sub-compressed ; testa coriaceous, and endopleura 

 thick ; albumen at first copious, when ripe reduced to a thin membrane. EMBRYO 

 straight ; cotyledons plano-convex, fleshy ; radicle short, inferior. 



PEINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Menodora. Jasminum. Nyctanthes. Bolivaria. 



We have indicated the affinities of Jasminece with Oleinece and Verbenacece (see these families) ; they 

 approach Apocynece in their climbing or twining stem, usually opposite exstipulate leaves, hypogynous 

 staminiferous corolla, carpels cohering into a 2-celled ovary (as in Carissa), and dry or fleshy fruit; 

 but Apocynece, besides the separation of the ovaries in most genera, differ in their milky juice, the isoste- 

 mony and aestivation of the corolla, and the persistence of the albumen. On the other hand, Jasminece 

 approach Ebenacece in their woody stem, in 'the imbricate aestivation of the corolla, basin'xed anthers, 

 1-2-ovuled ovarian cells, fleshy fruit and compressed seeds ; differing in the diandrous flowers, erect ovules 

 and absence of albumen. 



Jasminece inhabit the hot regions [and cool mountains] of Asia. Some are African, Australian and 



