SYRINGA 



277 



these two closely related groups of plants is in the fruit ; lilacs form 

 rather large, I inch or more long, 2-valved, often flattened, few-seeded 

 capsules, while privets form rounded 1- to 3-seeded berries. All lilacs 

 have opposite entire-edged leaves (except the Persian, which in one vari- 

 ety has lobed leaves) . 



The violet-colored lilacs in cultivation have the two stamens almost 

 within the tube so that they show where the spreading border begins. 



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Fig. 480. — Japan Tree Lilac. 



Fig. 481. — Rouen Lilac. 



The yellowish-white (privet) lilacs have longer stamens projecting 

 beyond the tube. The violet-colored lilacs have larger flowers with 

 comparatively longer tubes. These differences must be known, as there 

 are white varieties of several of the other species. 



The smallest and narrowest leaves and the only lilac with notched 

 leaves is found on Persian Lilac (476) — Syringa p^rsica. The one with 

 leaves next in size, Rouen Lilac — Syringa chinensis, — belongs to a 

 hybrid of this species and the Common Lilac (477) — Syringa vulgaris. 

 The Rouen lilac has a number of varieties differing mainly in the color of 

 the flowers : white flowers, alba ; pale purplish, Met^nsis ; purplish-red, 

 Sougeana ; double flowers, duplex. 



Many species and varieties have the characteristic lilac leaves, with 

 a broad, nearly square base, tapering sides, and a sharp point. The 



