282 OLIVE FAMILY. 



ovate-elliptic, the midrib below (like the branchlets and pedicels) hairy ; 

 fruit shining black. 



* * Inflorescence thyrsoid or paniculate and mostly terminal; calyx 



smooth, or nearly so. 



L vu/gare, Linn. PRIVET, PRIM. Flowers white (fading reddish) in 

 an ordinary Lilac-like thyrse ; the corolla tube flaring and about twice 

 as long as the small calyx ; leaves elliptic-lanceolate ; fruit black. Much 

 used for low hedges and run wild E. Eu. 



L. Japdnicum, Thunb. (L. CALIFORNICUM, L. ovALiF6nuM, and 

 CALIFORNIAN PRIVET). Strong hardy shrub from Japan and China; 

 cult, for its handsome long-persistent foliage and abundant white flow- 

 ers ; leaves oval ; flowers several to many on slender short branchlets of 

 an elongated panicle ; the corolla tube slender and 3 or 4 times as long 

 as the rather loose truncate calyx. 



5. OLEA, OLIVE. (The classical Latin name.) Flowers small, and 

 in small panicles or corymbs, in spring. 



0. Europcea, Linn. OLIVE of the Levant, planted far S. and on the 

 Pacific coast ; tree with lanceolate or lance-oblong pale entire leaves, 

 whitish-scurfy beneath, and oblong edible oily fruit. 



6. OSMANTHUS. (Greek : perfume and flower.) 



0. fragrans, Lour. Cult, in greenhouses from China, under the name 

 of OLEA FRA.GRANS ; shrub with very fragrant white flowers, and thickish 

 ovate or obovate veiny, often denticulate, smooth leaves. 



O. Americinua, Benth. & Hook. DEVILWOOD. Wild along the 

 coast from N. Car., S. ; small tree, with lance-oblong and entire very 

 smooth green leaves (3'-6' long), and spherical dark-purple fruit. 



7. CHIONANTHUS, FRINGE TREE. (Name of the Greek words 

 for snow and blossom, from the very light and loose panicles of droop- 

 ing snow-white flowers.) 



C. Virglnica, Linn. River banks from Penn., S., and planted for 

 ornament ; shrub or low tree, with entire, oval, or obovate leaves (3'-5' 

 long), the lower surface often rather downy ; loose panicles of flowers in 

 late spring or early summer; petals 1' long, and fruit blue-purple with 

 a bloom. 



8. FRAXINUS, ASH. (Classical Latin name.) Timber trees, with 

 light and tough wood, dark-colored buds, and small insignificant flow- 

 ers appearing in spring with or rather before the leaves of the season, 

 from separate buds in the axils of the leaves of the preceding year. 



* Petals present ; flowers polygamous. 



F. O'rnus, Linn. FLOWERING ASH of S. Eu., the tree which furnishes 

 manna, not hardy N., sometimes planted S. ; petals 4, either distinct or 

 slightly united, or sometimes only 2, narrow, greenish ; leaflets 5-9, 

 lanceolate or oblong, small. 



* * Petals wanting ; flowers generally dioecious (or polygamous in the last). 



t- Lateral leaflets stalked ; calyx evident. 



*+ Fruit terete at the base, winged from the other end (Lessons, Fig. 389) ; 

 leaflets 7-9, or sometimes 5, either sparingly toothed or entire. 



F. Americana, Linn. WHITE ASH. Large forest tree of low grounds, 

 furnishing valuable timber ; with ash-gray branches, smooth stalks, ovate 



