Mediterranean region. It grows luxuriantly in Florida, and a 

 plant of it in full bloom is a charming sight. A poisonous prin- 

 ciple exists in the flowers and leaves, and especially in the bark. 

 The olive family, Oleaceae, has a few representatives a little 

 beyond the oleanders. The sweet- 

 found wild all the way from Japar 



one ; another, and the most important from an economic stand- 

 point, is the olive tree, Olea europaea sativa, originally from the 

 Mediterranean region and the Orient, but now largely introduced 



forms a part of the group. It is from this tree that the olive of 

 our tables is derived, and from the fruit that the olive oil is ob- 

 tained. In the middle of the eighteenth century this plant was 

 first introduced into California, it is said, at San Diego. It is 

 largely cultivated at present in southern California. 



On the column in the immediate vicinity is a fine plant of 

 Bougainvillaea glabra Sanderiana, a native of Brazil. What are 

 usually called the flowers of this plant are in reality large bracts 

 forming a sort of cup or involucre surrounding the true flowers, 

 which are three in number, one for each colored bract. The 

 color of the bracts is sor 



purple. 



The collection of the potato family, Solanaceae, follows. 

 Especially interesting among the plants here is the tree tomato, 

 Cyphomandra betacea, from Peru, but largely cultivated in other 

 parts of tropical America. There are two specimens eight to ten 

 feet in height. The fruit is pear-shaped and of an orange color. 

 Its uses are about the same as those of the ordinary tomato. 

 Another plant of this family, with large white flowers, is Datura 

 arborea, from- South America, a close relative of the common 

 Jimson or Jamestown weed, or thorn apple, Datura Stramonium, 

 of our roadsides and waste places. On one of the columns near 

 the center of the house will be found another plant of this family, 

 Solandra longiflora, of the West Indies. 



In the corner, opposite to the dogbane family, are some of the 

 vervain family, Verbenaceae, Duranta repens, commonly dis- 



