368 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



stamens two; ovary two-lobed. The flowers are borne in axillary or 

 terminal few-flowered panicles. The species are distributed throughout 

 tlie warmer regions. of the Old World, South America, and Australia. 



Few even of the really old-fashioned flowers of exotic 

 History. ^^-^^^ ^^^ claim so long a record as the nowadays 

 neglected Jasmine or Jessamine. Introduced from the East Indies in 

 the year 1548, /. qfcimde had become so popular in this country that 

 Gerarde, writing near the close of the sixteenth century, says it was then 

 couunonly used for covering arbours. At tliat date another species was 

 also being grown in this country, for in 1570 J. fruticans had been 

 introduced from Southern Europe. J. (jrandifiorum, largely used with 

 J. o^chnde in the production of scent, was introduced from the East 

 Indies in 1629, and J. mmhac came from the same quarter in 1665. The 

 popular hardy winter-flowering /. nudifioriim was introduced from 

 China little more than flfty years ago. Jasmine is of great importance in 

 the scent-producing industry ; to take one local instance, we are informed 

 that at Grasse alone the annual value of the Jasmine blossoms used for 

 the extraction of essential oil is £5400. Several species also contribute 



Jasminum angulare (angled stems). A scrambling 

 principaispecies.^^^^^^^^^^^^ shrub with angular stems and trefoil leaves. 

 Flowers in terminal cymes : calyx-teeth short, oval ; corolla- tube 1 or 1 ^ 

 inch long, lobes lance-shaped, spreading, white. Introduced from South 

 Africa, 1886. 



J. GRACILLIMUM (very slender). An elegant, small stove shrub with 

 long, slender branches, and heart-shaped, hairy leaves. Flowers large, 

 white, fragrant, with nine corolla-lobes; in many-flowered panicles; 

 winter. Introduced from North Borneo, 1881. 



J. GRAXDIFLORUM (largc-flowcred). Very similar to J. o^cincde, but 

 more bush-like, the leaflets more equal in size, the flowers larger and 

 reddish on the exterior. Greenhouse. 



J. NUDiFLORUM (naked - flowered). Deciduous climber, w^th 

 polished green, angular branches. Leaves small, in threes, produced at 

 end of flowering period. Flowers clear yellow, produced in abundance 

 though solitarily, opposite, all along the branches ; winter. 



J. OFFICINALE (of the shops). Common Jasmine or Jessamine. 

 Branches angled. Leaves opposite ; leaflets three to seven, egg-shaped, 

 pointed. Flowers white, fragrant, in terminal clusters ; June to September. 

 Plate 177. There are several varieties, including those with silver and gold 

 edges to the leaves, a double-flowered variety, and one (var. ci.ffi.ne) wnth 

 larger flowers in denser clusters. 



