OLIVE FAMILY 
Leaves.—Opposite, simple, ovate or oblong, four to eight inches 
long, one to four inches broad, wedge-shaped at base, entire with 
undulate margins, acuminate, acute or rounded at apex. Feather- 
veined, midrib stout, primary veins conspicuous. They come out 
of the bu conduplicate, yellow green and shining above, downy 
beneath ; when full grown are dark green above, pale below and 
smooth except the midrib and veins which are hairy. In autumn 
they turn a clear yellow and fall early. Petiole stout, hairy. 
Flowers.—May, June ; when leaves are one-third grown. Perfect, 
white, slightly fragrant, borne in loose, downy, drooping, bracted 
panicles, four to six inches long, from lateral buds ; peduncles three- 
flowered. 
Calyx.—Four-parted, small, smooth, persistent. 
Corolla.— An inch long, white, dotted 
on inner surface with purple spots, 
deeply divided into four, varying to five 
and six, long and narrow lobes barely 
united at base; conduplicate, valvate 
in bud. 
Stamens.—Two, inserted on the base 
of the corolla, extrorse ; filaments short; 
anthers pale yellow, ovate, two-celled. 
Pistil.—Ovary superior, two-celled ; 
style short; stigma fleshy, two-lobed. 
Fruit.—Drupe, borne in loose clus- 
ters, on which the bracts have become 
leaf-like. Oval or oblong, dark blue, 
glaucous, one-half to three-fourths of an 
inch long, surrounded at base by the 
persistent calyx and tipped with rem- 
Fringe-tree, Chronauthus virginica. nants of the style. Skin thick ; flesh 
Drupes 14’ to 34’ long. dry ; stone thin. 
The Fringe-tree is one of the most beautiful of our orna- 
mental shrubs and although a native of the south it is hardy 
at the north and is extensively planted. It prefers a moist 
soil and a sheltered situation and may be propagated by 
grafting on the ash. 
The singular appearance of its snow white flowers which 
look like a fringe, give to it the common name. These 
flowers appear abundantly when the leaves are half grown 
and the foliage mass becomes a combination of soft green 
and pure white, which is most beautiful. 
