Fig. 64.—Flower and leaf of the Jasmine.
The genus Jasminum is the only one in this tribe which contains plants common in British gardens; and of all the species contained in it, the common white Jasmine (J. officinale) is perhaps the best known. The flowers are produced in terminal clusters of four or six. The calyx is tubular, with the limb cut into numerous narrow segments; (see a in fig. 64;) and the corolla is funnel-shaped, with a spreading limb (b) divided into four or five pointed segments, which are folded over each other, and somewhat twisted in the bud. The two stamens and the style and stigma are enclosed in the corolla; and the fruit is a berry divided into two cells, with one seed in each. There is no albumen in the seeds. The leaves (c) are impari-pinnate, with the single terminating leaflet larger than the others; and the petioles are articulated. The common yellow Jasmine (J. fruticans) has flowers in terminal clusters of three each, and its leaves are either ternate, that is, with three leaflets, or simple. The branches are angular, and the leaves quite smooth. The Nepaul yellow Jasmine, (J. revolutum) has pinnate leaves of five or seven leaflets, which are smooth and shining. The flowers are large and produced in compound corymbs. They are a bright yellow, and very fragrant. The segments of the corolla are obtuse, and the stigma club-shaped. There are above seventy species of Jasmine, more than twenty of which have been introduced into Britain; but they may be all easily recognised by their flowers, which bear a strong family likeness to each other, and by the petioles of their leaves, which are always articulated or jointed, that is, they will break off the stem without tearing the bark. In other respects the leaves vary exceedingly in this genus, some being simple and others compound; and some being opposite, as in the common Jasmine, and others alternate, as in J. revolutum.
TRIBE II.—OLEINEÆ.
This tribe contains numerous genera, among which the most common are the Privet (Ligustrum), Phillyrea, the Olive (Olea), the Fringe-tree (Chionanthus), the Lilac (Syringa), the Ash (Fraxinus), and the Flowering or Manna Ash (Ornus). All these genera agree in their general character with Jasminum, except as regards their seeds, which abound in albumen.
In the common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare), the flowers, which are produced in terminal compound racemes, have a very short calyx
Fig. 65.—Flower of the Privet. (see a in fig. 65), with a funnel-shaped corolla, having a wide tube in proportion to the limb (b), which is very short and divided into four segments. The anthers of the stamens and the stigma are seen in the throat of the corolla. The berry is drupe-like, and generally contains two one-seeded nuts. The leaves are simple and opposite. There are many species of Privet, but the handsomest is L. lucidum, the leaves of which are broad and shining, and the panicles of flowers spreading. This tree yields a kind of waxy matter from its leaves and branches when boiled, which is said to be used by the Chinese for candles.