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ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY-
Affinities. These, as already mentioned under Oleacece, I consider obscure. When
that article was written, and even in type, I was not aware that De Candolle had added
Schrebera (Roxb.), to the order. This addition, assuming that that genus is a true congener,
appears to add to the difficulty by rendering them more complex. At the present time most
Botanists coincide in considering Jasminece and Oleacece, very nearly allied orders, but distinct
especially as shown by the pentamerous tendency of the flowers of the former, as compared with
the tetramerous tendency of those of the latter. I have shown above that the transition from the
one to the other, is gradual and that they actually meet in Chondrospermum, which appertains
so far as yet known, about equally to both orders, being doubtfully placed in the one by Wallich
and in the other by De Candolle. To Lindley, however, it does not appear that Jasmines have
any real affinity with Olives, on the contrary he regards their unsymmetrical flowers, and
deeply lobed fruit, as suggesting a very different affinity and seem to point distinctly to those
monopetalous orders, in which the number of stamens is different from that of the divisions
of the corolla, such as Labiates and Verbenas, but particularly the latter which sometimes
resembles Jasmines, in their fruit, as happens in Clerodendron. As regards Jasminum I am
disposed to coincide with those Botanists who view its affinities as appertaining to the contortece
group of orders, Jpocynacece, Loganiacece, fyc. ; but with respect to Nyctanthes, think that
Lindley's views are nearer the truth. As regards Schrebera on the other hand, its affinities
fluctuate between Bignoniacece and Jcanthacece, having the compound foliage, panicled inflores-
cence and winged seeds of the former, with the hard capsule, and somewhat elastic dehiscence
(each valve bearing half the septum), of the latter, but differing from both in having the pen-
dulous ovules and seed of some Pedaliacece.
Assuming that all these genera are true congeners, it follows that the relationships of this small order are most extensive and complex, Jasminum associating with one set of orders, Nyctanthes with another, and Schrebera with a third. In a word, I view Jasminum as being properly placed in Endlicher's class Contortce, along with Jpocynacece, Asclepiadeos and I^ogan- iacece : Nyctanthes in Lindley's Echial* Alliance, with Boraginece and Verbenacece, while Schrebera associates in some striking points with Pedaliacece, Bignoniacece and Acanthacece, of the Bignonal alliance.
Geographical Distribution. India is certainly the head quarters of this order, in nearly all parts of which they are found and in many places greatly abound. They extend from the sea-coast to the tops of the highest mountains. From India several extend eastwards as far as China, and the South Islands : some are natives of Africa and the adjoining Islands, and several ai'e natives of New Holland. Two species of Jasminum and four of Bolivaria, are natives of South America, and two Jasmines claim the south of Europe as their native country, where they are justly prized for the formation of arbours.
Properties and Uses. These are not important. The flowers of J. officinale and grandiflorum furnish the genuine essential oil of Jasmine, but an inferior kind is also, I believe, in this country, extracted from J. Sambue, the flowers of which are also much used in the formation of native ornaments such as necklaces, and for dressing the hair on occasions of ceremony among the natives. The roots of one species is used medicinally as a remedy for ringworm and herpes. And the orange-coloured tubes of Nyctanthes arbor tristis are much used by the dyer to obtain a yellow dye.
Remarks on Genera and Species. Three genera only of this order are known in India, Jasminum and Nyctanthes, and recently Schrebera has been added by De Candolle. The flowers are much alike but the fruit very different, the first having a succulent berry, the second a flattened capsule and the third a hard oblong pear-shaped one, so that there
- In the remarks on my 3d group, page 129, I inadvertently named Lindley's Echial Alliance as corresponding
with my 4th group, I therefore beg the favour of the reader deleting the words "as suggested by Lindley who places it in his Echial Alliance," and inserting the word "however" after carpels, in the following line.
