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Manual of the New Zealand Flora.

[Introduction to Order XLVII. Oleaceæ.]

Trees or shrubs, often climbing. Leaves opposite, very rarely alternate, simple or 3-foliolate or pinnate, entire or toothed; stipules wanting. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or unisexual, usually in axillary or terminal cymes or panicles or racemes, rarely clustered. Calyx inferior, usually small; limb 4–5-toothed or -lobed or wanting. Corolla hypogynous, gamopetalous and 4–5-partite, or of 4 free petals, sometimes wanting (always so in the New Zealand species). Stamens 2, inserted on the corolla or hypogynous; filaments usually short; anthers large, 2-celled. Ovary superior, 2-celled; style short or long; stigma entire or lobed; ovules usually 2 in each cell, seldom more, attached to the inner angle. Fruit a drupe or berry, or a 2-valved loculicidal capsule, 2-celled, or by abortion 1-celled. Seeds solitary or 2 in each cell, erect or pendulous; albumen present or absent; embryo straight, radicle inferior or superior.

An order of about 20 genera and almost 300 species, widely spread through most temperate and tropical regions. From an economical point of view it is chiefly important from including the well-known olive, which yields the most valuable of vegetable oils. The various kinds of jasmines and the lilac are common garden-plants belonging to the order. The New Zealand genus is mainly found in the north temperate zone, but also occurs in South Africa, Norfolk Island, and Australia.