Botanique.org

The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is a native of south-east Europe. This is the species most known to the public because it gave birth to many horticultural varieties that inhabit our gardens, its rich and fragrant flowering is greatly appreciated.

The Latin name of the plant comes from the Greek "syringos" which means pipe : twigs are straight, long and filled in the middle of a marrow simulating the hole in a pipe. It can be removed easily, which has the common name of "English pipe tree." However, there is no indication that the wood of lilac has been used in the manufacture of pipe.

The lilacs are small shrubs or trees, deciduous leaves, inflorescence(N. F.) GROUPE DE FLEURS. VOIR CYME, OMBELLE, GRAPPE, EPI...s with highly visible (or panicles thyrse(N. M.) INFLORESCENCE COMPOSEE DE CYMES DE TAILLE REDUITES DISPOSEES EN GRAPPE.s) and very fragrant. Syringa vulgaris is the most known and gave rise to many cultivar(N. M.) AU SENS STRICT DU TERME : VARIETE CULTIVEE. IL S’AGIT DONC D’UNE PLANTE CULTIVEE ET PROPAGEE AFIN DE MAINTENIR LES CARACTERES AYANT JUSTIFIE LA SELECTION.s, in particular through the Breeders from Nancy, Lemoine and son, from 1850 to 1955.

Syringa x hyacinthiflora, an hybrid of species S. oblata x S. vulgaris.

Photography : Rolland Genot.

The lilacs belong to the family Oleaceae which includes well known plants such as ash tree, olive, forsythia and jasmine. The leaves are opposite as all Oleaceae (except jasmine). They are simple(ADJ.) SE DIT D’UN ORGANE NON COMPOSE DE PLUSIEURS ELEMENTS. PAR EXEMPLE, LA FEUILLE DE CHENE EST UNE FEUILLE ENTIERE..

Flower forsythia. As with botanical Lilac, 4 petals are welded to each other and there are 2 stamens.

Like most Oleaceae, petals, number 4, are welded to each other. The stamens are among 2. The ovary is upper (supère(ADJ.) SE DIT D’UN OVAIRE DONT LA POSITION EST PLUS HAUTE QUE CELLE DU POINT D’INSERTION DES PIECES FLORALES. VOIR INFERE ET SEMI-INFERE.=upper ??) and consists of 2 carpels. The placenta(N. M.) ENSEMBLE DES FAISCEAUX CRIBRO-VASCULAIRES ETABLIS ENTRE L’OVULE ET L’OVAIRE, AVANT OU APRES LA FECONDATION.tion is axile(ADJ.) 1. SE DIT DE TOUT PHENOMENE AYANT SON SIEGE DANS L’AXE CENTRAL D’UN ORGANE.. The fruits are berries while(N. M.) CICATRICE DU POINT D’ATTACHE DE LA SEMENCE. LE HILE EST LA JONCTION ENTRE LE FUNICULE ET L’OVULE. they are samare(N. F.) AKENE DONT LE PERICARPE EST MUNI D’UNE AILE.s with the ash tree or capsule(N. F.) FRUIT SEC DEHISCENT ISSU D’UN OVAIRE FORME DE PLUSIEURS CARPELLES SOUDES ENTRE EUX. VOIR : FOLLICULE, GOUSSE.s with the forsythia.

No food use is listed for the lilac when it is frequently used and planted for its flowering. In ancient time, lilac was a symbol of love and fertility, it is a plant, in English, premonitory distress formerly used for the funeral ceremonies. A lilac flowers of a white means a profound love lasting and true; less pure color reflects a relationship in jeopardy.