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Ulva lactuca o f the seacoast along the Mediterranean and adjoining portion of the Atlantic. A
marine/iZ77£r called in Germany “ meersalat ” (Lenz ); and the BPYON: ©AAA5 Í I 0 N prescribed
in Nat. mul. 570, — growing on stones and shells according to Theophrastus iv. 6. 2 to 6, grassy
green, broad and not unlike lettuce, described by Dioscorides as thin and stemless and employed as
an astringent medicinally, is referred here by writers: U. lactuca is termed “ f. creticus lactucæ-
folius ” by Tournefort (Bory) ; was observed by Sibthorp, and Bory, in harbours and sea-water pools
from the Peloponnesus to the Bosphorus ; and by Delile, at Alexandria. Westward, the “ vruon
thalassion ” or “ vallaris ” or “ iranê ” is identified in Syn. Diosc. with the “ gnömöusillön ” of the
Romans ; the “ liryon marinum ” according to Pliny x.wii. 33 is clearly an herb, the leaves arising
“ ab ima radice,” and he mentions additional medical uses : U. lactuca is described by Dillenius 42
pl. 8 ; and is known to grow around Italy (Lenz), and along the Atlantic as far as Britain, employed
there against scrofula, and from its bitter and salt taste sometimes mixed in salads (Engl. bot. pl.
1551, and Spreng,).
“ 406 B. C .” (Sm. b, d.), at Rome, military tribunes holding the place of consuls. Anxur or Tar-
racina, a city of Latium, captured from the Volscians by the Romans and war declared against Veii.
For the first time, pay decreed by the senate to Roman soldiers.
“ December” (Plut., and Clint.), death of Euripides. A t Syracuse on the “ same day,” the
government seized by Dionysius : who besides opposing the Carthaginian invaders of Sicily, wrote
poetry; and during “ thirty-eight” years reign, obtained several “ second and third prizes of tragedy
at Athens.”
“ In this y e a r ” (Sm. b, d.), Callias archon at Athens. He appears to be the Callias who “ 90
years before tlie archon Praxibulus ” ( = 315 -|- 90) discovered “ minium ” (Theophr.) ; a mineral pigment
at this time found in Spain — (Plin. xxxiii. 37) : the addition to tlie Second book of the Iliad
637 in which “ miltöpareös ” red-prowed ships are spoken of, possibly not older .than this date. The
face of the image of Jupiter at Rome was covered with “ minium ” as early at least as the triumph of
Camillus, and to the time of Pliny xxxiii. 40 the pigment continued to be brought exclusively from
Spain (from tlie mine afterwards worked for quicksilver).
“ In the reign of Darius I I .” (Julian ep. 37 p. 413, and C lin t) , Democritus visiting Persia and
Egypt.
Helianthemum vulgäre of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. Called in old British
herbáis sunflower (Prio r); in which we recognize the “ heliocallidem ” or “ hélianthes” growing
according to Democritus in Pontus and on the maritime mountains of Cilicia, myrtle-leaved, and
mixed in ointment by the Magians and Persian kings — (Plin. xxiv. 102) : H. vulgare was observed
by Forskal, Sibthorp, and Chaubard, from the Peloponnesus to the Bithynian Olympus. Westward,
is described by Matthioli comm. 546 (Spreng.) ; is termed “ h. vulgare fiore lu te o ” by Tournefort
inst. 248, “ h. cliamæcistus ” by Miller ; was observed by Scopoli in Carniolia ; and is known to grow
throughout middle Europe as far as Denmark (Crantz, fl. Dan. pi. lo i, and Pers.).
Caucalis maritima of the Mediterranean seashore. A carrot-like plant called in Greece “ cafca-
litlira ” or “ kaukalitha” (Belon, and Hon. Bell.), in Egyptian “ s ë s ë lis ” (Syn. Diosc.) ; in which
we recognize the “ kaukalis ” identified in Syn. Diosc. with the B P I 0 N of Democritus : — the
“ kaukalis” is enumerated among potherbs by Theophrastus vii. 7. i, and Chrysippus, is described
by Dioscorides as a span or more high, leaves “ sëlinô ’’-like, the upper ones more divided and hairy,
white fragrant umbels, the plant eaten either crude or cooked and diuretic ; is enumerated by Pliny
x.xi. 52 among the esculent plants of Egypt ; and is termed a “ lahanon almuron ” by the scholiast of
Nicander (Spreng.): C. maritimus was observed by Belon, and Honorius Bellus (append. Clus. 301),
eaten in salads in Greece ; by Sibthorp, growing on the sandy shore of Cimolus Island ; and by Delile,
near Alexandria. Westward, the “ kaukalis ” or “ kaukon ” or “ thaukön agrión ” or “ muitis ” is further
identified in Syn. Diosc. with the “ pëthëm gallinakëôum ” or “ pëthëm póulli ” of the Romans ; they
who eat “ capnon ” herb (by some read “ caucon ” ) “ bilem per urinam reddunt ” according to Pliny
xxvi. 19: C. maritima is termed “ c. pumila maritima” by Tournefort inst. 323 ; was observed by
Gerard gall pl. to on the Mediterranean shore of France ; is known to grow also as far as Barbary
and Spain (Gouan, Cav. ii. pl. 10, and Pers.). An allied species is called heris fo o t in Britain
(Prior).
Ranunculus Orientalis oi the East Mediterranean countries. The BATPAXION called XPYÍ
A N e EM 0 N golden-flowered, only two palms high and having leaves like Í E A I N ÍI and larger, enumerated
among signs of subterranean water by Democritus — (geopon. ii. 6), maybe compared:
R. Orientalis was received from the East by Linnæus (Pers.) ; and was observed by Chaubard on the
Greek islands.
Convolvulus Sibthorpi of the East Mediterranean countries. A species of bindweed witli leaves
“ cordato-hastatis pilosis basi angulatis ” (Sib th .); and the MA A A KOK I Í Í O Í twining around
reeds and whatever it gets hold of, enumerated among signs of subterranean water by Democritus —
(geopon. ii. 6), may be compared : C. Sibthorpi is termed “ c. græcus sagittæ foliis flore a lb o ” by
Tournefort cor. i ; was observed by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, from the Peloponnesus throughout the
Greek islands to Samos, but only in hedges, vineyards, and cultivated ground ; is identified by Bory
with the “ C. hirsutus ” of Bieberstein, occurring probably as far as Caucasus.
Calystegia sepium of Temperate climates. Called in Britain hedge-bells or larger bindweed
(Prior), in France “ liseron des haies ” (Fée), in Germany “ zaunwinde,” in Italy “ campanelle ” or
“ vilucchio maggiore” or “ smilace lis c ia ” (Lenz), in Greece “ përiplôkathi ” (Sibth.), and possibly
the “ malakôkissôs ” in question ; — clearly the “ smilax lë ia ” of Dioscorides having “ k is sö ” -like
leaves but “ malakôtëra ” as well as smoother and thinner, its circular white flowers distributed
throughout the plant which twines around trees and is formed into arbours : C. sepium was observed
by Forskal, Sibthorp, and Fraas, in hedges from Attica to Smyrna ; is known to grow from Kasan
in Russia to Caucasus, the Altaian mountains and Daouria (Ledeb.). Westward, the “ convolvulum ”
is described by Pliny xxi, 11 as an herb growing in bushy places and bearing a lily-like flower, scentless
and devoid of saffron, as though nature was learning to make lilies : C. sepium is described by
Fuchsius 719 (Spreng.) ; is termed “ c. major a lbus” by Tournefort inst. 82 ; was observed by Munby
in Algeria, by Lenz in Italy ; and is known to grow as far as Sweden (fl. Dan. pl. 458, Pers., and
Fries). Farther West, is known to grow on the Azores Islands (Wats.), on Newfoundland and along
the St. Lawrence (herb. Dec., and Lindl.), to the Saskatchawan (Hook.) ; was in New England before
1669, as appears from Josselyn rar p. 58 “ briony of Peru we call it though its grown hear, or rather
scammony ; ” was observed by myself in New England, as well as within reach of the Pacific tide in
San Francisco Bay. In the Southern Hemisphere, is known to grow in Peru (fl. Per. ii. p. 10) ; was
observed by Poeppig in Chili ; by J. D. Hooker on the Chonos archipelago ; by R. Brown, in Australia
and Tasmania; by myself, indigenous in Australia and New Zealand. Clearly by European
colonists, was carried to the Mauritius Islands, where it was observed by Bojer under cultivation
only; and to Java (Burmann, see A. Dec.). The root according to Lindley is “ purgative like scammony
but much less active ”
Salvia aethiopis of the Mediterranean countries. The “ aethiopida” growing according to
Democritus at Meroe and hence called “ meroida,” — believed by the Magians to open by contact
everything closed (Plin. xxiv. 102 and xxvi. 9), growing according to Dioscorides in Messenia and
on Ida and having shaggy “ phlömö ’’-like leaves around the base of its quadrangular stem, is referred
here by Matthioli and others : S. aethiopis was observed by Sibthorp around Athens and by the
roadside near Smyrna. Westward, is brought according to Pliny xxvii. i to 3 of fine quality from
Aethiopia: S. aethiopis is termed “ sclarea vulgaris lanuginosa amplissimo fo lio ” by Tournefort
inst. 179; is known to grow on the African side of the Mediterranean and as far as France and
Austria, the lip'of the corolla cohering and forming a sack (Jacq. austr. pl. 211, and Pers.).
Schoenus mucronatus of tlie Mediterranean seashore. A Cyperoid plant called in Egypt “ sææd ”
(F o r sk .) ; and the SXOI.NOYS by some called OAO^XOINOYS enumerated among signs
of subterranean water by Democritus — (Geopon. ii. 6), mentioned also by Aeschines, and Aristippus
(D. Laert.), may be compared : the “ ôiôshôinôs ” of Dioscorides iv. 52 has radical leaves and
terminal inflorescence : but S. mucronatus appears to be a maritime species, was observed by Sibthorp,
and Chaubard, in the sand of the seashore from the Peloponnesus to Crete ; by Alpinus, Forskal
p. 15, and Delile, along the Mediterranean shore of Egypt ; and is termed “ cyperus aegyptiacus ” by
Gloxin pl. 3 (Pens.). Westward, is described by Morison iii. pl. 9; is termed “ scirpus maritimus
capite glomerato ” by Tournefort inst. 528 ; and is known to grow along the seashore of the West
Mediterranean countries as far as Morocco (Schousb. ii. 28).
Equisetum arvense of Northern climates. Called in Britain horsetail (Ainsw.), in Germany
“ schafthalm,” in Italy “ coda di cavallo ” or “ coda equina” (Lenz ); in which we recognize the
I P r 0 Y PI i enumerated among signs of subterranean water by Democritus, and described as
resembling a horse’s tail, its stem more slender at the root than above, hollow and divided into joints
from which arise hair-like leaves — (geopon. ii. 6) : E. arvense was observed by Forskal, and Sibthorp,
in moist open situations from the Peloponnesus to Constantinople. Westward, the “ hippuris ” o f the
Greeks is identified by Pliny xviii. 67 and xxvi. 83 with the “ equisetum in pratis vituperata : ”
E. arvense is termed “ e. a. longioribus setis ” by Tournefort inst. 533 ; was observed by Lenz
frequent in Italy ; and is known to grow throughout middle and Northern Europe (Curt. lond. iv.
pl. 64). Farther West, is known to grow on Madeira (herb. A. N. S.) ; was observed by Drummond
in Lat. 54° at Cumberland House ; by myself, along the Atlantic as far South as Lat. 42°, and by
Barton to 40“ near Philadelphia.
Equisetum epkedrioides of the Mediterranean countries. Possibly the “ ippouris ” of^ Democritus
; — at least, agreeing better with the Egyptian “ phërphra” identified in Syn. Diosc. iv. 44 with
the “ krönöu trôphë ” of the prophets : E. ephedrioides was observed by Bory pl. 37 * th^ Peloponnesus
; by Bové in the Sinai Desert ; and Westward, is known to grow in Algeria and Spain as far as
the Garonne (Bory). 38