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368 CH R O N O LO G IC A L A R R A N G EM E N T
jubata IS termed “ usnea jubata nigricans” by Dillenius pl. 12; and was observed by Sibthorp in
woods on the liithynian Olympus, and var. “ rígida” on mount Athos ancl in Boeotia.
- Lycoperdon epidcndnun of Europe, The n EZIC of Theophrastus i. 6, — or “ pezicae ” of the
Greeks described by Phny as a kind of fungus having neither root nor stem, may be compared : L.
epidendriim was observed by Sii/thorp in the Peloponnesus ; is known to grow also in France and
Britain (Bulliard lierb. fr. i. pl, 503, and Silith. o.xon. 400).
Plocanmm coccinemn of shoal water in tlie Mediterranean and adjoining portion of the Atlantic.
The sea 'FYKOC described by Theophrastus iv. 6 as drifted by the North wind against Crete, more
beautiful in colour than sea-purple, and used for dyeing fillets and garments, — is referred here by
Spieiigel: the “ phoinisson alos phukos ” mentioned by Nicander as an antidote against serpents,
IS identified by Dioscorides with the “ phukos thalassion upomekés kai phoinisson ; ’ ’ the third kind
used for dyeing garments in Crete, is described by Pliny xxvi. 66 as “ crispis foliis ; ” and P cocci-
neum was observed in the Propontis by Sibthorp. And farther North, P. coccineiim is known to
grow around Britain (Huds. 586, Turner i. pl. 59, and Engl. bot. pl. 1242),
Laurencia botryoides of the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean. Tlie AMHEAOC-
□ ON TIA of Theophrastus iv. 7 — is referred here by Billerbeck: L. botryoides was observed by
Forskal p. 192 m the harbour of Constantinople ; by Virlet, in the gulf of Saros ; and by Bory, on
rocks on the coast of Greece. Farther South, was observed by Forskal in the Red Sea near Mocha •
and IS known to grow around the Kint islets on the coast of Australia (Bory).
Cystoseira selaginoides of the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic coast of Europe. ' The EAATH ;
n o N T I A of Theophrastus iv. 7, — may be compared : the sea “ abies ” is mentioned by Pliny xiii
25 ; the “ énalon muriken,” by Aelian xiv. 24 ; the “ myrica marina,” by Clusius ; C. selaginoides
was observed by Sibthorp, and Bory, around the coast of tlie Peloponnesus ; and is known lo »row as
far North as Britain (Billarb., and Engl. bot. pl. 196S). ' “
A IcyoiLuhuin neniation of the Adriatic, and coasts of the Peloponnesus. The CYKH: f lONTIA
of Theoplirastus iv. 7, — is referred by Billerbeck to Fucus turbinatus. A. nemalion was discovered
by Bertoloni in the Adriatic ; and was observed by Bory at the Southern extreme of the Pelopon-
nesus.
-Laminaria saccharina of the European coast along the Atlantic. Called in Britain honey-ware
from "wa r ” the Anglo-Saxon name for “ seaweed” (Prior): the RPACON growing according to
Theophrastus tv. 6 outside of the entrance to the Mediterranean and very large, mole than a palm
wide, IS referred here by Fraas, and Lenz: L. saccharina has its surface coated with a layer of
sugar, much used according to Duchesne p. 364 by tlie Icelanders.
“ 305 B. C.” (Sm. b. d.), Rhodes besieged by Demetrius : — who in the followina year made
peace with the Rhodians and returned to Athens.
Echium vulgare of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. Called in Biitain viper's bugloss
(Prior), and the “ éhis'” herb with which Alcibius bitten by a viper was healed — (Demetrius Chlorus
and schol. Nicand. ther. 541), may be compared: the “ éhiéion étSron ” is described by Numeniul
as the useful kind, having- a stem with elevated leaves and branches (scliol. Nicand. ther. 637) ■ the
“ Alkiviou éhio s” is commended by Nicander; E. vulgare was observed by Sibtliorp, Chaubard,
and Fraas, growing around Constantinople and in the Peloponnesus. Westward is said to have
been introduced into Britain by the Romans (F, Adams transl. P. A e g .) ; is described by Tournefort
mst. 135, and Blackwell pl. 299 ; and is known to grow in waste ground throughout middle Europe
as far as Denmark (Pers.). B y European colonists, was carried to Northeast America, where it has
become a weed in waste ground, observed by A. Gray especially abounding along the Slienandoah.
Lycopsis echioides of tlie East Mediterranean and Tauro-Caspian countries. — Two kinds of
“ éhiéion” are distinguished by Nicander, and the “ mikron éhiéion” is described by Numenius
as having prickly leaves and a small root (schol Nicand. ther. 637) : the “ éliión ” or “ thörillia”
or “ alkiviathion ” is described by Dio.scorides as having elongate rough leaves resembling tliose
of “ aghouses,” several stems, purplish flowers, and fruit like the head of a viper ; the “ echis ” or
“ d o n s ” or “ pseudancliusa,” distinguished from the “ anchusa” by the root not giving out red juice
was employed by the Magians against “ tertianis ” intermittent fever, a leaf collected with the left
hand being applied externally (Plin. xxii. 24) : L. echioides “ calycibus fructiferis inñatis pendulis ”
was observed by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, in unwooded situations in Greece and Cyprus • ancl is
known to grow also in Armenia (Buxb. cent. i. pl. i, Pers., and Bieb.). Westward, the “ éli’ion ” is
identified by Dioscorides wiUi the “ alkiviakoum ” of the Romans: the “ alcibion herba” was known
to Pliny xxvii. 22 only from its medicinal use ; but L. echioides has been observed in France (Dec
fl. ir., and Bory). *
304 B. C. (Sm. b. d.), P. Suipicius Saverrio and P. Sempronius Sophus consuls, after a victorious
campaign by tlie Romans against their neighbours the Samnites, peace concluded and tho
Second Sainnite war terminated.
to
OF A C C O M P A N Y IN G A N IM A L S A N D P L A N T S . 3 6 9
Not later than “ 303 B. C .” (Clinton iii. p. 482, see also C. Mull, fragm. Meg. p. 39S), Megasthenes
sent as ambassador to king Sandrocottus or Chandragupta at Palimbothra on tlie Ganges —
(regarded as identical witli Pataliputtra).
The art of writing, according to Megasthenes, was unknown among the Indians ; a statement
denied by others. He also found the ideas of the “ Brahmanes ” or Bramins agreeing in many
respects with tliose of the Greeks ; as in regard lo the origin of the world, its spherical shape, and
the omnipresence of its author and governor “ thSbs ” (Strab. xv. i. 53, 59, and 6 7 ); but “ like
Plato,” maintaining the “ immortality of the soul and judgment after death.”
“ Serpents large enough to swallow deer and bullocks,” are mentioned by Megasthenes, — and
some years later, by Deimachus (Strab. ii. i. 9, Plin. viii. 14. i, and Aelian xvi. 22) ; evidently species
of Python or Indian boa.
Musa nov. sp. of Tropical Hindustan. Almost stemless, dying to the ground each season,
and called in tlie environs of Bombay “ cowdera” or “ ran-khela” (Graham); the TAAA tree on
whose bark, Megasthenes was informed, the aboriginal inhabitants of India subsisted, — may be
compared : Musa nov. sp. was observed by Graham “ common on the Ghauts and hilly parts of the
Concan during the rains,” the leaves “ used for thatching houses,” and the bulb or stem boiled and
eaten, the poor people about Hurrychundarghur are menlioned by Gibson as having subsisted for
two months entirely “ on the inner rind and heart of ” this bulb ; which according to Davis is sometimes
“ dried and pounded into a kind of flower of which cakes are made.” The “ M. superba” wild
in the Dindigul valleys, and observed by Drury at high elevations “ on the mountains in Travancore”
is perhaps identical.
Sterculia villosa of Tropical Hindustan. Called in Tamil “ odul ” or “ oadal ” (Drur .); and
possibly included among the trees furnishing the bark with which certain Bramins seen by Megasthenes
were clothed— (Strab. xv. i. 60): assuming the coat of bark, is mentioned by Kalidasa
vicram. 5 : S. villosa was observed by Nimmo in the Concan South of Bombay (Graham) ; by Roxburgh,
Royle, and Wight, in other parts of the peninsula and as far as Assam, bags and ropes made
of the bark, wliich is easily stripped off the whole length of the tree, and the ropes used by all ele-
phant-hunters in the Himalaya as well as in the Annamallay forests (Drur.). S. guttata, whose
tough and pliable inner bark is converted into a flaxy substance of which clothing is made (Drur.),
h.is been already noticed.
Grewia oppositifolia of Tropical Hindustan. Perhaps included among the trees furnishing the
bark clothing— (Strab. xv. I. 60): G. oppositifolia was ob.served by Buchanan, Roxburgh, and
Royle, in the Kheree Pass and Dheyra Dhoon, the inner bark used for cordage and coarse cloth ; by
Pow'ell, and Stewart, in the Punjaub, the bark made into sandals, but tlie chief value of the tree consisting
in its leaves which largely serve as fodder (Drur.).
Antiaris saccidora of Western Hindustan. A majestic forest-tree called in the environs of
Bombay “ chandul ” (Graham), in the Northern Concan " kurwut ” or “ juzoogry,” in Malabar
“ araya-angeli,” in Tamil “ nettavil-marum ” (D ru r .) ; and possibly among the trees furnishing the
bark clothing — (Strab. xv. i. 60) : A. saccidora was observed by Lush “ in 1837 ” in the deep ravines
at Kandalla, is termed by Nimmo “ lepurandra,” and according to Graham “ is common in the jungles
near Coorg,” the bark so flexible that by beating with water it can be inverted and the br.mch sawed
off, and a sack formed by leaving a short untouched segment for the bottom ; was ob.served by Drury
and others as far as Malabar and Travancore, pieces of the bark soaked and beaten used by the hill-
people as clothing.
Celtis Orientalis of Hindustan. The Indian nettle-iree is called in Bengalee “ chakan-tubunna ”
(Drnr.) ; and is perhaps one of the trees furnishing the bark clothing— (Strab. xv. i. 60); the
“ jivanti” of Susrutas sutr. 19 to chikits. 37, is referred here by Hessler; C. Orientalis was observed
by Rheede iv. pl. 40 in Malabar; liy Graham, “ common along the foot of the G hauts” as far as
Bombay ; by Retz, Ro.xburgli, Buclianan, and Royle, in mountainous situations common throughout
to Travancore, Bengal, and Assam, where the inner bark forming a kind of natural or primitive cloth
is worn by tlie Garrows (Pers., and Drur.).
Calamus rotang of Tropical Hindustan. The rattan is called in Telinga “ bettam,” in Bengalee .
and Hindustanee “ b e ta ” or “ bet ” (Drur.); and the EYKAMf lEIC branches of trees, flexible
enough to make hoops, seen in India by Megasthenes — ( . . . . ) , may be compared: C. rotang was
observed by Rheede xii. pl. 64111 Malabar; by Lush, and Graliam, nearly as far as Bombay; by
Roxburgli iii. 777, and Drury, in other parts of the peninsula and frequent in Coromandel and Bengal,
believed to be tlie stouter of the different kinds of rattan exported from the valleys of the Himala
y a ; by Burmann, on Ceylon (Steud.). Farther East, is termed “ c. petraeus ” by Loureiro p. 260.
(I’ers., and Steud.). By European colonists, was carried to the Mauritius Islands, observed in gardens
tliere by Bojer. (See C, rudentum.)
Calamus e.xlensus of Eastern Hindustan. Tlie K A A AMO Y C : X AMA I K A I N E I C procumbent
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