1,-f
3ïiS.;
of the Ganges) : hardly later than this date, the “ kôlôkasiôn” is mentioned as an Egyptian root by
Diphilus of Siphnus (Athen. iii. 2) : C. antiquorum was seen under cultivation there by Ishak Israeli,
Ali ben-Redwhan, Abd-allatif, Belon, Alpinus, Forskal, and Delile; by Grant, around huts of Uganda
and Unyoro from the Upper Nile to “ 2° S. ; ” by myself, on Zanzibar ; by Forskal among the mountains
of Yemen ; by Graham, “ very generally cultivated ” in the environs of Bombay ; by Roxburgh,
Royle, Wight, and Drury, in other parts of Hindustan ; by Mason, in Burmah ; by Loureiro ii. 535,
in Anam; by myself, on the Malayan archipelago, New Zealand, the I'eejeean, Tongan, Samoan,
Taheitian, and Hawaiian islands. Farther East, was observed by Schomburgk under cultivation by
the Waraus of the delta of the Orinoko (edit, Ralegh). Northward and Westward from Egypt, tiie
“ colocasia” is mentioned by Glaucias, Claudius lolaus, Virgil, Columella, by Pliny xxi. 51 to 102
as cultivated in both Egj/pt and Italy: C. antiquorum is termed “ a. ægyptium” by Columna ecphr.
i i . pl. I , “ a. maximum ægyptiacum quod vulgo colocasia” by Tournefort inst. 159; was observed by
Belon, and Sibthorp, on Cyprus, Crete, and Zante; by Tenore, in Southern Italy; by Bossier, in
Spain, and called “ alcolcaz,” and by Clu.sius in Portugal (A. Dec.). By European colonists, was
carried to -Madeira, observed there by niyself ; and doubtless in some instances to America, observed
by Sloane i. pl. io 5 in the West Indies.
Certain Indian weeds appear to have accompanied the introduction of rke and taro into Egypt ;
and being inconspicuous, or of no known utility, may have escaped the attention of ancient writers :
Elatine verticillata of Tropical Eastern Asia. An annual plant that seems to have accompanied
the introduction of taro and rice : — observed by Delile pl. 26 in the rice grounds of Egypt. Eastward,
by Rheede ix. pl. 78 in Malabar; by Graham, on “ margins of tanks and other moist p la ce s”
in the environs of Bombay; by Roxburgh cor. pl. 142, and Wight, in other parts of Hindustan; and
by Mason, in Burmah.
Ammania auriculata of Tropical Asia. — Observed by Delile pl. 15 in the rice grounds of
Egypt ; and enumerated by him p. 29 as occurring also in India. Transported to Europe, is described
by Willdenow hort. berol. i. 7.
Jussieua repens of America ?. Aquatic or subaquatic, and called in Egypt “ forgaa ” or “ frækal ”
(For.sk.), on Madagascar “ vouioun-ranou ” (Boj.) ; and possibly introduced into Egypt as early as
this date: — observed by Forskal p. 210 at Rosetta, pentapetalous and creeping on the river-bank
and margin of fields ; by Bojer, on Madagascar. Eastw'ard, is enumerated by Delile p. 30 as occurring
also in India; was observed by Rheede ii. pl. 51 in Malabar; by Graham, in the environs of
Bombay, “ common on the margins of the tanks, and in rice-fields during the rains ; ” by Roxburgh,
and Wight, in other parts of Hindustan; and by Mason, in Burmah. Farther East, was observed
by myself in Peru and Chili, pentapetalous and aquatic, and hardly having the aspect of an introduced
plant; by S h or t in Kentucky, and is further enumerated by A. Gray 703 as growing “ in water
Illinois ? and southward : ” the “ J. erecta” observed by Nuttall along the Arkansas, by Pursh from
the Dismal swamp to Carolina, and according to R. Brown cong. occurring also in Equatorial Africa,
may be compared.
Sphæranthns suaveolens of Equatorial Africa. Called in Bengalee “ chagul-nudie,” in Tamil
“ kottang-karundie,” in Telinga “ bodatarum,” on the Deccan “ moondie” (Drur.), in Equatorial
Africa “ bozeea ” (Grant), in Egypt “ habagbag” (F o r sk .) ; and known there as early probably as
this dale : — observed by Forskal p. 154 on the river-bank near Rosetta, the plant and leaves exhaling
the odour of hyssop ; by Grant, along the Upper Nile on the '“ mud edges of Madi burn,” and used
medicinally in ague by the Wanyamuezi. Eastward, is enumerated by Delile p. 30 as occurring also
in India; was observed by Rheede x. pl. 43 in Malabar; by Graham, in the environs of Bombay,
“ a very common plant on rice fields during the cold season ; ” by Roxburgh, Wight, and Drury, in
other parts of Hindustan, its flowers seeds and roots employed medicinally ; by Burmann pl. 94, on
Cej-lon. Farther East, is employed on Java as diuretic (Ainslie) ; was observed by Blanco on the
Philippines, used medicinally by the natives, and called in Tagalo “ sambong gala.”
Grangea Maderaspatana of Tropical Asia. A diminutive procumbent plant called in Bengalee
“ namuti,” in Tamil “ mashiputri,” in Telinga “ mustarCi,” in Malabar “ nelampala” (Drur.); and
known in Egypt as early probably as this date : — observed by Delile along the canal at Alexandria;
by Grant, on the “ Nile bank, 14° to 15°.” Eastward, was observed by Rheede x. pi. 49 in, Malaba
r; by Graham, in the environs of Bombay, “ on rice fields etc. in the cold weathe r;” by Roxburgh,
Wight, and Drury, in other parts of Hindustan, its leaves used medicinally as a stomachic,
also in antiseptic and anodyne fomentations (Ainsl.) ; is known to occur also on Java (Lindl.),
Eth ulia conyzoides of Tropical Asia, Known in Egypt as early probably as this date : — observed
by Forskal p. 153 near Rosetta, on the mud of the Nile. Eastward, according to Delile p. 30, and
Persoon, occurs also in India.
Sphenoclea pongatinm o i Tropical Asia. Called in Malabar “ pongati” (Rheede); and known
in Egypt as early possibly as this date : — observed tliere in rice grounds by Delile ; and according
I .
i f
to R. Brown bot, cong. 58, occurs also in Equatorial Africa (A. Dec.). Eastward, was observed by
Rheede ii. pl. 24 in Malabar; by Graham, and Nimmo, in the environs of Bombay, “ in rice fields
during the rains ; ” by Retz, and Roxburgh, in other parts of Hindu.stan ; by Mason, in Burmah ; by
Blanco, on the Philippines, and called in Tagalo “ silisilihan.” By European colonists, was carried
prior at least to “ 1806” to the West Indies (Le Dru, and A. Dec.).
Damasonium Indicum of Tropical Hindustan, An aquatic plant with large cordate leaves,
called in Malabar “ ottel ambel ” (Rheede), in Egypt “ ouedneh cheytany ” (Del.) ; and known there
as early possibly as this date : — observed there in rice grounds by Delile. Eastward, was observed
by Rheede xi. pl. 46 in Malabar ; by Graham, and Nimmo, in tanks Bombay, and “ generally throughout
the Concans ; ” by Roxburgh cor. ii. pl. 785, in other parts of Hindustan.
Scirpus [Isolepis) fistulosa of Tropical Asia. — Observed by Forskal p. 15 in moist cultivated
ground near Rosetta. Eastward, according to Delile p. 29, occurs also in India.
Cyperus difformis oi Tropical Asia. — Described by Plukenet aim. pl. 192; observed by Delile
around Cairo and Rosetta ; by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, at Patras in Greece ; and according to Savi
and Parlatore flor. ii. (A. Dec.), introduced into the rice grounds of Italy. Eastward from Egypt,
was observed by Graliam in the environs of Bombay, by Roxburgh, in other parts of Hindustan.
Panicum (Oplismenus) colonum of Tropical A s ia ? . A grass called in Egypt “ abou roukbeh ”
geniculate (Del.) ; and possibly known there as early as this date : — described by Plukenet aim, pl.
189, and Ehret pict. pl. 3 ; and observed by Forskal p. 19, and Delile, along the Nile from Rosetta to
Cairo ; by Grant, on the Nile bank as far as “ i6°.” Eastward, was observed by Graliam in the environs
of Bombay ; by Roxburgh, in other parts of Hindustan, according to Persoon in cultivated
ground ; is described by Rumphius vi. pl. 5 ; and this or an allied species aboriginally introduced,
was observed by myself abundantly naturalized on the Hawaiian Islands. Farther East, was observed
by Humboldt and Bonpland (Steud.) in Tropical America.
Panicum pluitans of Tropical Asia ?. Called in Egypt “ zommeyr ” (Del.) ; and known there as
early perhaps as this d a te :— described by Plukenet aim. pl. 417; observed by Forskal p. 18, and
Delile, at Alexandria, Damietta, and Rosetta; and known to occur also in Arabia and on Madagascar
(Pers.). Eastward, was observed by Graham in the environs of Bombay; by Retz obs. iii. 8 to
V. 13, and Roxburgh, in other parts of Hindustan.
“ In this year ( = 5th year of sixth Mikado,” Humb. cosm. iv.), in Japan, land sinking in the
district of Omi an inland lake formed, and the volcano of Fusi jama makes its appearance, — “ 12,441
feet ” in elevation ; whose most violent eruptions were in “ A. D. 799, 800, 863, 937, 1032, 1083, and
1707,” but has since remained tranquil.
“ 2S5, June 26th, Monday,” [B\a\r), \Xxo Astrotiomical Era o f Dionysius of Alexandria. Who
first found “ the Solar year to consist of 365 days s hours and 49 minutes.”
A llium schoenoprasum of Northern climates. Called in Britain chives (Prior), in Germany
“ schnittlauch” (Grieb), in France “ cive ” or “ civette” or “ ciboulette” (Nugent), in Italy “ erba
cipollina” or “ porro settile ” (Lenz), in which we recognize the Egyptian “ pë sh ë ” (ms. Par. 44. p.
333, from “ p ë sh ” to divide) and the KAPTON of Diphilus of Siphnos — (Spreng.) : the “ skôrô-
thôprasôn” of Dioscorides, large like the leek, partaking of the properties of the leek and garlic, and
becoming mild when cooked, may also be compared: A. schoenoprasum is known to grow wild in
Siberia (Pers.), and according to A. Gray also in North America, as far as the sliores of Lakes Superior
and Huron. Westward from Greece, the “ porrum sectivum” was brought into notice by Nero
(Plin. xix. 33 to X X . 21) ; the “ sectile ” is mentioned by Columella xi. 3; A. schoenoprasum has
been long cultivated in middle Europe, is described by Buxbaum cent. pl. 45. and is known to grow
wild throughout Northern Europe as far as Lapland (fi. dan. pl. 971, Pers,. and Fraas).
“ Nov. 2 d ” (Astronom. can., and Clint.), abdication of Ptolemy in favour of his son Ptolemy II.
Philadelphus. — The hieroglyphic ovals of Ptolemy II. Philadelphus occur on various monuments;
as on the temple built by him at Philæ : and liis memory has always been cherished, from the patronage
he extended to Literature, and the large additions he made to the Alexandrian Library.
“ In the ensuing winter” (Champoll.-Fig.), the noted Coronation-fe.stival of Ptolemy II. at Ale.xandria,
Described very particularly by Callixenus.
Matihiola incana of the shores of the Mediterranean and Atlantic as far as Britain. Called in
Britain stock or stock-gillifower (Prior) or luinter-gillifower (Ainsw.), in France “ giroflée ” (Nugent),
in Germany “ levkoje ” (Grieb), in Italy “ for bianco ” or “ leucoio bianco ” or “ viole bianche ” (Lenz),
in Greece “ v io la ” (Fraas), in Egypt “ mantour” or “ klieyley ” (Del.) ; in which we recognize the
AEYKOION flowers carried in the Coronation-festival according to Callixenus, — and produced in
Egypt at all seasons according to Athenaeus v. 25 to xv. 17: the coronary “ lëukôiôn” is mentioned
by Theocritus vii. 64, Philonides, and the “ lëukôiôn porphurôun ” by Dioscorides : a “ Cheiranthus ”
is enumerated by Forskal p. liii among the coronary plants of Eg yp t: M. incana was observed by
Delile, and CIot-Bey, growing about Cairo, cultivated besides for ornament ; by Sibthorp, and Fraas,
f ' .S' ta■
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+ I