120 THE CLASSICAL PLANTS OF SICILY. 
The Elaterium is still used medicinally. 
This is a very common plant in clayey soils on the south 
coast of Sicily, particularly at Terra Nuova, Alicata, Girgenti, 
Sciacca, &c. The elasticity of the capsules affords great 
amusement to the lower class, who sometimes call it Cetriuolu 
di Diavulu, or Devils Cucumber. Its modern appellation is 
xingo dyyivgn, in Greece, according to Dr. Sibthorp, which sig- 
nifies a bitter water-melon; and &yysx, apud Aphrod. Probl. 
lib. ii. means Gourds; both words being derived from åyyos, 
Vas, because the shells of gourds and melons are constantly 
used for vessels. 
52. Cucurbita Pepo.— Great Pumpkin. 
Iézoy.— Diosc. lib. ii. cap. 164. In Sicilian it is called 
Cucumeru, Many kinds of Gourd are cultivated, and most . 
of thein serve for food. 
53. C. Citrullus.— Water Melon. 
Xmiw.— Theoph. de Caus. Plant. lib. v.? Ayyouzia, Grec. 
hod. (Dodwell.) It is much grown, and named Cetrivulu; it 
is both meat and drink to the common people in the summer; 
but a stranger ought to be very careful in eating it, as it is 
liable to produce a sudden and violent colic. 
54. Cucumis Sativus.—Manured Cucumber. 
Xíxug yéz0¢.—Diose. lib. iv. cap. 154. sinbog.— Theoph, lib. 
vii. cap. 5. 
PORTULACEÆ. 
55. Tamarix E Tamarisk. 
vol. iii. tab. 291. 
Mugixn,— Diosc. lib. i. cap. 117, and Theoph. lib. i. cap. 15. 
But Stackhouse considers the plant of Theophrastus to be 
Myrica cordifolia, with which it cannot be identical, as 
Theoph. lib. i. cap. 16, describes the leaf ougzdides 3 orgoyyuhsrn™h 
Jleshy in roundness, i. e. . thick, cylindrical. Now called Muoixics 
À Aguugizn. Sibth.—ugins. Theocritus, Idyl. i. v. 13, and 
Idyl. v. v. 101. 
On the banks of rivers, but not so abundant as the T. 
Africana. 3 
