130 THE CLASSICAL PLANTS OF SICILY. 
according to Dr. Sibthorp. To this species I would refer the 
guain of Homer. Od. lib. v. v. 411. Not uncommon in the 
woods of Sicily. 
80. Ornus Europza, Pers. (Fraxinus Ornus, Lin.) Manna 
Ash.— Fl. Grec. vol. i. tab. 4. 
Mic. Diosc. lib. i. cap. 109. "Theophrastus describes, 
lib. ii. cap. 11, two species, Miva iL, and M. TARENTE. 
The first, Stackhouse supposes to be Fraxinus excelsior; and 
the second, F. Ornus. 
Its modern Greek name is Mec. (Sibth.) A great quan- 
tity of manna is procured from this tree by making horizon- 
tal incisions in the bark of the trunk, from which the whitish 
glutinous liquor exudes spontaneously, and hardens by the heat 
of the sun. It is cultivated in the neighbourhood of Gibel- 
manna, Tusa, Castelbuono, Cinisi, and Geraci. The Sicilian 
manna, Manna Siciliana, is more esteemed than the Calabrian, 
Manna Calabrese. 
APOCYNEÆ. 
81. Nerium Oleander.—Common Rose-bay .—Fl. Gree. 
vol. iii. tab. 248. Named also Laurel Rose. In French, 
Laurier-Rose: in Sicilian, Laurirosa. Rosa Laurea by 
Apuleius. ( Spreng.) 
Nijgiov, oõoðápvn, fod0devd20v.—Diose. lib. iv. cap. 82. May not 
the dyg:a Aden, Theoph. lib. i. cap. 15, signify this plant? 
-= Dioscorides has given a good account of it; he remarks 
that its flowers and leaves are poisonous to dogs, asses, and 
mules, and that goats and sheep died, if they drank of the 
water in which the leaves had been steeped. 
Now called in Greece TIXLOOKDIN, GoGodADYN, and dry pio pts 
according to Sibthorp. ‘The latter name agrees with that of 
Theophrastus, and therefore strongly confirms the identity 
of the plants. This most elegant shrub is abundant on the 
banks, and in the dry beds of rivers and torrents, throughout 
Sicily; but I never observed it growing in similar situations 
where the lava of Mount Etna occurs. A variety with 
white flowers is sometimes found, according to Cupant. 
