29* Queries mid Answers. 



the modern mallow is remarkable, but which is very observable in many 

 of the y4trfplices, to which, according to Bochart, some suppose the 

 scriptural mallow to belong. 



It might, perhaps, have been more judicious to speak of the ancient mal- 

 low as an esculent in frequent use, than as an important one ; yet I can 

 scarcely admit that it is incorrect. I would willingly abide by the decision 

 of those wandering tribes who were reduced to the necessity of plucking 

 mallows from the bushes ; or of the Romans, who appear to have rated the 

 mallow much as we do the lettuce, as a cool and agreeable vegetable. 

 Evelyn says it was taken by the poets for all salads in general. " Pytha- 

 goras," continues he, " held malvce folium sanctissimum^ and we find Epi- 

 menides in Plato, at his mallow and asphodel ; andy indeed, it was of old 

 the first dish at table. The Romans had it also in AeYicuSy malvcB salubres 

 corpori,— approved by Galen and Dioscorides ;— namely, the garden mallow, 

 by others the wild, but I think both proper for the pot rather than sallet," 



Your correspondent observes that Sir J. E. Smith expressly states that 

 the malvaceous plants are not esculent; but a moment's reflection will 

 show him that if he takes this in its strictest sense, as including a// the plants 

 of that order, it argues rather against than in favour of Horace's mallow 

 being the same as our own, since, whether important or otherwise, the 

 Roman mallow was undoubtedly an esculent. Some of this order, how- 

 ever, are eaten ; the Jffibiscus escul^ntus for instance, which, according 

 to Martyn, affords a rich dish (the pods being boiled with butter), eaten 

 only in private families. Evelyn says that the " arborescent holy hocks " 

 are " by some recommended and eaten with oil and vinegar, and by others 

 with butter." He includes the curled mallow in his Acetaria. ^ ^ . 



It is understood that the Chinese use some kind of mallow in their 

 food ; and " Prosper Alpinus informs us that a tree of the mallow kind is 

 eaten by the Egyptians." * — E. K. 



LathrcB^a squamdria. — This curious plant is not uncommon near Rich- 

 mond, and is found in the thickest parts of the woods, generally at the roots 

 of the hazel. I never saw it growing truly parasitically but once, and thiat 

 was on the roots of an ash tree by the side of the river Swale, from which I 

 have seen fine specimens gathered : it even flowered once after the tree had 

 been cut down, and the root torn up ; but died in the winter. It was not 

 in any way different from other specimens gathered in this neighbourhood, 

 and was, in my opinion, truly parasitical. — L. E. 0. Richmond, Yorkshire, 

 March 4. 1829. 



Blackdown Fossils sent to us by J. R.-— The following names of genera 

 and species of fossil shells, from Blackdown, Devonshire, figured in Mineral 

 Conchologt/ or elsewhere, have been supplied by Mr. Sowerby ; — 



Venus plana, Mineral Conchology, tab. 20; Turbo rotundatus, 453; 

 Venu5 /aba, 567; Ammon2^e5 varicosus, 451; Turritella granulata, 565; 

 Turbo concinnus, 433; Cdrdium U\\\anim, 14; Cardium proboscldeum, 

 156; Cucullae'a oblonga, 286 ; Cucullae'a glabra, 67 ; CucuUae'a costellata, 

 447 ; Cucullae^a carinata, 207 ; Cucullae'a punctata, n. s. ; Venui' caperata, 

 518; Pectunculus umbonatus, 472; Trigonia aliformis, 215; ikfy tikis 

 ed^ntulus, 439; Inod^ramus concdntricus, 305; Nucula impr^ssa, 475; 

 Gryphae'a conica ; Corbula elegans, 572 ; Corbula gigantea, 209 ; Natica 

 canrena, Parkinson, t. 6. f. 2. ; Isocardia cuneata; Isocardia sp.?; (Solen 

 Sanguinolaria ; ^uccinum sp. ? 



On the Blackdown Fossils, hy R. C. Taylor, Esq. — The quarries of Blacks 

 down have long been known to furnish the best whetstones, and the most 

 beautiful fossils, perhaps in all England. Whatever may be the merits of 

 the former, the latter come more especially and properly under our notice. 

 From this locality have been furnished more than 1 50 species of fossil Tes- 



* Martyn's Millei*'s Gardener's Dictionary. 



