3GS PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XVI. 



cimens of elegant workmanship. A third kind, again, accord- 

 ing to the Greeks, is the zygia, 90 with a red wood, which is 

 easily split, and a pale, rough bark. Other authors, however, 

 prefer to make of this last a peculiar species, and give it in 

 Latin the name of " carpinus." 



chap. 27. (16.) — bruscum: molluscum; the staphylodexdron. 



But the most beautiful feature of all in the maple is what is 

 known as bruscum, and, even more particularly so,^ the mol- 

 luscum. These are both of them tuberosities of this tree, the 

 bruscum presenting veins more violently contorted, while those 

 of the mollusc um are disposed in a more simple and uniform 

 manner : indeed, if this last were of sufficiently large size to 

 admit of tables being made of it, there is no doubt that it 

 would be preferred to the wood of the citrus even. At the 

 present day, however, we find it but little used except for the 

 leaves of tablets, or as a veneer for couches. 91 Tuberosities are 

 also found on the alder, 92 but as much inferior to those already 

 mentioned, as the alder itself is to the maple. In the maple 

 the male tree 93 is the first to blossom. The trees that frequent 

 dry spots are preferred to those that grow in watery localities, 

 which is the case also with the ash. 



There is found in the countries beyond the Alps a tree, the 

 wood of which is very similar to that of the white maple, and 

 which is known as the staphylodendron. 94 This tree bears a 

 pod 95 in which there is found a kernel, which has the flavour 

 of the hazel-nut. 



CHAP. 28. THREE VARIETIES OF THE BOX- TREE. 



One of the most highly esteemed of all the woods is the 

 90 The Carpinus betulus of Linnams ; the horn-beam or yoke-elm. 

 8 1 " Silicios." This word appears to be explained by the accompanying 

 word " laminas ;" but it is very doubtful what is the correct reading. 



92 The Alnus glutinosa of Decandolles. In c. 38, Plinysays, very in- 

 correctly, that the alder has a remarkably thick leaf; and in c. 45, with 

 equal incorrectness, that it bears neither seed nor fruit. 



93 Fee observes, that it is incorrect to say that the male tree blossoms 

 before the female, if such is Pliny's meaning here. 



9* From the Greek, meaning " a tree with clusters." It is the btapnylea 

 pinnata of Linnteus, the wild or false pistachio of the French. 



95 " Siiiqua." This term, Fee says, is very inappropriate to the fruit of 

 this tree, which is contained in a membranous capsule. The kernel is oily, 

 and has the taste of the almond more than the nut. 



