82 ALIEN FLORA OF BRITAIN 



correct in his identification of this species with the 

 Goatweed of Saxon herbahsts, it was extensively used 

 in England from the tenth to the seventeenth century. 

 This may be a clue to its introduction, but it is no 

 proof that it grew in England, either as a native or 

 under cultivation, because herbs of obviously foreign 

 origin are frequently mentioned by the same writers. 



JEthusa Cynapium, L. Not known in a wild state. 

 It accompanies cultivation everywhere in England and 

 Wales, and, to a less extent, in Scotland. It extends also 

 over the greater part of Europe. yEthitsa cynapioides, 

 which differs in a slight degree only, and is indeed 

 usually regarded as a variety of the above, is a native 

 of the woods and bushy places of South-East 

 Europe ; that is, towards the eastern end of the area 

 occupied by the type. In fact, perhaps it would be 

 historically more correct to look upon JEthusa Cyna- 

 pium as a variety of x'Ethiisa cynapioides, originally 

 produced by the favourable conditions attending the 

 appearance of agriculture in Southern Europe and 

 carried westwards with civilisation. 



Ammi majus, L. A native of the Mediterranean area. 

 It has been known as an imported medicinal plant 

 from Saxon times, but its first record as a weed in 

 England dates from the early part of last century. 

 It has been found sporadically throughout the greater 

 part of the country, owing its introduction, in most of 

 the ascertained cases, to the importation of foreign grain. 



Ammi Visnaga, Lam. A native of sandy ground 

 in the Eastern Mediterranean region which has been 

 found once or twice as a grain importation. 



