CHAP. XLVII. TAMARICA CEZ. TA MARIX. 947 
other species ; and which, being highly astringent, are used in medicine and 
dyeing. The ashes of T. gallica and 7. africana, when growing near the 
sea, contain a large proportion of sulphate of soda; so that they may be 
profitably burnt to obtain this salt : its abundance explains the utility of some 
of these plants as diuretics. TJ. gallica grows on Mount Sinai; and, by the 
puncture of Céccus manniparus, a species of manna is produced, which is 
known by the name of Arabian, to distinguish it from the Persian manna, 
which is the produce of A/hdgi Maurorum. (p. 646.) The tamarisk was a cele- 
brated medicinal plant with the ancient Arabians, from whom the Latins seem 
to have borrowed the high encomiums they bestowed on its virtues. Dr. 
Grindall, who brought it from Germany after he was made Archbishop of 
Canterbury (see p.39.), cultivated it chiefly for its medicinal virtues; and 
Master Richard Hakluyt, in 1599, tells us that “many people have received 
great health by this plant.” (Voy., ii. p. 161.) The tamarisk is mentioned by 
nearly all the ancient poets. Homer states that it was the tree against which 
Achilles laid his spear before he plunged into the GZanthus to pursue the 
flying Trojans; and Theocritus, in his Pastorals, Virgil, in his Eclogues, and 
Ovid, in several of his poems, all refer to this plant. Some of the older 
British poets have also celebrated it. Davy says, — 
——‘‘ On yon rough crag, 
Where the wild tamarisk whistles to the blast ;” 
and Browne,— 
** Among the rest, the tamarisk there stood, 
For huswives’ besomes onely knowne most good.” 
Evelyn speaks of it as having been anciently considered as a tree accursed ; 
and moh that the Romans wove wreaths of it, with which they crowned their 
criminals. 
Genus I. 
nh 
mt 
TA/MARIX Desv. Tue Tamarisk. Lin. Syst. Pentandria Trigynia. 
Identification. Desy. Ann. Sc. Nat., 4. p. 348. ; Dec. Prod., 3. p. 95.; Don’s Mill, 2. p. 725. 
Synonymes. The species of Tamarix of authors that have 4stamens and 5 stamens; Tamaris, Jr. ; 
Tamarisken, Ger. 
Derivation. So called, according to some, from the plants growing on the banks of the river Tamaras 
now ‘l'ambra, on the borders of the Pyrenees ; or, according to others, from the Hebrew word 
tamaris, cleansing, on account of their branches being used for brooms. 
Description, §c. Tall shrubs, natives of Europe, the north of Africa, 
and the west of Asia; subevergreen in British gardens; and highly valuable, 
as standing the sea breeze in situations where few other ligneous plants, and 
no other flowering shrubs, will grow. 
% 1. T.ca’tuica LZ. The French Tamarisk. 
Identification.. Lin. Sp., 386.; Mill. Ic. ; Dec. Prod., 3. p. 96.; Don’s Mill, 2. p. 726. 
Synonymes. T. narbonénsis Lob. Ic., 2. t.218.; Tamariscus gallicus Al.; Tamariscus pentan- 
drus Lam. Fl. Fr., not of Pail. ’ 
Engravings. Mill. Ic., t. 262. f. 1. ; Blackw. Herb., t. 331.; Lob. Ic., 2. t. 218.; N. Du Ham., vol. 
vil. t. 59.; and our jig. 671. 
Spec. Char., $c. Glabrous, glaucous. Leaves minute, clasping 
the stem or branch, adpressed, acute. Spikes of flowers lateral, 
somewhat panicled, slender, 5 times longer than broad. (Dec. 
Prod., iii. p.96.) Frequent in sandy places in France,on the  @ 
shores of the Mediterranean Sea and of the Atlantic Ocean, as WY 
far as Poictiers; also found upon the banks of rivers in the 
south of Europe, north of Africa, and west of Asia: flowering 
from May to October. It is likewise a native of Tartary, Bar- y 
bary, the Himalayas, and Japan; and it has been found wild + 4 
in Cornwall, Hampshire, Sussex, and Suffolk, in England. It 671 
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