pPant T5)orc, l2)cge^/, ansl "bLjrlc/. 417 



Long Purples. — See Orchis. 



Loros-and-Ladies. — See Arum. 



LOOSESTRIFE.— The word Loosestrife is a translation of 

 the plant's Latin name Lysimachia (from the Greek lysis, dissolution, 

 and mache, strife). Gerarde, who calls the plant, also, Willow-herb, 

 says of it : — " Lysimachia, as Dioscorides and Pliny write, tookehis 

 name of a speciall vertue that it hath in appeasing the strife and un- 

 rulinesse which falleth out among oxen at the plough, if it be put 

 about their yokes ; but it rather retaineth and keepeth the name 

 Lysimachia, of King Lysimachus, the sonne of Agathocles, the first 

 fiuder-out of the nature and vertues of this herbe." He adds that 

 the smoke of the herb when burnt will drive away gnats, flies, all 

 manner of venomous beasts, and serpents ; and says that Pliny 

 reports that snakes will crawl away at the smell of Loosestrife. 



LOTOS-TREE.— Lotis, the beauteous daughter of Nep- 

 tune, was unfortmiate enough to attracft the notice of Priapus, 

 who attempted to offer her violence. Flying terrified from the de- 

 formed deity, the nj'mph invoked the assistance of the gods to save 

 herself from his odious importunities: her prayers were heard, and 

 she was transformed into the Lotos-tree. Dryope, the wife of 

 Andraemon, passing the tree one day, in company with her sister 

 lole, stopped to pluck the fruit to please her infant son Amphisus, 

 whereupon she became suddenly changed into a Lotos-tree. lole 

 afterwards recounted her fate to Alcmena — 



" But, lo ! I saw (as near her side I stood) 

 The violated blossoms drop with blood ; 

 Upon the tree I cast a frightful look, 

 The trembling tree with sudden horror shook, 

 Lotis, the nymph (if rural tales be true) 

 As from Priapus' lawless lust she flew. 

 Forsook her form ; and, fixing here, became 

 A flow'ry plant, which still preserves her name. 



This change unknown, astonished at the sight, 

 My trembling sister strove to urge her flight ; 

 Yet first the pardon of the nymph implored, 

 And those offended sylvan powers adored: 

 But when she backward would have fled, she found 

 Her stiffening feet were rooted to the ground." — Ovid. 



The tree into which the nymph Lotis was transformed must not be 

 confounded with the Lotus Lily, or Sacred Bean, a totally dis- 

 tincfl plant : it was the Rhamnus Lotus, the Lotos of the Lotophagi, 

 a people inhabiting the coast of Africa near the Syrtes. Pliny 

 states that not far from the lesser Syrtis is the island of Menj-nx, 

 surnamed Lotophagitis on account of its Lotos-trees ; but Strabo 

 affirms that the lesser Syrtis, in addition to the adjacent isle of 

 Menynx, was thought to be Lotophagitis, the land of the Lotos- 

 eaters. In this country, he says, there are certain monuments to be 

 seen, and an altar to Ulysses, besides a great abundance of Lotos- 

 trees, whose fruit is wonderfully sweet. According lo Homer, the 



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