Dr. Noehden's Account of the Banyan-Tree. 121 



which, undoubtedly, he had access : and this circumstance will recommend 

 the passages, which I am about to introduce, to our particular regard. 



We are in possession of two botanical works of Theophrastus, one in- 

 scribed the History of Plants* and the other rather unintelligibly entitled 

 On the Causes ofPlants.\ In this last work, he treats of the peculiarities of 

 different plants, of which peculiarities he endeavours to assign the reasons, 

 or causes ; hence that laconic and awkward denomination. It is a sort of 

 Botanical Physiology. In both works, the Banyan-tree is mentioned, and 

 altogether very fully, and accurately described. Theophrastus calls it the 

 Indian Fig, an appellation which was given to it, by the followers of Alex- 

 ander, on account of the resemblance, as he states, which the form of the 

 fruit has to the common fig. It is singular to observe, that the name, which 

 this plant bears in modern botany, Ficus Tndica, should have been bestowed 

 upon it, more than tliree hundred years before our era, perhaps at the very 

 first moment that it was seen by the eye of an European. But modern 

 science classes it with Ficus, not merely for the reason which Theophrastus 

 alleges, but because it is marked with all the characters which belong to 

 that genus. 



I now shall cite the passages themselves, from Theophrastus. The first 

 occurs in the first book, the twelfth chapter, of the History of Plants. He 

 there speaks of the curious mode of its rooting, and says thus :t " The 

 " nature and property of the Indian Fig, with regard to its rooting, are 

 " peculiar ; for it sends forth roots from the young branches, which roots 

 " are lengthened, till they come in contact with the ground, and strike into 

 " it. Tliere is thus formed a continuation of roots, in a circle, round the 

 " tree, which does not approach the stem, but remains at a distance." 



The next, and principal passage, is in the fifth chapter of the fourth book, 

 in the same work, and to this effect :§ " The country of India produces 



* Histoiia Plantarum. f De Causis Plantarum. 



X llistoria Plantarum, lib. I. c. 12. p. 13. (ed. Heinsii, Lugd. Bat. 1693.) 'iJi'a Jt ^I'^ns pwi; 

 «a( Oi/Vix/At; « T«? 'lv5(j(>J5 uvKTii * airo yap ruv jSxotrwv a<pinfft fJi^xp^i ou dv' truvaii^ri Tn yw xai pt^uQr, ' 

 Mai yi'veTat Tttpi to Oiv^pov xi/«Xw auvtxH to twv pi^^v, oux aTno/xevcv rcu r£>.F;^oy5, a>.>.a a^ffJIwof . 



§ Historia Plantarum, lib. IV. c. .5. p. 77. 'H Se IvJlxn x"^* tbv te xaXou/iEvw exei ffi/xSi', « 

 «aSi)iriv EK tUv xXaJojv ra; pi'^aj «v' Exarov eto;, StvTrep itpmai TrpoTipov ' a,(piwi Je oux ex tojv vewh, 

 cIm. ix 7UV ivciiv, kat eti waAajOTE^wv * auTai dz truvczTTTouaat tjT yvT, 'ttoioujiv uffTTtp ^puppounov KV)t>.io 

 irtpi TO JeVJjcov, oiVe yi'vEcrSai Ha^omtp UKYivnv, ip' cuf km ii(ii5a<ri SiarptSsiv . ekti Je ai pi^ai fiuopievai 



Vol. I. R J.aJnwi 



