36 DIVI BOTANICI. 



lands where the plant is indigenous; and those botanists who enter- 

 tain the curiosity or desire of making themselves conversant with 

 the literature and glossography of their science, are furnished with an 

 ample and fruitful sphere for research and experience in the polyglot 

 denominations of this herb, and its history. 



As a generic head, the Musa confers its appellation on a group of 

 exotic vegetables which have ever been regarded with a natural par- 

 tiality, on account of the grateful and exhilarating sustenance afford- 

 ed by their fruits, to the inhabitants of sunny regions. This group 

 constitutes the Musaceous Family, comprising four genera, the first 

 of which includes five species — Musa paradisiaca, M. sapientum, 

 M. ensete, M. trogloditamm, and M. textilis, all agreeing in the 

 kind, but differing in the importance, of their uses and economy. 

 The last is particularly valued for its delicate fibrous structure, 

 from which some of the finest Indian muslins are fabricated. 



With the most erudite philologers, the Musa is that vegetable which 

 figures prominently in the genuine picture of longing, as distinguished 

 from coveting, so well delineated by the divine limner in his scene 

 of the Mandrakes — a sketch quite graphically descriptive of the 

 earliest patriarchal and oriental customs. Here the distinctive epi- 

 thet is significant of number and exuberance : it is Dudaim, a plu- 

 ral term denoting the Plant of plants with its fruit enclustered, 

 refreshing and nutritive. By scholiasts on the Inspired Scriptures, 

 this most mystical word is variously rendered — Mandrakes, Citrons, 

 Lilies, Jasmines, Violets, Figs, Mushrooms, odoriferous blossoms, 

 flowers of loveliness, or " amatorious philters ;" and, though the 

 first of these versions enjoys a general acceptance, yet the know- 

 ledge of this vegetable's economy and qualities shews its inadequacy 

 to represent the Dudaim, to the minds of intelligent naturalists. 



Instructed by observation and study during his extraordinary ad- 

 ventures, the indefatigable Wieland* was among the first to advo- 



252, 283 : by Bauhin and Cherler in the Historia Plantarum Universalis ; 

 folio, tribustomis, Ebroduni 1650; Tom. i, p. 148 — 141: and by Bodaeus a 

 Stapel, in his edition of 2 'heophrastus de Historia Plantarum, grace, et latine, ; 

 folio, Amstelodami, 1644 ; p. 352—3. 



• Melchior Wieland, M.D., latinized Guilandinus, was a native of Konigs- 

 berg, a respected physician, and an enthusiatic botanist. Having projected 

 an excursion into Africa and Asia, for the purpose of exploring and studying 

 the natural history of regions distinguished for the wonderful diversity, 

 beauty and magnificence of their vegetable productions, he was captured by 

 Algerine corsairs, and by them consigned to a tedious and detestable bondage. 

 From this, at length he was redeemed by the divine benevolence of Gabriel 



