208 CHAPTERS ON BRITISH BOTANY. [July, 



Thistles in particular. C. acanthoides and C. nutans are Grecian 

 plants. 



Carlina [xaifJi^atXewv XevKO'^, Theo. Hist. ix. 13), Sprengel 

 enters C. acaulis as the same that is described by Theophrastus 

 above quoted, and, without any hesitation, Billerbeck agrees with 

 Sprengel, but quotes Hist. Plant, vi. 1, and enters the name 

 aKavo<i, and intimates that another plant is joined with this 

 under the name 'xaLiJuaCkewv, p. 209, last paragraph. This 

 lessens our confidence in the identification of the plants of 

 Greece described by her ancient botanists. The name Chameeleon 

 is the only certain historical fact, and it even is as uncertain in 

 its application as is the colour of the creature (lizard) which is 

 called in Greek, Chameleon. The plant is extensively distributed 

 through Europe, from Norway to Macedonia and Thrace. 



Castanea. The Chestnut-tree is not, perhaps, to be accounted 

 the spontaneous growth of the British Isles, although in some 

 favourable situations it may spring up from the remains of the 

 uncollected fruit of former seasons. It is however one of the 

 few plants noticed by the ancients, about which there is no dis- 

 pute. It forms an important part of the food of the people who 

 live in the southern parts of Europe, and it was highly esteemed 

 in Greece, as may be inferred from its name, Sto? ^aXavo<i, 

 divine or excellent nut. (Th. iii. 3, 7 ;. Stack, i. 7.) 



Carpinus, ^vyia, C. Betulus. (Stackhouse, 19, Cat. Syst. ; 

 Theo. iii. 4!, 6, 7 ; Billerbeck, 232.) Theophrastus relates that 

 it (Hornbeam) grows in mountainous parts of Macedonia ; that 

 it is of quick growth ; that the wood is hard and brittle (v. 4) . 

 In Clusius, Sib. i. p. 55, there is an excellent figure of this tree^ 

 which he calls " oarpv^ Theophrasti." 



Caucalis, This name, given by the early Grecian botanists 

 to many plants, is a name, and no more, in relation to British 

 botany. Neither of our British plants so called, is identical 

 with the plants so called by the classical ancients. 



Centaurea. This was a comprehensive term in ancient, as it 

 still is in modern, botany. There is great uncertainty about the 

 plants to which the name Centaury or Centory is given. 



Centaurium is the name of a species of Erythrcea. Both 

 generic and specific names are Greek. The plant is also Grecian, 

 though it be not certain that our species is described by Theo- 

 phrastus. 



