PLANTS OF PALESTINE. 129 



indicating the locality. This species has not the 

 spinous stipules. 



Solomon's Hyssop, which grows out of the wall, 

 is thought to be a Caper ; the other plants suggested 

 are Marjoram (Origanum) and Savory (Satureia). 



The next Plant of Palestine which I shall take is 

 the Anemone (Fig. 51), so abundant in the Holy Land 

 that " they carpet every plain, and luxuriantly pervade 

 the land in every soil and in all situations." The writer 

 from whom I take these words (" Helps to the Study 

 of the Bible ") considers the Anemone to be a kind of 

 Lily. Let us hope that his theology is sounder than 

 his botany ! Although the Anemone is a long way 

 from a Lily, botanically speaking, yet it is probable 

 that the scarlet anemone is the flower alluded to in 

 Matthew vi. 28 : those " Lilies of the field which 

 toil not, neither do they spin " : those little stars 

 which light up the terraced hill-sides and outshine 

 the glory of Solomon. 



" Fair lilies of Jerusalem, 



Ye wear the same array 

 As when imperial Judah's stem 



Maintained its regal sway : 

 By sacred Jordan's desert tide 



As bright ye blossom on 

 As when your simple charms outvied 



The pride of Solomon." 



In the land adjoining my garden in the outskirts 

 of Nice the Anemone is cultivated for sale. People 

 stop to admire ; and well they may, for the ground is 

 variegated with every shade of colour, painted like 

 that Vale of Henna where Persephone sported with 

 her maidens. 



Half a dozen species of Anemone are figured 



9 



