232 CHAPTER XXXI. 



of " Lappre," perhaps the Burdock (Arctium Lappd), 

 which disfigures the damp pastures with its great 

 coarse leaves ; the unfruitful Darnel (Lolium) and the 

 barren Brome. Tribulus does not belong to the 

 army of weeds which invade the cultivated ground : 

 on the contrary, it is content to root among the 

 pebbles of the beach, only just beyond the wash of 

 the waves. Nor is it fair to liken the ornamental 

 little seed-case to the formidable Caltrop, an instru- 

 ment of war armed with great iron spikes, intended 

 to impede the advance of cavalry. It has been 

 suggested that Virgil's Tribulus may be the Centaurea 

 caldtrapa. This Composite is found on the Riviera 

 a short distance inland, but it is not very common. 



From "Tribulus" comes "Tribulation." But 

 what has the little plant to do with sorrow and 

 distress ? The connection is not apparent at first 

 sight. I think that it is thus : corn was threshed 

 with an instrument resembling in form the fruit of 

 the Caltrop, " Tribulus." Then the blows of adverse 

 fortune came to be spoken of as " Tribulation," for 

 they were compared to the heavy crushing strokes of 

 the flail-like "Tribulus." 



The various functions of the spines which cover 

 many of these small Dry Fruits are not discussed 

 in any botanical work with which I am acquainted. 

 Of course, it is well known that these prickles or 

 burrs or hooks may serve to spread the plant by 

 catching in the wool or fur of some animal, the 

 seed being thus carried to a distance. In the Mortola 

 Gardens, near Mentone, you may see the Martynia, 

 or Grapple-plant, with its extraordinary fruits. These 

 are furnished with long curved grappling hooks, 

 resembling the tusks of a mastodon. 



