ral productions, and some other curiosities. Amongst these 

 was an exqusitely carved horn of a Rhinoceros, which repre- 

 sents a leaf of the Cyamus Nelumbo, accompanied by the 

 flower and fruit in a smaller size. 



The Cyamus Nelumbo, native of the East Indies, Co- 

 chin-China, &tc. In many parts of which it is esteemed a 

 sacred plant, and makes a conspicuous figure in their mytho- 

 logy, as the symbol of fertility. Herodotus gives both it and 

 the Lotos the common denomination of lily, a term which 

 appears to have been applied by the Greeks to various plants 

 with large specious flowers. It appears, also, to have been 

 an Egyptian plant: their sculptures and mosaics, which are 

 still preserved, testify that it, as well as the Lotos, has ob- 

 tained religious reverence. 



The exotic C. Nelumbo, was generally called the Egyp- 

 tian bean, and is expressly said, by Strabo, to be so called, 

 because in its fruit it resembles the Grecian bean, differing 

 only in size and taste. According to Dioscorides, it was 

 sometimes called the Pontic bean; and is said to be not only 

 of Egypt, but also of Asia Proper and Silicia. 



Dr. Smith conjectured that it was the real mystical bean 

 of Pythagoras, concerning the prohibition of which, to his 

 followers, so much has been written, and so little determined. 

 It is supposed that this celebrated philosopher imbibed the 

 notion of its sacred character during his travels: and as it did 

 not grow in his own country, he took a substitute for it a 

 common seed resembling it, which the common horse bean 

 does very nearly. [See Rees' Cyclopedia.] 



This digression will, I hope be excused. 



To return to the Lager strxmia: The shrub is about the 

 size of a pomegranite-tree, rather straggling, smooth, with 

 angular twigs. Leaves opposite or alternate, nearly sessile, 

 of an elliptical form, slightly pointed, entire, finely dotted. 

 Flowers in a large terminal, of a fine rose-colour, not unlike 

 a double stock, but far more delicate, and without scent. 

 The petals heart-shaped, pointed, excessively crumpled and 

 curled, with long slender claws, \ftnthers yellow; called, 

 by some, the fringed rose. 



LARKSPUR. 



Delphinium. 



The Asxcpiviov of the ancient Greeks, "because," says 

 Dioscorides, "the slender segments of its leaves resemble 

 Dolphins." The resemblance rather to be found, according 

 to the vulgar ideas of that fish, between the curvature of its 

 body, and the horned nectary of the flower. Delphin, being 

 both the Latin and Greek for a Dolphin. 



The flower-buds, before they are expanded, are thought 

 to resemble the Dolphin. In the natural single state of this 

 flower, the outer petals form a kind of horn-shaped nectary, 

 at the back of the corolla, which is similar to the spur of the 

 LarK's-foot hence the name of Larkspur. 



Flora Historica. 



The Delphinium, although it loses its spur by the in- 

 crease of its petals, yet retains an advantage over the double 

 stock, and many other double flowers, by retaining its anthers 

 and stigmas, and consequently produces seed; but this seed, 

 if suffered to sow itself in the Autumn, generally returnsito., 



its natural single state; whilst the seed, sown later in the 

 season, or in the Spring, produces double flowers. 



The Delphinium is annual, perennial, and biennial : na- 

 tives of the South of Europe, Siberia, America, Sec. It is 

 without a calyx; petals five, the upper one spurred; nectary 

 cloven, with a posterior spur. Leaves, the lower are digi- 

 tate, or palmate; the upper, sometimes, undivided. Flowers 

 loosely spiked, or panicled, various in colour. 



LAUREL. 



Ivy Tree of America. Calico Bush. 

 Kalmia. 



Kalmia a genus so named by Linnaeus, in honour of 

 his friend and pupil, Peter Kalm, D. D., Professor of Eco- 

 nomy at the University of Abo. He spent several years in 

 North America, exploring whatever was worthy of observa- 

 tion: and on his return, cultivated a botanical garden, at his 

 own expense, for the use of the Academy of Science, at Abo, 

 although straitened in his circumstances. 



Laurel E. Sp. Laurel. Fr. Laurier. It. Lauro. Lat. 

 Laurus. Law coincides in elements with fiower, fioreo. 

 Floreo, to flourish, to bear flowers, to blossom. 



There are many species of the Kalmia, indigenous in 

 North America. The whole genus is remarkable for its ele- 

 gant flowers and foliage; decorating the sides of hills, and 

 sometimes found in the woods. 



The narrow-leaved Laurel, K. Jlngustifolia, a shrub 

 of from two to six feet high, produces the most brilliant cup- 

 shaped flowers, in loose lateral bunches, and in the greatest 

 abundance, of a bright red colour, when they first open ; but 

 afterwards fading to a blush or peach colour, beautifully va- 

 riegated with crimson. Leaves of a shining green above, 

 paler beneath, lanceolate, on short foot-stalks, placed with- 

 out order. All the species are said to be poisonous to sheep 

 and cattle. 



The broad-leaved Laurel, K. Latifolia, rises to the 

 height of from ten to twelve feet. Blossoms like the first. 



K. Hirsuta, or Hairy-leaved Kalmia, has purplish flow- 

 ers: native of South Carolina, in swampy soil. 



LAURUSTINUS. 



Viburnum Tinus. 



Viburnum reckoned by Linnaeus among the Latin 

 names whose origin cannot be ascertained. It is traced by 

 Ainsworth, Vaillant, and Martyn, to the verb vieo, to bind. 



Tinus a kind of Bay tree, a Laurustinus. 



Ainsworth. 



Laurustinus an evergreen shrub, which flowers about 

 Michaelmas, and holds its flower through the winter. 



Johnson. 



Rees tells us that it is a compound word, meaning Lau- 

 rus, which is called Tinus; and Ovid teaches us that the first 

 syllable of Tinus is long: " Et bicolor myrtus, et baccis cae- 

 rula Tinus." 



Tinus is a name given in Pliny, B. 15, chap. 30, for 

 what he says is sometimes termed a sort of Wild Laurel, and 

 is distinguished by the blue colour of its berries. This de- 

 scription is universally agreed to apply to our Laurustinus, or 

 Viburnum Tinus of Linnaeus. [See .Rees.] 



