THORK 



. Faliunts Nupcca, (Christ s thorn.) 



SOLAXACEJE. JRhamnus Spina Chn sti, (Buckthorn.) 



Lycium liorridum. 



;iiE species of thorn-plants in Palestine are numerous; 

 (^ and the various words in the Hebrew signifying thorns 

 must indicate particular varieties. The pal iurm, which 

 is found growing around the Lake of Tiberias, is a 

 beautiful plant, despite the thorn. The seed-vessel is 

 peculiar, being round, flat, and like cork in substance, with 

 the hard seed imbedded in the centre of the encircling rim. 

 The Ziziphus or jujube-bush is found in the same places, and 

 with the p(dlurm among the Lebanon shrubs. Its branches 

 are armed with unequal thorns opposite each other, one short 

 and hooked, the other nearly straight and long. According to 

 the Eabbins, there are twenty-two words in the Hebrew Scrip 

 tures signifying thorns or prickles. Hence the difficulty of 

 identifying all. The kotz of the Hebrews, according to Celsius, 

 who has described sixteen varieties, means &quot;thorn&quot; in general. 

 The first named, or the paliurus, is called by the Arabs &quot;nabea&quot; 

 according to Hasselquist, who thinks that, as it bore a leaf 

 somewhat similar to that of the ivy, with which conquerors 

 were crowned, it would have been chosen at the trial of our 



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