FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



at the time when the Nile rises and floods the regions along its 

 banks the Egyptians call it the lotus they gather, I say, the blossoms 

 of this plant and dry them in the sun, after which they extract from the 

 centre of each blossom a substance like the head of a poppy, which they 

 crush and make into bread. The root of the lotus is likewise eatable, and 

 has a pleasant, sweet taste : it is round, and about the size of an apple. 

 There is also another species of lily in Egypt which grows like the lotus 

 in the river, and resembles the rose (eVri Se KCU oXXa Kpivea poSota-t e/z<epea). 

 The fruit springs up side by side with the blossom, on a separate stalk, 

 and has almost exactly the look of the comb made by wasps. It contains 

 a number of seeds, about the size of an olive-stone, which are good to 

 eat : and these are eaten both green and dried." Sir J. G. Wilkinson, in 

 a note on the above chapter, states that the Arabic name of N. Lotus is 

 derived from the pi-shneen of the ancient hieroglyphics. The God Nofr- 

 Atmoo bore the flower on his head, and Harpocrates the Egyptian Aurora, 

 or Dayspring, is often represented seated on it. Garlands of Lotus were 

 put round the necks of the guests at an Egyptian party, and it frequently 

 occurs in the sculptures of Egypt, while Nelumbium speciosum, says Sir 

 J. G. Wilkinson, never is seen. All other authorities consulted in the pre- 

 paration of this Catalogue, state that it is the latter flower which is really 

 represented, the Kva^ios alyvTrnbs of the Greeks, called also KoXoKao-ia and 

 Faba JEgyptiaca. "The descriptions of Herodotus and other ancient 

 writers appear to the compiler to rather bear out Sir J. G. Wilkinson's 

 opinion. Most probably, however, under lotus, cyamus, colocasia, and 

 Egyptian bean, the ancients included various plants, eatable roots, and 

 beans or nuts, which, of course, in conjunction with their loose and confused 

 descriptions, would render absolute identification impossible. Acatalogue, 

 however, should follow authority, and accordingly Nelumbium speciosum, 

 is here adopted as the mythic Lotus. Water-lilies were considered 

 odious to Venus, as they rivalled her beauty ; and this it may be sus- 

 pected, and not their chaste whiteness and habitation amongst the cool 

 waters, as supposed by Wight, is the reason of the general belief in their 

 imaginary qualities. N. Lotus is the Lotus ^Egyptia of Pliny, Bk. xiii. 

 ch. 1 7 ; and of Prosper Alpinus, de plant. ^Egypt. 2, page 49 ; the N. sen 

 Neuphar JEgyptum of Vesling ; Castalia mystica of Salisbury ; and N. 

 Lotus of Linn. Forsk. Willd. Reich, and Delile. The red variety is the 

 N. rubra of Rox. and Castalia magnifica of Salisbury. The variety with 

 hairy leaves is N. pubescens, Willd. ; Castalia sacra, Salis. ; N. Lotus, 

 Burmann ; N. indica minor, Rumphius ; and Ambel of Van Rheede. The 

 vvfjityaia of Dioscorides, o-i'S?? of Theophrastus, and Nymphse of Pliny 

 is the N. alba, Linn. ; and the w^ala of Theophrastus and w^aia a\Xrj 

 of Dioscorides, N. lutea, Linn.; and of these identifications there can be 

 little doubt. 



Nymphsea stellata. TT. Star-flowered Water-lily. 



Linn. Syst. Polyandria Monogynia. 



The parts used, as in N. Lotus. 

 135 



