USED IN INFUSION, DECOCTION, &C. 



Vernacular. Goolab-ka-phul t Dec. Wurd, Arab. Gul, Pers. 



Mawar, Malaya. 

 Habitat. R. centifolia, Persia. R. damascena, Levant. R. mos- 



chata, Nepaul. 



Remarks. In the Mediterranean countries, JR. centifolia is the flower 

 used in the preparation of Rose-water and Attar ; in India, R. damascena ; 

 and in Persia, probably R. moschata. Roses of different kinds were 

 known to the ancients. Homer in several places sings of them, and of 

 " rosy-fingered Aurora," in allusion probably to the practice of Eastern 

 ladies colouring the tips of their fingers with various red substances, such 

 as henna. Athenseus gives a passage from Stesichoros also, in which the 

 flower is named : - 



Many a yellow quince was there 



Piled upon the regal chair, 



Many a verdant myrtle bough, 



Many a rose crown featly wreathed, 



With twisted violets that grow 



Where the breath of Spring has breathed. 



Herodotus mentions the sixty-leaved roses of the gardens of Midas, 

 and Theophrastus a f>68ov eVaroi/cu^vAXa. Dioscorides informs us also that 

 the rose was used to perfume wines ; that bathers leaving the bath were 

 sprinkled with powdered rose-leaves ; that the root of this plant was used 

 like costus ; and that carcanets compounded of nard, rose, costus, and 

 other most precious perfumes (similar indeed to the Poona necklaces and 

 bracelets of the present day), were worn by the ladies of Greece. Like 

 the myrtle, hyacinth, and 



" violet dim, 



But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes 

 Or Cythereas' breath," 



the rose was amongst the chaplet flowers of Greece.- The myth was that 

 it sprung from the blood of Venus ; and like the myrtle and apple it was 

 sacred to that goddess. Rose Water and Attar are used to flavour various 

 confections in the East. See " Sugars." 



N. O. 85. MYRTACE^E. MYRTLEBLOOMS. 

 Punica Granatum. Linn. Pomegranate. 



Linn. Syst. Icosandria Monogynia. 



The fruit. 



Vernacular. Darimba, Sans. Anar, Gulnar, Hind. Dalim, Darim, 

 Darmee, Beng. Madala, Mai. Madalum, Maailan, Tarn. Da- 

 dima-pandoo, Pavvu-danimma, Tel. Delumghedie, Cey. Ruman, 

 Rana t Kilkul, Arab. Anar, Pers. Delema, Malaya. 



Habitat. Northern Africa, Africa, Armenia, Mazanderan, Bokhara, 

 Cabul, Cashmire. Cultivated widely in Asia. 



Remarks. See " Drugs," and " Fruits and Vegetables." 



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