DYES. 



again, it is interesting to observe, has given rise to such terms as cocci- 

 num, coccineus, scarlet ; and flowers having scarlet flowers, or berries, 

 frequently have the specific designation of coccinea, and cocci/era, respec- 

 tively. Is the expression in-grained, from granum, the Keruies dye? 



It seems doubtful then that vermilion is derived from the Arabic 

 Kirmij, it would appear rather to have originated in the Latin Venues, 

 and all may have come from the Celtic Quermes. Quermes meant Oak- 

 berry, this Oak-berry was evidently a worm, and from it was formed the 

 Latin vermes on one side, and the Arabic Kirmij on the other. It is 

 remarkable at least that the Hebrew for Kermes, viz. Tola, means 

 worm and it is deserving cf note also that several words in Arabic, with 

 the same root as Kermes, have a more or less direct reference to the 

 colour red. 



Madura tinctoria of equinoctial America is an Artocarpad, and the 

 source of the dye-wood Fustic, or Old Fustic as it is often called, in con- 

 tradistinction to Young Fustic or Venetian Sumach, the wood of lihus Coti- 

 nus of Zante, N. O. 71. Under N. O. 207. Piperacese, the berries of 

 Artanthe crocata are used for dyeing yellow. Where? Under N. O. 

 212, the yellow dyeing-bark Quercitron is derived from Quercus tinctoria. 

 Flavine, an American yellow dye, is supposed to be prepared from Quer- 

 citron. Quercus coccifera is the Kermes Oak already mentioned. 



N. O. 233. ZIXGIBERACE.E. GINGERWORTS. 

 Curcuma longa. Ros. Long-rooted Turmeric. 



Linn. Syst. Monandria Monogynia. 



The rhizome, Turmeric. 



Vernacular. Pee fa, Sans. Hurridra, Beng. Sans. Huldi, Sans. 

 Beng. Hind. Hulud, Dec. Arsina, Can. Manyellacua, Mai. 

 Munjil, Tarn. Passapoo, Pampi, Tel. Haradul, Haran-haha, 

 Cey. Zirsood, Urook-us-sefer, Arab. Zirdchoobeh, Pers. Coonhet, 

 Malaya. 



Habitat. Cultivated in India, Java, China, Cochin-China. 



EemarJcs. The wireipos IvdiKos of Dioscorides, and " Cypira herba 

 Indica" of Pliny. Curcuma is from Kirkum, the Persian for Saffron. Of 

 Turmeric, quasi " Terra marita," Royle writes, " it is remarkable that 

 in Persian works, Khaldoonion tomagha is assigned as its Greek name ; 

 in the Toght-ul-Mumineen, the description by Dioscorides of Chelidonium 

 majus, is translated and applied to the turmeric. But in the Mukhzun- 

 ul-udwieh a true description is given of this substance, but the corrupt 

 altered form of ^eXiSdwoi/ TO /ie'ya is equally applied." The plant is called 

 Crocus Indicus in old books, and it is scarcely necessary to remark that the 

 rhizome dyes a beautiful, but unfortunately not a very, permanent yellow- 

 304 



