sturtevant's notes on edible plants 329 



The plant is now included among vegetables for the garden by Vilmorin,' although 

 he says it is scarcely ever cultivated, but that the tubers are often collected from the wild 

 plant in France. Burr ^ likewise includes this species among American garden plants 

 but we know not upon what authority. In 1783, Bryant ' says this French weed was culti- 

 vated in Holland for its roots, which were carried to market. In Siberia, the tubers are 

 said to be much relished by the Tartars. They are used in Germany. It can scarcely 

 be considered a plant of culture. 



Laurelia aromatic Juss. Monimiaceae. chile laurel. Peruvian nutmeg. 

 A Chilean species whose aromatic seeds are used as a spice in Peru.* 



Laurencia obtusa Berk. Algae, corsican moss. 



This forms the greater part of what is now sold in the shops of Britain as Corsican moss. 



L. pinnatifida Lam. pepper dulse. 



This seaweed is called pepper dulse in Scotland, on account of its hot and biting taste,^ 

 and is used as a condiment when other seaweeds are eaten.' 



Laurus nobilis Linn. Laurineae. bay. laurel, sweet bay. 



Mediterranean region. The leaves are used by confectioners for flavoring.' 



Lavandula spica Cav. Labiaiae. lavender. 



Mediterranean regions. This plant appears to be the nardus stricta of ancient writers 

 and was by them held in high esteem.' There are three varieties, says Burr, in cultivation; 

 it is used as a potherb. It was mentioned for our gardens by McMahon,' 1806. Lavender 

 yields oil-of-spike, used by painters on porcelain and by artists in the preparation of 

 varnishes. It is cultivated in Surrey, England, to the extent of 300 acres. It is also 

 grown in Lincolnshire and in Hertfordshire, "where, in 1871, about 50 acres were cropped. 

 Mawe, 1778, named four types: the narrow-leaved with blue flowers, the narrow-leaved 

 with white flowers, the broad-leaved and the dwarf. 



L. vera DC. lavender. 



Mediterranean region. This species was used by the Romans to mix with salads '" 

 and is occasionally cultivated in our gardens, as the seed appears in our seedsmen's catalogs. 

 There is no satisfactory identification of lavender in the writings of the ancients, although 

 it seems to have been well known to the botanists of the sixteenth centiory. Its use as 



Vilmorin Les Pis. Potag. 241. 1883. 

 'Burr, F. Field, Card. Veg. lo^. 1863. 

 'Bryant F/. Diet. 1783. 



Smith, A. Treas. Bot. 2:663. 1870. (L. sempervirens) 

 'Harvey, W. H. Phycol. Brit. 2: PI. LV. 1846-51. 

 Lindley, J. Feg. King. 24. 1846. 



'Lindley, J. Med. Econ. Bot. 2:664. 1870. 

 Mcintosh, C. Book Card. 2:261. 1855. 



McMahon, B. Amer. Card. Col. 583. 1806. 

 > Mcintosh, C. Book Card. 2:7. 1855. 



