FUCHS 27 



lation. The anthers are called by Pliny's name of 

 " apices," but not clearly distinguished from the styles. 

 The "glume" is defined as the sheath which encloses 

 each grain in a grass-spike. The "stipule" is the 

 sheathing leaf of a grass. A bulb is defined as a 

 rounded tunicated root, which is retrograde ; Theo- 

 phrastus knew better than this. When he comes to 

 explain the botanical umbel, Fuchs, like a true scholar, 

 goes a little out of his way to give the history of the 

 word, quoting the Greek skiadeion and the Latin 

 umhella, " qua mulieres vultum vindicant a sole et 

 aestum arcent." Cesalpini mentions parasols as being 

 used on journeys, and they are figured in Anglo- 

 Saxon MSS. 



Fuchs' letters show that he laboured during many 

 years to extend his Historia Stirpium. In 1565 he 

 was ready to publish three parts of what he charac- 

 teristically describes as an excellent, noble work, con- 

 taining in each part more than five hundred beautiful 

 and carefully drawn figures, together with the histories 

 of the plants. He sought for a wealthy patron to meet 

 the cost, and got the promise of one contribution. But 

 in the following year Fuchs died, and the work was 

 never produced. The manuscript is believed to have 

 been extant many years later, and the engraved blocks 

 were long used to illustrate the works of other botanical 

 authors. 



It is unpleasant to have to say of an author who 

 rendered real service to botany that his character 

 lacked modesty. Fuchs was in the habit of blowing 

 his own trumpet, and sometimes he blew it loud, as in 

 the title of his great work. He showed no jealousy 

 of other botanists, and often praised what they had 

 done. 



