LOTOS OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 251 



a good-sized tree of the Apple family (Pomaceai) ; it has large, 

 elliptical, rough, strong- veined leaves. In Japan and China 

 it is cultivated for its fruit, which is about the size of a 

 small plum, produced in clusters, and has the flavour of 

 an apple. It is cultivated in the Australian Colonies, and in 

 France and other parts of Southern Europe, where it fruits 

 abundantly, but is not sufficiently hardy to bear the severe 

 winters of this country. 



Lotos, an ancient Egyptian name for a plant growing in the 

 Mle, of which the Greek historian Herodotus (b.c. 413), who 

 visited Egypt, says — " When the river swells, great numbers of 

 lilies, which the Egyptians call Lotos, shoot up through the 

 water. These they cut down, and after they are dried in the 

 sun, take out the heart of the plant, which resembles a mekon 

 (poppy) ; they mould it into paste and bake as bread. They like- 

 wise eat the Lotos,-^ which is round, and equal to an apple in 

 bigness." This is, no doubt, the Nympliea Lotus of Linnceus, the 

 white water lily of Egypt, the representative of the white water 

 lily of this country, NympJiea alba {see ISTelumbium). It would 

 have been well if we could have ended the history of the Lotus 

 plant with the above ; but much discussion and difference of 

 opinion has arisen regarding the identification of the plant 

 called Lotos by the Greek poet Homer, who flourished 400 

 years before Herodotus. In the ninth book of the Odyssey he 



says : — 



" Nine days our fleet tli' uncertain tempest bore 

 Far in wide ocean, and from sight of shore ; 

 The tenth we toucli'd, by various errors tost, 

 Tlie Land of Lotos and the flowery coast. 

 "We climb'd the beach, and springs of water found ; 

 Then spread our hasty banquet on the ground. 

 Three men were sent, deputed from the crew, 

 (An Herald one), the dubious coast to view, 

 And learn what habitants possess'd the place. 

 They went, and found a hospitable race ; 

 Not prone to ill, nor strange to foreign guest 

 They eat and drink, and nature gives the feast, 



^ The tuberous root. 



