298 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



LAVENDER.—LAVENDULA, 



OR THE ANCIENT SPIKENARD, FROM SPICA 



NARDI.* 



Natural order, Verticillatce. A genus of the 

 Didynamia Gymnospermia class. 



Lavender is called "Ndofos, Nardus, in 

 Greek, from Naarda, a city of Syria, near 

 the Euphrates, and Nctp£oL<?<£%vs, quasi Nardi 

 Spica, which was the general name of the 

 Indian sort : also Nardus Indica, to put a 

 distinction between that and the Celtic and 

 mountain spikenard, -f 



The plant takes its name a lavando, from 

 washing or bathing, because it was used in 

 baths, on account of its fragrancy; or because 

 all the species were ingredients in lyes, for the 

 purpose of giving a sweet smell to linen ; or 

 entered the composition of the best Lavacra, 

 or washes for the face, in order to render it 

 shining and fragrant. It is also called Spica, 



* Todd's Edit, of Johnson's Diet. Hill, Mat. Med. 

 t Lobel. Cole. 



