268 



THE TAMARISK. 



was known to the Greeks and Romans under the name of 

 Myrica, and frequent mention of it occurs in the writings 

 of the ancients. Pliny describes it as an evergreen ; but 

 this title it scarcely merits with us, for it only partially 

 retains its foliage during the winter. It is, however, a 

 very pleasing shrub, remarkable for the rich purple of its 

 long tapering branches, and the light, feathery appearance 

 of its spray. The flowers are produced in July, growing 

 in bunches of spikes near the ends of the shoots : they 

 are flesh-coloured, with red stamens. 



The Tamarisk is scarcely indigenous to Britain ; for 

 though it is said by some to be wild in Cornwall and 

 on other parts of the coast, it bears every appearance 

 of having been planted. It was first observed in an 

 apparently wild state on St. Michael's Mount, whither, 

 perhaps, it may have been brought from the opposite 

 coast of France by smugglers. It is now a common 

 hedge-plant in many parts of the Cornish coast, having 

 been introduced, it is said, into the Lizard district by 



