cxxx. 



DAPHNE MEZEREUM. 



Common Mezereon. 



Class VIII. Octandria.— Order I. Monogynia. 



Nat. Ord. Thymelole. 



Gen. Char. Perianth single, inferior, quadrifid, resem- 

 bling a corolla. Berry one-seeded. 



Spec. Char. Flowers subtemate, lateral, sessile, appear- 

 ing before the lanceolate, deciduous leaves. 



SYNONYMES. 



Greek 6v[ai\ux. Dioscorides. 



fLaureola folio deciduo, flore purpureo. Bauh. Pin. 402. 

 I Chamelaea germanica, sive Mezereon. Ger. Em. 1402. Rail 

 Hist. 1587- Park. Theatr. 202. 



Latin •{ Daphnoides sive Laureola. Fuchs. 220. c. 83. 



Daphne Mezereum. Lin. Sp. PI 509. Eng. Fl. ii. p. 228. 

 Eng. Bot. t. 1381. 

 '^Thymelaea Mezereum. Gcertn. Fr. i. 188. 

 French. . . . Mezereon ; Boisgentil ; Laureolle femelle ; Malherbe ; Garou. 

 Italian .... Mezereo ; Laureola femina ; Camelea ; Biondella. 

 Spanish.... Laureola hembra ; Torbisco; Mecereon. 

 Portuguese. Mezereao ; Loireola femea. 

 German... . Kellerhals ; Seidelbast ; Bergpfeffer. 



Dutch Peperboompje. 



Danish .... Kielderhels ; Tisbast ; Kinsbast. 

 Swedish . . . Koellerhals. 

 Polish .... Wylcze lyka. 



Description. — Mezereon is a bushy shrub, from four to 

 six feet in height, with a strong branched root, beset with 

 numerous fibres, and covered with a smooth olive coloured bark. 

 The branches proceed from near the base of the stem ; they are 

 alternate, erect, pliant, covered with a smooth brownish, ash- 



