264 REMARKABLE EXCRESCENCES. 



which last are produced by a different species of 

 Quercus from either of our own. The common Dog- 

 rose, /. 992, frequently bears large moss-like balls, in 

 whose internal parts numerous maggots are always to 

 be found, till they become the winged Cynips Rosce, 

 and eat their way out. Many of our Willows bear 

 round excrescences, as large as peas, on their leaves; 

 but I remember to have been very much astonished in 

 Provence with a fine branched production on the Wil- 

 lows in winter, which appeared like a tufted Lichen, 

 but proved on examination a real Gall. Indeed our 

 Sallv Helix > t. 1343, is called Rose Willow from its 

 bearing no less remarkable an excrescence, like a rose, 

 at the ends of some of its branches, in consequence of 

 the puncture of an insect; and these are in like manner 

 durable, though the proper leaves fall. The Mastic- 

 tree, Pistacia Lentiscus, is often laden, in the south 

 of Europe, with large red hollow finger-like bodies, 

 swarming internally with small insects, the Aphis 

 Pistacice of Linnaeus. The young shoots of Salvia 

 pomifera, Fl. Grczc. t. 15, S. triloba, t. 17, and even 

 S. officinalis, in consequence of the attacks probably 

 of some Cynips, swell into large juicy balls, very like 

 apples, and even crowned with rudiments of leaves 

 resembling the calyx of that fruit. These are esteemed 

 in the Levant for their aromatic and acid flavour, espe- 

 cially when prepared with sugar. 



It may be remarked that all the excrescences above 

 mentioned are generally more acid than the rest of the 



