Trees, Shrubs, and Plants of Virgil 



the common broom (Cytisus scoparius), which is 

 common in the lower ground of Italy, and especially 

 magnificent round the ruins of Veii. It is highly 

 probable that it also includes the dyer's greenweed 

 (Genista tinctoria), which must certainly be the 

 plant of the ' Pervigilium Veneris.' All leaves have 

 flowers like enough in shape and colour to justify 

 the Romans in giving them one generic name. 



Flower, April to July. 



Italian names : Ginestra and Maggio (Spar- 

 tium). 

 Amareccioli, Estrici, Rug- 

 giulo, and Ginestra de' 

 Carbonaj (Cytisus). 

 Baccellina, Braglia, Cerretta, 

 and Ginestrella (Genista). 



Harundo. 



' fluvialis harundo ' (Ge. ii. 414). 



' hie viridis tenera praetexit harundine ripas | Mincius ' 



(Ec. vii. 12). 

 ' harundine glauca' (Ac x. 205). 



'agrestem tenui meditabor harundine Musam ' (Ec. vi. 8). 

 ' letalis harundo ' (Ac iv. 73). 



Under this name there seem to be included two 

 species, Phragmites communis, the common reed, 

 and Arundo donax, the great reed. The former 

 covers large tracts of ground in most temperate and 

 some tropical regions, and it is a frequent fringe to 

 river banks. When Virgil calls his river green he 

 may be thinking not only of the banks but of the 



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