300 Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 



Brassica gongylodes and eruca. " The first of these has 

 a protuberant swelling of the stem, from whence the leaves 

 issue, and this is the only part of the plant used. The second 

 is a fetid, offensive plant, but highly esteemed by the Greeks 

 and Turks, who prefer it to any other salad." 



Hibiscus esculentus. The unripe pod is stewed with sauce ; 

 sold in the markets green, for immediate use, and dry on 

 strings. 



Onopordum elatum adorns all the hills about Constanti- 

 nople. 



Papaver somniferum ; the Opon of Dioscorides. 



Cicer arietinum and lens. Dioscorides and Pliny. The first 

 " is used in great quantities in Constantinople, and mixed with all 

 their dishes and pilafs, where it is always whole and never bruised. 

 It is also used in great abundance parched, when it is called 

 leblevi. This operation is performed by Arabs, who have 

 a peculiar skill in detaching it from the cuticle while toasting 

 it. When prepared in this way, it is sold about the streets in 

 sieves, by the Arabs, who are called Leblevige, and form a 

 numerous body. The practice of parching this pea is of 

 great antiquity ; it is not only mentioned by Plautus and Aris- 

 tophanes, but Shaw supposes it to be the " parched pulse" 

 mentioned in Scripture. The second species is not so abun- 

 dant ; it is called by the Turks mergimets. It is flattish on 

 one side, and convex on the other, and hence called lens." 



Phaseolus nanus, and chonda ; " sold in great abundance 

 in the markets, and called by the Turks beyas fasiula, or 

 white bean, to distinguish them from scarlet runners." 



Dolichos lablab ; cultivate^ in all the gardens, but not sold 

 in the markets. 



Ipomaea purpurea, villosa, and coccinea. " These grow in 

 Constantinople with great luxuriance and beauty ; they twine 

 round poles and climb up trees, forming with their rich and 

 varied flowers the brightest wreaths." 



Amaranthus hybridus and caudatus. " The first is a na- 

 tive, and grows spontaneously ; the second is exotic ; they 

 both attain to a great size, altogether uncommon in England. 

 The A. caudatus is trained by a pole, and rises to the height 

 of six or seven feet, from whence the pendant spikes of flowers 

 hang down with great beauty, and are so long as sometimes 

 to trail upon the ground." 



Cucurbita lagenaria and claviformis. " These are varie- 

 ties of the same gourd : the first exactly resembles a bottle ; 

 the second a club, which sometimes attains the length of six 

 or seven feet. The ancients were fond of cultivating this 

 gourd j and Pliny is minute in describing the mode and uses, 



