LIST OF EGYPTIAN LEGU.MINOSiE. 55 



of Western Africa, so well known in our gardens. Of this 

 plant, the first discoverer, Forskohl, says : — '' It is the 

 emblem of all that is most miserable in life. Its roots are 

 eaten only by those who can find no other food. It is 

 found in arid sterile deserts destitute of shade. Its branches 

 are few, thin, and scattered." Thrown into the fire, it 

 burns with a loud crackling noise ; and seems to be the 

 plant named in Psalm 120, v. 4, as Juniper [Retem). If 

 so, it is interesting, as bearing on the Darwinian theory, 

 to find a plant which has retained its name so long, what- 

 ever modifications may, unknown to us, have taken place 

 in its structure. 



Syria ; North-eastern Africa. 



The plant found about Alexandria is called Retama Du- 

 ricei in Letourneux's ' Second Century,^ no. 186 ; but must 

 be Forskohrs plant. 



Hooker and Ball, in their "^ Tour in Marocco,^ say, 

 speaking of G. monosperma : — " There is something sad in 

 the meagre and drooping aspect of the plant, that brings to 

 mind those dismal mourning trinkets wherein a lock of 

 hair is made to form the effigy of a Weeping Willow.-'-' 



Eentham and Hooker retain Retama, a genus of Bois- 

 sier's, among the Genistce (p. 482). 



Ball, ' Spicilegium Florae Maroccanse,' p. 398, remarks 

 of G. monosperma, Lam. : — " fugit loca arida saxosa,'' the 

 reverse of Forskohl's plant. Are these two the same species 

 under different conditions of life ? 



Syria; North-eastern Africa. 



Ononis vaginalis, Vahl, i. p. 53 ; Lx. Exs. 42. 



= 0. kotschyana, Fenzl, 



= 0. Cherleri, Forsk., nan L. 



