814 THE AGE OF SOME EXISTING SPECIES OF PLANTS. 
weed in the flax crops of the days of Pharaoh, as of our own time 
There is not a single field of flax in Egypt where this charlock does 
not abound; and often in such quantity that its yellow flowers, 
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which are still found in the living plant. 
garland composed of wild celery (Apium graveolens L.), and small 
flowers of the blue lotus (Nymphaea carulea Sav.), fastened together 
manner their absolute adentity with the indigenous form of this 
species now abundant in moist places in Egypt. The same may 
be said of the other plants used for parlnhin including two species 
of lichens. 
It appears to have been a practice to lay out the dead bodies on 
a bier of ign branches, and these were inclosed within the linen 
ppings which enveloped the m mummy. In this way there have 
ce preserved branches of considerable size of Ficus Sycomorus L., 
0. pea Li. Sorat Schimpert Hochst., and Tamarix nilotica 
nd. The Mimusops is of frequent occurrence in the mural 
decorations of the ancient temples; its fruit had been detected 
found made up into garlands, but the discovery of branches with 
their leaves still attached, and in one case with the fruit adhering, 
has established that this plant is the Abyssinian species to which 
Schimper’s name has been given, _ which is ehdirechexided by the 
long and slender petiole of the lea 
__ In none of the species, except @ vine to which I have — 
rhich Dr. hwein has discovered, and of which he has m 
a careful study, has i been able to detect any peculiarities in the 
living plants . as absent in those obtained from the tombs. 
Before passing from the Egyptian plants I would draw attention 
to the quality of ‘tie cereals. They are good specimens of the 
: vitod grains rit —- observation is true also of the 
whic! ave examined, belonging to prehistoric 
_ The wheat found in the purely Butch ge of the 
