372 CHRONOLOGICAL ARRANGEMENT 



by writers: the " voupleuron thenthron" is mentioned by Demetrius Chlorus (schol. Nicand.) : B. 

 fruticosum was observed by Sibtborp on the seashore of Thessaly, but by Fraas, extending farther 

 inland in Southern Greece. Westward, is described by Anguillara p. 212 (Spreng.) ; is termed "b. 

 arbqrescens salicis folio" by Tournefort inst. 310; and is known to grow in rocky situations along 

 the Mediterranean shore of France (Linn. hort. cliff., and Pers.). 



"In this year" (Ptol. math. syn. vii. 2 and 3, and Blair), astronomical observations com- 

 menced at Alexandria by Timocharis and Aristyllus. Who "introduced the manner of determining 

 the positions of the stars according to their Longitudes and Latitudes ; " referring them however to 

 the Equator. 



Numenius, a pupil of Dieuches (Spreng), possibly at this time writing 



Geranium asphodeloides of the East Mediterranean countries. The XAAXHC of Numenius, a 

 leaden or copper-coloured flower, — is referred here conjecturally by Sprengel : G. asphodeloides is 

 termed "g. orientale columbinum flore maximo asphodeli radice " by Tournefort cor. 20 and trav. ii. 

 pi. 14; is described also by Uurmann geran. 28. 27, and Miller; was observed by Sibthorp on Par- 

 nassus, by Chaubard in the Peloponnesus. 



" 294, March 9th, four hours before midnight " (Blair), ocadtation of the star Spica Virginia by 

 the moon, observed at Alexandria by Timocharis ; the star according to his measurement, " eight 

 degrees West from the Equinoctial point." 



" Hardly later than this year " (Sm. b. d.), Antiochus eldest son of Seleucus healed by Erasistratus. 

 Erasistratus resided some years at Alexandria, and made anatomical discoveries : he divided the nerves 

 into those of sensation and those of motion. 



Lvthrum salicaria of Europe and Northern Asia. Called in Britain purple loosestrife (Prior), 

 in Germany "weiderich " (Grieb), in Italy '■ salcerella " or "riparello" (Lenz) : the "herbam lysima- 

 chiam" discovered by Lysimachus and celebrated by Erasistratus, — growing according to Pliny xxv. 

 35 in wet ground and having upright branchlets, willow-like leaves, purple flowers, and if placed on 

 the yoke quieting disagreeing oxen, is referred here by writers : L. salicaria was observed by Forskal, 

 Sibthorp, Chaubard, and Fraas, frequent in wet situations from the Dardanelles to the Greek islands 

 and Peloponnesus. Westward, is described by Matthioli, and Clusius ; is termed " partyke " or " lysi- 

 machia purpurea" by Lobel hist. p. 185, " salicaria vulgaris purpurea foliis oblongis " by Tournefort 

 inst. 253 ; and is known to grow in Italy and throughout middle Europe as far as Denmark (Pers., 

 and Lenz), often according to A. Decandolle springing up in abundance on the removal of the forest. 

 Eastward from Greece, was observed by Kaempfer, and Thunberg, in Japan and called "sju" or 

 usually "fagi." By European colonists, was carried to Northeast America, where it continues under 

 cultivation (A. Gray), and has besides become naturalized from Upper Canada and Maine to the 

 environs of Boston (Doug., Nutt., and myself) ; was also carried to Australia (Dec). According 

 to Lindley, is " an astringent which has been recommended in inveterate cases of diarrhoea." 



Lysimachia atropurpurea of the East Mediterranean countries. Possibly the plant discovered 

 by Lysimachus : — the "lusimahion purron " growing according to Dioscorides in wet ground, its 

 stems a cubit or more high and leaves willow-like, identified in the added Synonyms with the " lutron," 

 is referred here by Fraas: L. atropurpurea is described by Commelyn rar. pi. 33; is termed "1. 

 orientalis angustifolia flore purpureo " by Tournefort cor. 7; and was observed by Sibthorp, Chau- 

 bard, and Fraas. in wet situations in and around the Peloponnesus. 



Lysimachia vulgaris of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. Called in Britain loosestrife 

 (Prior), in Italy "lisimachia" (Lenz), and possibly included in the " lysimachiam " in question: — 

 the "lusimahion hrusoSithSs " differing according to Dioscorides only in the colour of the flower, 

 is referred here by writers : L. vulgaris was observed by Sibthorp in woods on the Bithynian Olympus 

 and around Constantinople. Westward, is described by Tragus f. ('«; (Spreng.); is termed "1. lutea 

 major" by Tournefort inst. 141 ; and is known to grow in Italy and throughout middle Europe as far 

 as Denmark (fl. Dan. pi. 6S9, Pers, and Lenz). 



"293 B. C." (Blair, and Sm. b. d.), division of the day into hours adopted at Rome; and the 

 first sun-dial erected there by the consul L. Papirius Cursor. To avert a pestilence, the worship 

 of Aesculapius introduced at the command of the Delphic Oracle or of the Sybilline books (Yal. Max. 

 i. 8, and Ovid. met. xv. 620). 



Banhinia scnndens of Tropical Eastern Asia and the Malayan archipelago. A woody climber 

 called in Burmah "myouk-hlae-ga" (Mason), in Tagalo "banot" (Blanco) ; and its remarkably con- 

 torted stem said to have been the origin of Aesculapius' snaken rod — (Loudon) : B. scandens was 

 observed by Rheede viii. pi. 29 in Malabar ; by Nimmo, and Graham, in a garden at Bombay, and 

 "wild in the Concans ; " by Roxburgh, Royle, and Drury, as far as Travancore ; by Mason 406, in 

 Burmah ; by Loureiro, in Anam (Steud.) ; by Blanco, on the Philippines ; and by Rumphius v. pi. 

 I, on Amboyna (Pers.). 



" The same year "(....), earliest contemporary Roman record, a Latin inscription on the 



