OF ACCOMPANYING ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 585 



growing in watery places according to the addition to Diosc. iii. 126, its stem thicker and softer, 

 leaves intermediate, and odour stronger and less agreeable, — is referred here by writers : I. Britan- 

 nica was observed by Forskal, and Sibthorp, frequent in watery situations in Greece as far as Con- 

 stantinople, and according to Fraas corresponds in the leaves and odour. Westward, is described 

 by Lobel adv. p. 121, and Dalechamp p. 1082 (Spreng.) ; is termed "aster palustris luteus folio longi- 

 ori lanuginoso" by Tournefort inst. 483 ; and is known to grow throughout middle Europe as far as 

 Denmark (All., Lam. fl. fr., fl. Dan. pi. 413, Pers., and Steud.). 



"558 A. D." (Malal., and Clint.), pestilence ; continuing "six months'' at Constantinople, and 

 apparently, from the description, fixe, plague. 



"560 A. D." (inscript., Lib. pontif., and Clint.), Pelagius succeeded by Joannes the third, fifty- 

 ninth bishop of Rome. 



"561 A. D." (Marius, and Clint.), death of Chlothaire, and accession of Sigibert as king of the 

 French. 



"564 A. D." (Gild. hist. 26, and pref. by J. Stevenson), in Britain, Gildas writing. He speaks 

 of the two rivers " Thamesis ac Sabrinae " Thames and Severn, formerly ascended by boats bringing 

 foreign luxuries : of idols "portenta ipsa diabolica " remaining on the site of deserted towns : gives 

 a sad account of the morals of the Christian clergy, official station from the bishop downwards being 

 for sale by princes : is equally severe and particular in enumerating the misdeeds of the judiciary and 

 princes : and thinks, that the national historical records, if any, have either been burned in the wars, 

 or carried abroad by exiled citizens. 



The Arab poet Imra-el-Keys as early as this date — (Lane diet.). He is the author of one of the 

 seven Moailakats preserved at Mecca. 



Dianthus caryophyllus of the Mediterranean countries. Called in Britain carnation, by Lyte, 

 and Spenser coronation, in mediaeval Latin "vettonica coronaria," by Chaucer '-clove girofle " (Prior), 

 in Greece " karuophullon " (Sibth.), in Egypt "gurumfil" (Forsk.), in which we recognize the scented 

 "karanfoli" of Imra-el-Keys, — referred here by W. Jones iv. p.: D. caryophyllus was observed 

 by Forskal, and Delile, under cultivation in Egypt ; and by myself, often kept in vases by the Arabs. 

 Farther North, was observed by Forskal in gardens at Constantinople, and wild on Imros ; by Sib- 

 thorp, wild in the Peloponnesus. Westward, the "tunici " of Manfredus de Monte Imperiali, growing 

 according to Jacobus de Manliis wild in Lombardy, is referred here by Sprengel ; D. caryophyllus is 

 described by Ruellius, Dodoens ii. 18, and Tabernaemontanus ii. I ; is termed "caryophyllus simplex 

 flore minore pallide rubente " by Tournefort inst. 332 ; is known to grow wild in Italy and along the 

 Pyrenees, and has become naturalized in Britain and Northern France (Noulet, and A. Dec). East- 

 ward from Egypt, was observed by Roxburgh, and Graham, in the gardens of Hindustan ; by 

 Kaempfer, and Thunberg, in Japan, and called "mondo" or usually "iammasuje" or "sogaif." By 

 European colonists, was carried to Northeast America, where it continues under cultivation as a 

 garden flower. 



Cadaba farinosa of Tropical Africa and Arabia. A shrub called in Yemen " korrah " or •' saerah " 

 or "asal" (Forsk.): the "dentifrices of esel-wood" of Imra-el-Keys — (transl. W. Jones iv. p.) 

 may be compared: C. farinosa was observed by Forskal p. 68 along the mountains of Yemen, the 

 fresh branchlets masticated or pulverized and eaten as an antidote against poison. Westward, was 

 observed by Grant "at Madi 3* N." on the Nile, called "kana" and spinage "made from the 

 leaves." 



"565, Nov. 13th" (Theophan., and Clint.), Justinian succeeded by Justin II., tenth Byzantine 

 emperor. 



"In the beginning of the reign of Justin II." (Agath. hist. v. p. 149, and Sm. b. d.), Agathias 

 commencing his history. In which he names Alexander Trallianus as a contemporary. 



Sedum album of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. Called in Britain worm-grass (Prior), 

 in Anglo-Saxon "wyrmwyrt" (Cockayne), and the S Am I N 9 BOTO N N of Alexander Trallianus 

 verm & 6 — may be compared: S. album was observed by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, frequent on the 

 rocks of the Greek islands and mountains, Taygetus, Parnassus, and Athos. Westward, is termed 

 "s. minus teretifolium album" by Tournefort inst. 262 ; was observed by Forskal near Marseilles; is 

 known to grow on rocks as far as the Northern coast of France (fl. Dan. pi. 66, and Pers.) ; but in 

 Britain, where it occurs on old walls, is regarded by Watson, and A. Decandolle, as probably exotic 

 and introduced at an early period. 



Slum bnlbocastanum of middle Europe. The BO A BO KCI CTa N CI of Alexander Trallianus 

 vii. 2.8 — (changed to " valanokastana " by Goupyl and Guinter) is referred here by Dodoens p. 333, 

 and Sprengel : S. bulbocastanum has not been observed in Greece. Westward, is described by 

 Dalechamp°p. 774, and Morison ix. pi. 2; is known to grow in France and middle Europe as far as 

 Denmark, and has a tuberous edible root (fl. Dan. pi. 220, Gouan ill. 10, and Pers.). 



Scabiosa Africana of the Mediterranean countries. An evergreen shrub three or four feet high 



74 



