SMYRNIUM. — FERULA. 



227 



We also wished to go there, so we took the path up 

 over the slope west of the Fortress. We are soon in the 

 midst of the bushes of the Maquis. What strikes us most 



had seen quantities of the modest Smyriiiiim Olusatriim 

 in other places on the Riviera, and had always noticed 

 it on account of its flowers which are of an unusual colour 

 tor Umbellates — a peculiar golden green. It received 

 its specific name oi Olusairtuii (Black kitchen herb), be- 

 cause its young leaves and shoots were eaten as a vege- 

 table by the Romans. Another Umbellate, the Fcr^da 

 nodiflora, which we found side b)' side with the Smyr- 

 nium, grows over two yards high. We had seen similar 

 Ferulas in the Gardens of La Mortola. Here they grow 

 stamp the scenery with such a peculiar 

 one could imagine oneself suddenly 

 quite a different region. The deep 

 yellow umbels diffuse a strong 

 --TY^^J^ fragrance resembling that of 

 Elder flowers. Although so earh- 

 in the year these plants 

 full bloom on 

 ^varm island. 



in masses and Jt'N 

 character that 

 transported to 



/ 



/^ vilV ' ' ^^ / ^"'^ amongst them, the 



'^l^ ^Mli''] \ ^/iff Asphodels (^.•l5^/wa'^/?« 



^^f I/Mi* f\>l\^'' '-^^^o^^"^;, had unfolded 



"^ y Pr^. // their white 



'_^m^ 



Helichrystim Stoechas. 



'^y<K\^ 



