278 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 
“For want and famine they were solitary, fleeing with 
the wilderness in former time desolate and waste; who 
cut up Mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their 
meat.” 
The Mallow was formerly planted, with some other 
flowers, the Asphodel in particular, around the graves of 
departed friends. It was,probably this circumstance 
which led to the following reflections, i in the epitaph on 
Bion, by Moschus :— 
“Raise, raise the dirge, Muses of Sicily ! 
Alas! when Mallows in the garden die, 
Green parsley, or the crisp luxuriant dill, 
They live again and flower another year ; 
But we, how great soe’er, or strong, or wise. 
When once we die, sleep in the senseless earth, 
A long, an endless, unwakeabie sleep.” 
Such a sentiment will do for a heathen, perhaps, but not 
for the Christian. 
MARTYNIA,—Untcorn-Piant. 
[Named in honor of John Martyn, professor of botany, at Cambridge, England.] 
Martfnia proboscidea.—Common Martynia.—This is 
an annual, as are the other species, from sub-tropical Amer- 
ica. It is often cultivated in vegetable gardens for its 
capsules, which, when green and tender, make a fine 
pickle, It is also a curious plant for the border, on ac- 
count of its large flowers; but more particularly for its 
singularly curious seed-vessels. 
M. fragrans.—Fragrant Martynia.—This is a beautiful 
annual, that succeeds very well when sown in the open 
“border the tenth of May. It is undoubtedly one of the 
finest species of the genus; no other one will compare with 
it for beauty. It is robust in habit, throwing out large 
lateral branches; the plant attains the height of three 
