Paliurus 



planted for hedges. The vine also is a kindred 

 plant, but has always preferred vengeance to self- 

 defence. 



Flower, May and June. 

 Italian name, Marruca. 



Palma. 



' mittit . , . Eliadum palmas Epiros equarum' {Ge. i. 59). ~j 



' ardua palma ' {Ge. ii. 67). 



' primus Idumaeas referam tibi Mantua palmas ' (Ge. iii. 12). 



Although there are many genera and species of 

 palms, one of which, Chamaerops humilis, is a 

 native of Sicily, Virgil refers only to the date palm, 

 Phoenix dactylifera. The epithet of ' ardua,' which 

 Virgil applies to it, must refer to the great length of 

 the stem, at the top of which is the foliage and the 

 fruit. It must have been imported at an early date 

 into Sicily and southern Italy. In Virgil's days, 

 although Selinunte, 'palmosa Selinus' {Ae. iii. 705), 

 was already a ruined city, there must have been 

 palms planted along its sea front, as there still are 

 some thirty miles off at Trapani. At both places 

 you may find Chamaerops, on the sides of the Eryx 

 in great abundance, but only as a stunted shrub. 



In Arabia and parts of Africa the date was much 

 used for food, while in Palestine, Greece, and Italy 

 the leaves were early regarded as a symbol of peace 

 and victory. Virgil's reference to the palms of 

 Edom is allegorical and difficult. His probable 

 meaning is that he hopes some day to celebrate 

 the victories of Octavian and the pacification of the 



95 



7 



