222 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



of the palm-tree on the Sunday before Easter, 

 which is hence called Palm Sunday. In 

 Germany, they consecrate branches of willow, 

 as that was supposed to have been one of the 

 trees from which the disciples gathered 

 boughs for the purpose mentioned, and this 

 is also the tree which is still used for the 

 same reason in many parts of this country. 

 In Switzerland the pine is used. In France 

 the box, excepting the southern provinces, 

 where, as well as in Spain and Italy, the 

 palm is still employed. * 



Notwithstanding the Hortus Kewensis, and 

 the British Botanist mention the sycamore to 

 be a native tree of this country, we certainly 

 cannot consider it in any other light than an 

 exotic. Dr. Turner does not mention even 

 having seen this tree in his time, 1568, and 

 Gerard says, in 1597, " The great maple is a 

 stranger in England, only it groweth in the 

 walkes and places of pleasure of noblemen, 

 where it especially is planted for the shadowe 

 sake, and vnder the name of sycomore tree." 

 Parkinson makes the same observation, in 

 1640, and says, " It is no where found wilde 

 or naturall in our land that I can learne, but 



* See the history of the palm-tree in the Pomarium 

 Britannicum. 



