ii.] OF THE ANCIENTS. 47 



called eygia, with a red wood, easily split, and 

 with a pale rough bark. 



He, however, as already stated, whilst noticing 

 that there are several varieties of Acer, specifies 

 only three : First, the Gallic, remarkable for the 

 extreme whiteness of its wood, and known as the 

 Gallic tree, a native of the countries beyond the 

 Alps; the second, another covered with wavy spots, 

 and from its beauty called the pavonia, the finest 

 kinds of which come from Istria and Rhcetia; and 

 the third an inferior kind, called the crassivenum, 

 or thick -veined. 



Now the Zvyta of Theophrastus, the wood of 

 which is stated to be yellow and soft, best corre- 

 sponds with the Acer platanoides, or Norway Maple, 

 whilst the KXivorpo^os agrees better with the Acer 

 pseudo-platanus, or Sycamore, as he describes it as 

 having leaves lobed like the Plane, but less fleshy 

 and pointed at the apex, with a bark less smooth 

 than that of the Lime, slightly spotted, and with 

 scanty roots, and these horizontal. Its flower, he 

 says, is unknown, and its fruit is like that of 

 the Paliurus. It grows in marshy places about 

 Mount Ida. 



Both these species of Acer are noticed by modern 

 botanists as occurring in Greece, though omitted 

 by Sibthorp. It is at least certain that only one 

 of the four named in the Flora Grceca, viz. the 

 Acer campestre, can be identified with either of the 

 varieties alluded to by Theophrastus, for mons- 

 pessulanum seldom rises higher than a shrub, whilst 



