72 THE TREES AND SHRUBS [LECT. 



RlJTA. 



Ruta graveolens is common in Greece and Italy, 

 and R. montana and chalepensis, shrubby species, are 

 found in the former country, as Sibthorp informs 

 us. The generic term is noticed in " Roman Hus- 

 bandry r ," and there can be little doubt that the 

 plant intended was the species named. It was 

 the \\Tjyavov of Dioscorides s . 



CORIARIA. 



Coriaria myrtifolia, a shrub found in Italy, Spain, 

 and other of the southern parts of Europe, does 

 not appear to have been distinguished by the 

 writers of antiquity. 



STAPIIYLEA. 



Staphylea pinnata, Bladder-nut, noticed by Sib- 

 thorp, seems to be mentioned by Pliny t under the 

 name of Staphylodendron. He says, that it is found 

 in the countries beyond the Alps, has a wood like 

 the White Maple, and bears a pod in which is found 

 a kernel- having the flavour of the Hazel-nut. He 

 omits to point out the loose manner in which the 

 capsule envelops the nut, from which it derives its 

 English name. 



EUONYMUS. 



Euonymus europceus, or Spindle-tree, is found in 

 Greece and Italy. Pliny u alludes to a tree of that 

 name, and Thcophrastus probably describes the 

 same under the name of evcovvfjiov. 



" p. 278. Sibthorp. ' Lib. xvi. c. 27. " iii. '22. 



