92 THE TREES AND SHRUBS [LECT. 



PHILADELPHIA. 



The Philadelphus coronarius is not noticed by Sib- 

 thorp as occurring in Greece, but it grows in the 

 north of Italy. It is called the Mock Orange, from 

 its scent, but is not mentioned by Pliny or Theo- 

 phrastus. The 0tAa<5eA0oy spoken of by Athenseus J 

 would seem to have been quite a different plant, 

 so named from its branches inosculating so as to 

 form one united and compact brotherhood, and 

 thus to be well fitted for composing a stout hedge. 

 This description certainly does not apply to the 

 shrub referred to. 



SEMPERVIVUM. 



One arborescent species, S. arboreum, was found 

 by Sibthorp in Cyprus, and this he has identified 

 with the 'Aelfaov TO fjieya of Dioscorides. 



A much commoner species, however, Sempervivum 

 tectorum, corresponds better with the description 

 given by ancient writers of the latter plant. 



Theophrastus describes the aelfyoov as a plant 

 which continues ever juicy and green, has fleshy, 

 smooth, long leaves, grows on the ground, and 

 even on tiles wherever, in short, the smallest 

 quantity of soil exists for its roots to penetrate. 



Dioscorides speaks of three species of 'Ae/ct>oz>, 

 the largest an evergreen with fleshy leaves, at top 

 pointed like a tongue, below concave, and with a 

 stem a cubit in height ; it is found on the moun- 

 tains as well as on the roofs of houses ; the second, 



1 Deipnosophistce, lib. xv. c. 29. 



