272 DICTIOlS^APuy 01^ POPULAR NAMES MESQUIT 



spines ; tlie flowering portion being of a cylindrical form pro- 

 duced on the top of the plant, consisting of a dense mass of 

 bristly hairs and slender spines, out of which the small flowers 

 scarcely emerge. This head is 2 to 3 inches in diameter, is per- 

 manent, and increases in height to 6 or more inches, and being 

 of a red colour, it is compared to a Turk's cap. 



Mesquit Tree. {See Algaroba.) 



Miel de Palma. (See Coquito Nut.) 



Mignonette {Reseda odorata), the type of the Mignonette 

 family (Eesedace^), native of Egypt and the shores of the 

 Mediterranean. In Pliny's time the Romans applied this plant 

 under the name of Eeseda as a charm to allay the irritation of 

 wounds. It is recorded to have been introduced and cultivated 

 in the Apothecaries' Botanic Garden, Chelsea, in 1752. Since 

 then its sweet smell has made it a universal favourite with all 

 classes. In this country it is an annual, but in the south of 

 Europe it becomes shrubby. 



Mignonette, Jamaica. {See Camphire.) 



Mildew. {See Fungi and Mucor.) 



Millet. — There are several Millet grasses, the most important 

 being Sorghum vidgare, an annual, cane-like, corn-grass, similar 

 to Indian corn, but not so strong in growth, producing a dense 

 head of spikelets, bearing numerous small corn-grains, which 

 formed an extensive article of food in ancient times, as it does 

 at the present day. It is extensively cultivated in Southern 

 Europe and region of the Mediterranean generally, including 

 Egypt, Syria, and eastward to India, also coast of Guinea, and 

 other parts of Western tropical Africa. It grows freely in this 

 country, but the summer heat is not sufficient to bring the corn 

 to perfection. On the removal of the grains the spikes become 

 hard and rigid, and are imported into this country for making 

 carpet and small hand-brooms. In my History of Bible Plants 

 I have endeavoured to show that the stalk of this was probably 

 the reed of St. Matthew, and the spikelets on its top hyssop of 

 St. John mentioned at the Crucifixion {see Hyssop). In Ger- 

 many and other parts of Southern Europe Panieum italicum 



