ON INTRODUCED ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 45 



opinion and Sibthorp's account of the Greek usage, is the European 

 alder (Alnus glutinosa). — This plant was seen in Egypt by Hassel- 

 quist. 



The nAATANisTox of Homer and Herodotus, translated "platanus" 

 by Cicero, is considered to be the Oriental 'plane (Platanus Orienta- 

 lis). — According to Pliny, the " platanus" was first brought over the 

 Ionian Sea to adorn the tomb of Diomedes : the trees at this tomb are 

 mentioned by Theophrastus ; who also alludes to the presence of the 

 "platanos" in Egypt. I found the P. Orientalis abundantly planted 

 throughout Middle and Lower Egypt. 



The itea of Homer (II. xxi. 350, and Od. x. 510), according to the 

 received opinion and Sibthorp's account of the Greek usage, is one or 

 more species of willow (Salix). — The "tzptzph" of Ezekiel xvii. 5, 

 may be compared with " safsaf," the current Egyptian name of the 

 willow. I met with a single young willow, growing, apparently indi- 

 genous, by the river-margin in the Thebaid ; perhaps the S. subser- 

 rata, a species seen by Delile in gardens at Cairo. 



The KrnEiros of Homer and Herodotus, according to the received 

 opinion and Greek usage, is one or more species of Cyperus. — Tubers 

 of a Cyperus were unrolled in the Boston mummy, perhaps the G. 

 rotundus .• a species seen by Sibthorp in Greece ; and by Delile, at 

 Alexandria, Rosetta, and Cairo. 



The seainon EAEoerEnTON of Homer (II. vi. 39, and Od. v. 32), 

 according to Sibthorp's account of the Greek usage, is the smallage 

 (Apium graveolens). — Rhazes recommends the medicinal use of the 

 seeds of the "carafs" or smallage; and these are enumerated by 

 Forskal among the articles of the Egyptian materia medica ; but the 

 living plant, if distinct from the celery (a point which will be again 

 adverted to), appears to be unknown in Egypt. 



The aeipion of Homer (II. iii. 152) and the Hymn to Ceres 427, 

 and the "lilium" of Virgil, according to Pliny's description (xxi. 11), 

 is clearly the garden lily (Lilium candidum). — Neither Forskal nor 

 Delile met with the lily in Egypt ; and Clot-Bey and Figari state, 

 that the plant is rarely seen beyond the Pasha's gardens. 



The batos of Homer (Od. xxiv. 230), Pindar, and Theophrastus, 

 according to the received opinion and Sibthorp's account of the Greek 

 usage, is the Bubits frutieoms. — This plant was seen in Palestine by 

 Hasselquist ; and by Delile at Rosetta, where it had doubtless been 

 introduced. 



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