(34 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



The bahton or baiton of Aristophanes, Theophrastus, Dioscorides, 

 and Palladius, according to the received opinion and Sibthorp's account 

 of the Greek usage, is the Amaranthus blitum. — This plant is still cul- 

 tivated in Europe as an esculent ; and, according to Alpinus, also in 

 Egypt. 



The rorrrAis (already mentioned) of Aristophanes, Theophrastus 

 i. 9, Diodes, Columella, Athengeus, and Aretgeus, and the "rapum" of 

 Cato and Pliny, are referred by Beckmann to the turnip (Brassica 

 rapa). — The cultivation of the turnip in Syria and Egypt is noticed 

 by various modern travellers. 



The kapaamon of Aristophanes, the Hippocratic writings, and Po- 

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

 Lepidium sativum, or pepper-grass. — The L. sativum is enumerated by 

 Forskal, Delile, and others, among the plants cultivated in Egypt. 



In Egypt, the field-pea (Pisum arvense) is called " besilleh ;" in 

 which word we recognise, the "piseli" of the modern Greeks ; and ap- 

 parently, the <i>azhao2 of Aristophanes, and the "vilem faselum" of 

 Virgil. 



The boabos of Aristophanes (Nub. 188), Archestratus, Xenarchus, 

 Heraclides Tarentinus, Theophrastus vii. 2, and Athengeus ii. 64, ac- 

 cording to Sibthorp's account of the Greek usage, is the Mtiscari como- 

 sum. — This plant was seen by Delile, growing spontaneously at Alex- 

 andria. 



The <dykos of Aristophanes (Thesm. 2), Theophrastus, Dioscorides, 

 and Pliny, is referred by Tournefort and Dillenius to the argol or 

 archil (Lichen rocella) . — Tournefort met with this lichen in the Grecian 

 Archipelago, and speaks of its exportation, both to England and Egypt. 



The nHTANON of Aristophanes, Cytherius Philoxenus, Aristophon, 

 Dioscorides, and Athengeus ii. 62 and xiv. 50, according to the re- 

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

 more species of rue (Ruta). — The R. Chalepensis, was seen by Delile 

 and others in gardens at Cairo ; and both this and the R. graveolens, 

 are enumerated by Clot-Bey and Figari among the plants long known 

 in Egypt. 



The akaah<dh of Aristophanes, Diodes, and Athengeus ii. 57, accord- 

 ing to the received opinion, is one or more species of nettle (Urtica) . — 

 The U. pilulifera, was seen by Forskal and Delile, growing sponta- 

 neously at Cairo; the U. urem was also seen by Delile, growing sponta- 

 neously at Cairo ; and the U. dioica was seen in Egypt by Hasselquist. 



The skanaih of Aristophanes (Acharn. 478) and Pliny, according 



