76 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



and also "bakla" (a word used by Rhazes) ; but both these terms are 

 sometimes extended to other plants. The purslain is figured by Lobel; 

 but the genus has appeared to me, to be properly Tropical, and not 

 well according with the natural vegetation of the Mediterranean 

 countries. 



The " black-fruited stptxnos " of Theophrastus, is by some writers 

 referred to the Solanum nigrum. — This plant is noticed by Came- 

 rarius ; was seen by Sibthorp in Greece ; and by Forskal, Delile, and 

 others, in Egypt ; but it may have once been a strictly Tropical weed. 



The Arrnx-m of Theophrastus, Theocritus xiii. 42, Polybius, Dios- 

 corides, and Athenseus viii. 4, is referred by Sibthorp and others to 

 the Cynodon dactylon. — This grass was probably derived from India ; 

 where it is highly esteemed for feeding cattle. It is figured by Dale- 

 champ and Lobel ; was seen by Forskal and Delile in Egypt ; and is 

 expressly enumerated by Clot-Bey and Figari among the plants em- 

 ployed there for feeding cattle. 



The AAnnEKorros of Theophrastus vii. 10, is by some writers re- 

 ferred to the Lagurus ovatus ; and Sibthorp's account of the Greek 

 usage, corresponds. — This grass was seen by Forskal, growing spon- 

 taneously at Alexandria ; and Delile considers it indigenous. 



The etzhmon of Theophrastus and Dioscorides, or the "eraca" of 

 Ovid, Columella, and Pliny, according to the received opinion and 

 Greek usage, is the rocket (Brassica eruca). — This plant was seen by 

 Alpinus, Forskal, and others, in the gardens of Egypt. 



In Egypt, according to Forskal, the Hesperis acris is called " sphseri ;" 

 in which word, we recognise the EsnEPis of Theophrastus (De Causs. 

 vi. 28). — The H. acris, however, is said to be indigenous in Egypt; 

 and the same species has not been found in Greece. 



The aetkoion of Theophrastus vii. 9, Theocritus, Nicander, Hice- 

 sius, and Philonides, mentioned by Athenseus (v. 25 and xv. 17) as a 

 common garden flower in Egypt, is usually referred to one or more 

 species of Cheiranthus. — According to Callixenus, "leykoion" flowers 

 were used in the festival of Ptolemy Philadelphus : Forskal enume- 

 rates a Cheiranthus among the coronary plants of Egypt ; and the 

 C. incanus was seen by Delile, growing spontaneously at Cairo. 



In Egypt, the Trifolium Alexandrinum is called " bersym ;" in which 

 word, we recognise the eptsimon of Theophrastus. — The T. Alex- 

 andrinum is abundantly cultivated in Egypt ; and was seen in Greece 

 by Bory de St. Vincent. 



