INTRODUCED PLANTS OF EGYPT. 



381 



foenum-grsecum), and that of a peculiar conserve; and with the 

 practice, of using this conserve, for enticing children away from 

 their parents. — The fenugreek, is a favourite article of diet with 

 the Parsees of India; and the account by Herodotus, of the TpKpuXXov 

 of their forefathers, may be compared. Theophrastus, however, 

 (according to the received opinion,) mentions the fenugreek under 

 a different name. 



Homer's account of the MSf-cvkg drug of Egypt, is sufficiently descrip- 

 tive of ojnum. Pliny, not only mentions opium, and the fact of 

 its being adulterated at Alexandria; but he speaks of its use being 

 condemned by Diagoras and Erasistratus, (who are supposed to 

 have lived respectively b. c. 416 and b. c. 257.) Pliny, mentions 

 also, the 'garden white poppy' (Papaver somniferum), from which 

 the drug is obtained. — Opium, is still one of the staple productions 

 of Egypt. 



Saffron-coloured garments, are mentioned by Homer ; thus implying, 

 the use of the saffioiver, or Dyer's saffron, (Carthamas tinctorius.) — 

 At the present day, this plant, is very generally cultivated through- 

 out the Arab countries; from Egypt to the Dekkan inclusive. 



The irriksa. of Homer and Hesiod, according to the received opinion 

 and the modern Greek usage, is the elm, (Ulmus campestris.) — The 

 elm, is enumerated by Clot-Bey and Figari, among the plants long 

 known in Egypt. 



The fjisXiot of Homer, Hesiod, and Aristophanes, according to the re- 

 ceived opinion, is the ash, (Fraxinus.) Theophrastus, mentions the 

 presence of the fJisXia in Egypt. — Where, according to Clot-Bey and 

 Figari, F. excelsior is planted at the present day. 



The <5pus of Homer, Hesiod, and others, according to the received 

 opinion and the modern Greek usage, is the oak, (Quercus.) The- 

 oplirastus, speaks of oaks growing around Thebes; from which 

 vicinity, they had already disappeared in the time of Pliny. — I 

 have not found the oak mentioned by modern writers as existing 

 in Egypt; but I met with the tree, under cultivation, in the Bo- 

 tanic Garden at Cairo. 



The xpavsia of Homer and Theophrastus, according to the received 

 opinion, is the cornel, (Cornus.) Two species, are mentioned by 

 Theophrastus; and these, are usually referred to the C. mascula, 

 and the C. sanguinea. — Belon, met with the C. sanguinea in 

 Greece : and according to Clot-Bey and Figari, both species, have 

 been recently introduced from Greece into Egypt. 



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