382 PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



The xXri^pri of Homer and Theophrastiis, according to the received 

 opinion, is the European alder, (Alnus.) — Hasselqiiist, met with the 

 alder in Egypt. 



The xuTrapitftfoff of Homer and Herodotus, according to the received 

 opinion and the modern Greek usage, is the cypress, (Cupressus 

 sempervirens.) — This tree, is at the present day, planted in all 

 Muslim cemeteries. 



The a.iov of Homer, Theophrastus and Pliny, according to the received 

 opinion, is the Thuya Orientalis. Theophrastus, moreover, speaks 

 of the tree as growing at the oasis of Ammon, and in Gyrene; 

 localities, in which it must have been planted. — The Thuya, con- 

 tinues to be a favourite ornamental tree in Egypt : and Belon, 

 found it growings wild on the mountains of Asia Minor. 



The ffXaTavitfToj of Homcr and Herodotus, translated ' platanus' by 

 Gicero, is according to tlie received opinion, the Oriental plane, 

 (Platanus Orientalis.) Pliny states, that "the 'platanus,' was first 

 brought over the Ionian Sea, to adorn the tomb of Diomedes." — 

 I frequently met with the P. Orientalis, planted around villages 

 in Egypt. 



However, from Forskal's account of the modern usage at Gonstanti- 

 nople, the Acer platanus, would seem to be the plant alluded to by 

 the ancient writers. And it will be observed, that Aristophanes 

 speaks of the TrXaravoc:, as a wild tree of Greece. Theophrastus, 

 mentions the presence of the •TrXa-ravocr, in Egypt. — And the A. pla- 

 tanus and A. platanoides, are enumerated by Glot-Bey and Figari, 

 among the trees planted at the present day in the gardens of Gairo. 



The lov of Homer and Theophrastus, according to the received opinion, 

 is the Viola odorata. — At the present day, the V. odorata, is a 

 favourite garden plant in Egypt. 



With respect to the uaxiv^o?, of Homer, inscribed, according to Theocri- 

 tus and Ovid, with alphabetical characters; something of this sort, 

 may be found on the calyx scales of certain Gompositae; such as 

 tlie Ghrysanthemum. — Linna3us, however, refers the wxw&os to the 

 Delphinium ajacis : and the current Egyptian name of this plant, 

 'ayakbouh,' seems to favour the reference. 



The of Homer and Herodotus, according to the received opinion 



and the modern Greek usage, is the genus Cyperus. Wilkinson 

 states, that seeds of the G. esculentus, have been found in the an- 

 cient Egyptian tombs. — The living plant was seen in Egypt by 

 Forskal, and also by Delile. 



