INTRODUCED PLANTS OF EGYPT. 



387 



plants of Egypt. — And one species, S. nigra, has been found in the 

 gardens of Egypt, by Forskal and others. 



The heet (Beta vulgaris), is in Egypt called ' selk.' The rfsurXov of 

 Aristophanes and Dioscorides, may be compared. The beet, under 

 its Latin name, is mentioned by Plautus and Martial. 



The vTiyavov of Aristophancs and Dioscorides, according to the received 

 opinion and the modern Greek usage, is the rue, (Ruta graveolens.) 

 — The rue, is enumerated by Clot-Bey and Figari, among the 

 plants long known in Egypt. 



The garden basil {OcymMm basilicum), is in Egypt called ' ryhan.' 

 The opi/avov of Aristophanes and the modern Greeks, may be com- 

 pared. — Belon, mentions the field-culture of this plant in Egypt. 

 And the O. ligriosum, also occurs in that country, according to 

 Clot-Bey and Figari. The genus Ocymum, seems to be strictly 

 Tropical, and of course, foreign originally to the Mediterranean 

 countries. 



The avv>;^ov of Aristophancs and Theophrastus, according to the re- 

 ceived opinion and the modern Greek usage, is the A?iethum gra- 

 veolens. — This plant, according to Forskal, Delile, and others, is 

 at the present day cultivated in Egypt. 



The (fuxc<fA;vov of iEschylus and Athenseus, according to the received 

 opinion, is the black mulberry (Morus nigra). Virgil and Diosco- 

 rides, both speak of the black mulberry. — And it is enumerated, 

 by Forskal and others, among the trees planted at the present day 

 in the gardens of Egypt. 



The of Demosthenes and Theophrastus, according to the 



received opinion and the modern Greek usage, is the femiel, (Foe- 

 niculum vulgare). — The fennel, is enumerated by Clot-Bey and 

 Figari, among the plants long known in Egypt.* 



The earliest works extant, that are expressly devoted to the subject 

 of Natural History, are those of Aristotle (who died 'b. c. 322'), and 

 of his pupil, Theophrastus. The writings of Theophrastus on plants, 

 contain much that is of importance, in the present inquiry; and I regret 

 that my opportunities of consulting them, have been limited. 



* The (fy^ivog of Herodotus and Theophrastus, according to the received opinion and 

 the modern Greek usage, is the mastich-trce, (Pistacia Icntiscus). — I have not Ibund the 

 P. lentiscus mentioned as existing in Egypt. 



