394 PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



Nicander ('b. c. 137'), describes pistachio-nut, (Pistacia vera) : and 

 Pliny states ; That the plant, was l)rought from Syria into Italy a 

 little before the death of Tiberius, ('a. d. 37'). — According to 

 Clot-Bey and Figari, the P. vera, is now commonly cultivated in 

 Egypt. 



The ' nasturtium' of Varro and Columella, is usually referred to the 

 ivater-cress, (Nasturtium officinale). And according to the modern 

 Greek usage, the frKruix/Spiov sTspov of Dioscorides, is the same plant. — 

 The water-cress, is enumerated by Clot-Bey and Figari, among the 

 plants recently introduced into Egypt. 



The 'lutum' of Virgil, (who died 'b. c. 19') is referred by Fee, to the 

 Reseda luteola. — The R. luteola, is enumerated by Forskal and 

 others, among the plants regularly cultivated, and used for dyeing 

 in Egypt. 



The Celtis australis, according to Fee, is mentioned by Virgil, Dios- 

 corides, Pliny, and Galen. — Belon, met with the C. australis in 

 Syria; and according to Clot-Bey and Figari, the tree has been 

 recently introduced into the gardens of Cairo. 



The 'fraga' of Virgil, according to the received opinion, is the straw- 

 hemj, (Fragaria vesca). The F. vesca, is said to be mentioned by 

 Nicolas Myrepsicus (who lived in 'the 13th century'), and under 

 the name now given to the plant in Greece. — The introduction of 

 the strawberry into Egypt, will be noticed hereafter. 



The 'eruca' of Ovid, Columella, and Pliny, according to the received 

 opinion, is the Brassica eruca. — Alpinus and Forskal, enumerate 

 the B. eruca, among the cultivated plants of Egypt. 



Rice (Oryza sativa), as a production of India, is mentioned by The- 

 ophrastus ; and some centuries later, as appears from Horace, 

 Strabo, Dioscorides, and from the Jewish Mishna, the plant was 

 introduced into Syria and Egypt. 



Certain Indian weeds, appear to have accompanied the culture of rice 

 into Egypt ; and being inconspicuous plants, they may have been 

 overlooked by ancient writers. The plants alluded to, are, the 

 Sphenoclea; the Sphceranthus ; a species of G7-a7igea; the Eclipta 

 erecta; the Etliulia comjzoides ; the Jussicea diffusa; the Elatine 

 verticiUata ; the Ammania auriculata and A. JEgyptiaca ; the Cy- 

 perus articulatus, C. oJopecurus, and C. dives; and the Panicum 

 colonum ; all, found by Delile in the rice-grounds of Egypt. 



Croto?i tijictorium, (a plant used for dyeing,) was possibly introduced 

 in like manner, with the culture of rice. — I met with the C. tincto- 



