By the Rev. Robert Walsh. 35 



of St. John, were some vegetable substance, quasi u^ov tyog, 

 and the peXt uypiov, wild honey, the sweet saccharine matter 

 of this pod. It is certain that the plant grows in great abun- 

 dance in the wilderness of Palestine, where its produce is at 

 this day used for food. It is called by the Arabs Kharoob, 

 and by the Franks St. Johns Bread* 



Celtis Australis. 

 This is a large tree very common in this country. Its leaf 

 is rough, and nearly resembles a Nettle, and hence it is some- 

 times called the Nettle tree. It bears a berry which changes 

 its hue from light yellow to dark brown, and has a sweet 

 pleasant taste, and hence it is conjectured by Sibthorp 

 to be the Aurog kvfyov of DioscoRiDES,f which Homer says 

 has so sweet a taste, that those who eat it forget their own 

 country ,J The modern Greeks are very fond of it. 



Cupressus Horizontals. 

 This was supposed by Pliny- to be the mas or male of the 

 Cupressus Sempervirens,t and modern botanists consider it 

 only a variety ; but undoubtedly it is a different species. 

 The character of the whole tree is distinct and permanent, 

 the branches project as horizontally as those of an oak, and 

 the tree more resembles a Pine than a Cypt*ess. It is in 

 great abundance mixed with the C. Sempervirens in all the 

 Turkish Cemeteries. Whenever a Turk of respectability 

 buries one of his family, he plants a young Cypress at the 

 head of his grave, as well because its aromatic resin qualifies 



* San Jans Broot. Rauwolf, edit. Gronov. p. 36. 



f Lib. i. cap. 171. X Odyss. Lib. ix. § Hist. Nat. Lib. xvi. cap. 33, 



