NETTLE TREE. 



269 



flowers or fruit ; but the branches being well clothed 

 with leaves, and the leaves of a fine green, the tree makes 

 an agreeable variety in plantations. 



The wood being tough and pliable, is esteemed by 

 coach-makers for carriage-frames. In America, the 

 fruit of this tree, which is generally called sugar-nut, is 

 thought very pleasant eating. It is a favourite food 

 ^vith many American birds. 



The Oriental Nettle tree, Celtis Orientalis, is a native 

 of the Levant ; it seldom grows higher than twelve feet, 

 and divides into many branches, which spread horizon- 

 tally on every side. The leaves are about an inch long, 

 inchning to a heart shape ; they are of a thicker texture, 

 and a lighter green than those of the former kinds : the 

 fruit is yellow, becoming darker as it ripens ; the wood 

 remarkably white. 



Some have erroneously supposed the Celtis to be 

 Homer's lotus : 



They went and found an hospitable race : 

 Not prone to ill, nor strange to foreign guest. 

 They eat, they drink, and nature gives the feast ; 

 The trees around them all their food produce, 

 Lotus the name ; divine, nectareous juice ! 

 (Thence called Lotophagi) which whoso tastes. 

 Insatiate riots in the sweet repasts ; 

 Nor other home, nor other care attends. 

 But quits his house, his country, and his friends." 



Pope's Homer. 



Evelyn says of it, that " it yields an admirable shade, 

 and timber immortal, growing to a vast tree where it 

 grows spontaneously, but its fruit seems not so tempt- 

 ing as it was storied it was to the companions of 

 Ulysses.'' 



