CER'CIS SILIQUAS'TRUM. 
JUDAS TREE. 
Class. Order. 
DECANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
FABACE.3E. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers 
Habit. 
Introduced 
S. Europe 
20 feet. 
May, June. 
Tree. 
in 1596. 
No. 1115. 
The name Cereis, from eerkis, a shuttlecock, 
was adopted by Linneus for this genus, not because 
it was peculiarly applicable, but that it bad been 
employed by the ancient Greeks, as the name of 
a leguminous plant, and he was always inclined to 
the adoption of ancient established names. 
This ornamental tree, or rather shrub, as it is 
usually seen in Britain, received particular atten- 
tion from the old herbalists of our own country, as 
well as the European continent. This chiefly 
arose from the tradition that it was the tree on 
which Judas, in the frenzy of remorse, hanged him- 
self, after the betrayal of our Saviour. Whether 
true or fabulous, all the early botanists availed 
themselves of the belief, and, in their wood-cuts, 
represented Judas suspended from its branches. 
How happens it that this very hardy and beau- 
tiful shrub is so rarely met with ? It deserves a 
conspicuous place on a wall ; where, if kept closely 
pruned of breast-wood, the old stems, from root to 
the top, become covered with flowers, in May and 
June, rivalling the Wistaria Sinensis. Here too, 
it would produce abundance of seeds. 
