[ 570 ] 
stanifl of the two laft Centuries made, owing to the 
bad Deferiptions of this Plant, which the Ancients 
have left us. 
Hiofcorides , who, by defer ibing the Plants he treats 
of too briefly, always leaves their Charaders imper- 
fed, lays (perhaps after fome other Author more 
ancient than himfelf) that the Leaves of the Tlant 
in Qiiejlion are like thofe of the Olive tree ; that 
its Flowers are in Bunches , and that its Fruit is 
black , like that of Elder . This was enough to make 
the Latins conjedure, that the x of this Au- 
thor was the Liguftrum or Privet ; and the more fo, 
as the Cyprus was intirely unknown to them, flnee 
it only grew in Egypt and in Syria, where it was 
always called Henna , or Alhenna , and, by Corrup- 
tion, Alkanna . 
There is fome Appearance, that, as the Greeks 
received a good Quantity of this Drug from the Iflc 
of Cyprus: as a Species of Merchandize, they would 
chufe to call it Cyprus , rather than give it any other 
Denomination, on account of the Quantity furnifhed 
to them from the Ifle of that Name. Tliny took it 
flrft for a kind of Privet of Liguftrum, which grew 
particularly in Eg pt , and afterwards he thought it to 
be the common Liguftrum or Europe : This fhews 
how uncertain he was as to the Plant in Queftion. He 
judged ill in comparing the Fruit ot the Cyprus with 
that of the Jujube-tree; but was more happy in liken- 
ing the Fruit (Capfule) to that of the Coriander, as 
they agree in Colour, though that of the Cyprus was 
more large.. Matthiolus , who thought himfelfgrcatly 
above his Cotemporaries .in the Theory of Plants, al- 
ferts boldly, that our Plant was the common Privet : 
And 
