131 
Legummous Plants. 
these, the Ilomans distinguished between winter and summer 
beet, (Plin. 1. xix. c. 8.) Athenaeus has four species of beet 
(1. ix. c. ll.), (rTTOiTrovy jcsfyAwTov, Agy»ov, The two latter 
have been determined, the other two remain still doubtful. 
Kavxlifcv was probably the same large variety, of which Theo- 
phrastus speaks as an woody plant, (Hist. Pl, 1. i. c. 2. s. 
Schn.) Linnaeus has placed the native country of the white 
beet in Portugal, on the banks of the Tagus; and the na-> 
live country of the red variety in the south of Europe generally^ 
The former locality is not altogether incorrect ; there grows in 
that country an intermediate species betv/eeii the red and white 
beet, which, however, may well be reckoned the original species, 
and which probably grows in several places in the south of 
Europe. 
is not described by Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and 
Galen; it is only named as a garden-vegetable. The word has 
been translated portidaca^ perhaps merely because Dioscorides 
says of the wild Andrachne, it has thicker leaves. According 
to the properties that have been ascribed to it, it has a tough 
mucilage. The plant has not been ascertained. A shrub also 
bears the same name. 
'2r^vxv6q belongs to the garden-greens. According to Theo-^ 
phrastus, it is eaten raw ; whilst, on the other hand, Malva and 
others are dressed, (Hist. PI. 1. vii. c. 7- § S.) The passages^ 
which have been interpreted of an edible fruit, have been cor- 
rected by Schneider, (1. vii. c. 15. § 3.) The fruit resembles a 
grape, says Theophrastus. We must distinguish it from other 
plants of similar nanies, (1. ix. c. 12. § 5.) Dioscorides describes 
the plant as a small shrub, with blackish leaves, a round, at first 
green, afterwards red or black, fruit. Galen considers this 
plant to be ’Tery astringent : it is seldom eaten. Many editors 
consider this plant to be a pliy sails ; but the author was not 
speaking of edible fruits. Neither can I venture to determine 
this plant. Solanum nigrum^ which has been suspected of being 
it, is not eaten raw. 
Tlie Nettle^ <iKciXv(p^ according to Galen, was eaten as greens, 
as happens at this day in many countries, where it is dressed in 
spring, mixed with other herbs. 
( To he concluded In next Number.) 
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