THE HEElSiA FLANT 183 
The aged Mahometan frequently perfumes his beard by 
holding his face over the vapour arising from a prepara- 
tion of the odoriferous henna. This reminds us of that 
perfume which, poured upon Aaron’s beard, was, in its 
sweetness, compared by the Psalmist to the delights of 
fraternal affection. In Egypt the henna iiovifers are car- 
ried about the streets for sale ; and the seller, as he pro- 
ceeds, calls aloud, O, odours of Paradise ; O, flowers of 
the henna!” 
This plant receives its, botanical name from Dr. Isaac 
Lawson. It is similar in its nature to our common loose- 
strife (Lythrum salicaria), and placed by botanists in the 
same order, Salicarise. The flowers of this order are, like 
the henna, almost all of a purplish or red colour. Our 
purple loose-strife is very common bv streams, and is a 
conspicuous and handsome flower ; yet fev/ country people 
know its name. Villagers have alm.ost aivt'ays familiar 
names for common plants ; and these are often different 
in different counties. Sometimes names of the old poets, 
names almost forgotten, are still retained in the country, 
and may be learned by conversing with some of those old 
village dames who go about collecting “ simples, ' ' as they 
call herbs which they use for remedies. The flower called 
loose-strife is two or three feet high, and at the top of 
the stem bears a uumber of flowers placed round it. The 
leaves are long, but shaped at the base like a heart. If 
the reader find a flower answering this description by the 
stream-side, and take the trouble to count the chives, or 
threads, which are within the purple blossom, he cannot 
mistake it. It has six long and six short stamens. 
VjERSES. 
It was at evening’s silent hour; 
A gentle maid reclined 
In a lone spot, where tree and flower 
Bent to the summer wind ; 
A volume lay within her hand, 
O’er which she fondly bent. 
And on a scene of distant land 
Her thought was all intent; 
And now and then the maiden smiled, 
As that sweet scene her thoughts beguiled. 
