150 : THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
Keypt (1 Kings. 10 ch. 28). The “rich man was clothed in 
purple and fine linen” (Luke 16 ch., 19), as was also Mordecai 
when he left the presence of King Ahasuerus (Hst. 8 ch., 15). 
Numerous other references may be passed over, until we read 
(Matt. 27 ch., 59 and Mark 15 ch., 46) how Joseph of Arima- 
thea “bought fine linen” in which he wrapped the body of Jesus. 
In Luke 16 ch., 19 and Rev. 18 ch., 12, 16, the Greek word 
byssus is translated “fine linen” and from this is derived the 
term “byssus” applied to the fibrous anchoring filaments of mol- 
luses like the mussel. 
Hyssop. Several different plants have been suggested for 
hyssop, the plant used for sprinkling the door posts with the 
blood of the pascal lamb (Exod. 12 ch., 22), and for a sprinkle 
in curing lepers (Lev., 14 ch.), and the ceremony of purification 
described in Numb. 19 ch. Of these the most probable appears 
to be the caper (Capparis spinosa) a creeping plant common in 
the desert country of Sinai. The words of Psa. 51 v., 7, “Purge 
me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;” are considered to refer 
to the use of the flower buds, which constitute the capers of 
commerce and to which cleansing properties are attributed. 
Rose. The term “rose” is used in a symbolical manner, as 
in, “The desert shall rejoice and-blossom like the rose” (Isa. 35 
ch., 1), “I am the rose of Sharon” (Song. Sol. 2 ch., 1). 
The reference is probably to any sweet flower but may be 
the sweet scented narcissus (N. tazetta) a native of Palestine. 
This is rendered probable from the fact of the Hebrew word 
used “habaceleth,” indicating a bulbous plant. 
Lily. The word lily occurs in several passages in the Old 
Testament being so translated from the Hebrew “shosan.” Thus 
in Song. Sol. 2 ch., 1, “the lily of the valleys,” while in the 
parable (Matt. 6 ch., 28) “consider the lilies of the field” the 
Greek “Krina” is so rendered. These probably refer to the 
beautiful Anemone coronaria, which is abundant in Palestine, 
particularly about the shores of Galilee. The Greeks called it 
“the crown imperial” or “royal lily.”’ In his beautiful hymn for 
children Bishop Heber refers to both lily and rose thus :— 
“By cool Siloam’s shady rill, 
How sweet the lily grows! 
How sweet the breath, beneath the hill, 
Of Sharon’s dewy rose!” 
Cucumber—Melon. The common garden cucumber (Cucumis 
sativus) was an important article of food in Palestine. In Isa. 
1 ch., 8, “a lodge in a garden of cucumbers,” refers to the rude 
