ARBOR VITÆ. Thuja. Thuja, L. Greek Bov, , or va; which is derived from 6, to perfume.

Arbor Vitæ, L. from Arbor, a tree, and Vitæ, of life. The tree of life.

Thuja, the name of a tree, whose very durable wood served, according to Theophrastus, to make images. Its roots, in particular, being curiously twisted or veined, were used for the most valuable ornamental works. This plant was probably the Juniperus Orycedrus, very common throughout Greece and the Archipelago, of which Mr. Hawkins is of opinion that the most ancient statues were made. Our present genus of Thuja has nothing in common with this classical plant, except being an aromatic evergreen tree of the same natural order, with very durable wood; but it is not a native of Greece or the Levant. Rees' Encyclopedia.

The species cultivated are, the American Arbor Vitæ, Thuja Occidentalis, called White Cedar; and the Chinese Arbor Vitæ, Thuja Orientalis. In the first of these species, there are great varieties; as the American sweet-scented, and the variegated-leaved-native of North America, from Canada to the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina. It is rather scarce in the Southern States, and only found on the steep banks of mountain torrents.

The Thuja Occidentalis is an evergreen tree of humble growth, much branched, very different from most others in the compressed vertical aspect of its younger shoots, and their closely imbricated leaves, which are small, obtuse with a point, smooth; those of two opposite rows compressed and keeled; the intermediate ones flat, with a glandular point or cell of resin, at the back. The flowers appear in May, and are small, solitary, terminal; the males yellowish, and most abundant. Cones ripened the following year, drooping, about the size of a filbert kernel, consisting of about half a dozen lax, smooth, coriaceous scales. The odour of the bruised plant is aromatic, but not agreeable. The wood is not hard, but tough, and extremely durable.

Thuja Orientalis, is a native of rocky and mountainous situations in China and Japan. It is a hardy evergreen in our gardens, flowering at the same time with the former. The very copious and crowded young branches are more erect, more slender, and rather less compressed than those of the former, and the leaves are furrowed, without any resinous dot. The young branches two edged; leaves imbricated in four furrows, compressed, ovate, somewhat rhomboid, with a central furrow. Inner scales of the cone obtuse, and remarkably hooked, with a recurved dorsal point.

AURICULA.

Primula Auricula.

Primula, a name given to the Primrose, as the first offering of Spring, (from Primus,) and retained by Linnæus for the genus to which that favourite flower belongs; though, as he remarks in some parts of his writings, there are plants, in various countries, more strictly entitled to such an appellation.

L. the ear. That species of Primrose, called from the shape of its leaves, Bear's ear.

The Auricula is considered in the Linnæan system as a species of Primula. The varieties of the Auricula are extremely numerous, as every year produces a great number of flowers, different in shape, size, and colour; in the leaves, also, there is great variety, so that the experienced florist can distinguish the particular sorts by that means.

The Flora Historica tells us, that it is a native of the icy summits of the Alps: that it is a plant on which Nature plays her frolics, and loves to paint in all the varieties of whimsicality and diversity of rich hues. Nature has guarded these delicate flowers from the scorching heat of the sun's rays, by sprinkling them with a fine powder, and the leaves of most of the kinds of Auricula are kept cool by the same wise precaution.

The acme of the florist's ambition is to procure the Auricula of a glowing scarlet, or deep crimson, edged with green.

The Primula Auricula, garden Auricula, or Bear's ear, is the origin of all the fine powdered garden Auriculas; it has, in a wild state, much less powdery leaves, whose edges are partially, but often coarsely, serrated; their form broadly and obtusely obovate. Stalk many-flowered, about the length of the foliage. The flowers are small, yellow, occasionally purple, or red, as usually seen in gardens. Their scent is grateful and peculiar.

BACHELOR'S BUTTON. Lychnis Dioica.

(See note on Scarlet Lychnis.) Dioica Flores, or Diacious flowers, have stamens in one individual, and pistils in another, on separate plants of the same species.

Bachelor's Button-Bachelor, a word of very uncertain etymology. Junius derives it from the Gr. Baxos, foolish. Menage, from bas chevalier, a knight of the lowest rank. The most probable derivation seems to be from bacca laurus, (L) the berry of a Laurel or Bay; Bachelors being young, are of good hopes, like laurels in the berry.

Johnson.

fields or open situations, in summer. The roots perennial; plant hairy, and somewhat viscid, two or three feet high; leaves ovate or lanceolate, hairy; limb of each petal cloven half way down, generally with two small acute lobes; its crown consisting of two obtuse central teeth, and two acute lateral ones.

BALM. Melissa.

Melissa, from Melissa, the Greek name of a Bee; or, rather, as that name itself, like the ancient proper names Melissa and Melissus, also originated from Meli, the Greek for honey, because of the abundant and excellent honey of the flowers of this herb, for which bees are said greatly to frequent them. Rees' Encyclopedia. Balm, E.-French Baume, a contraction of balsam, which is an aromatic substance, flowing from certain plants. The Melissa Officinalis, Common Balm, has a pleasant scent, somewhat like the lemon, and has been denominated "Melissa odore citri," for this reason. It was formerly esteemed of great use in all complaints proceeding from a disordered state of the nervous system. As a tea, it is well known to be a grateful diluent drink in fevers, either by itself, or acidulated with lemon.

Balm is too generally known to require a botanical description.

BALSAM.

Impatiens.

Impatiens, so called from the great elasticity of the sutures of its seed vessel, which is completely impatient of the touch; curling up with great velocity, and scattering round the seeds. From this remarkable circumstance, it has obtained the English appellation of "Touch-me-not."

It is a native of the East Indies, China, and Japan. It has the advantage of retaining all its splendour and freshness during the drought of the hottest months. Contrary to the nature of plants, in general, it droops in the cool of the night, whilst it erects itself in the heat of day, which causes most other plants to fade. In watering these plants, care should be taken not to sprinkle or wet the foliage; and it is recommended to save the seeds from the principal stem only, and not from the collateral branches.

General character of Impatiens: Perianth very small, of two roundish, pointed, equal leaves, coloured, deciduous. Corolla five-petalled, irregular; the upper petal roundish, flat, slightly trifid, making a sort of upper lip; lower pair very large, obtuse; intermediate pair opposite, rising from the base of the upper petal; nectary receiving, like a hood, the base of the flower.

The generic name of Impatiens, has suggested the emblem of Impatience; but the Turks represent ardent love by this flower.

The Ocimum Basilicum, or Common Sweet Basil, is a native of India and Persia; and may be placed among the hardy annuals. The leaves ovate, peculiarly smooth and cool to the touch, and if not too much bruised, exhale a delightful fragrance. The calyx is remarkably hairy; the flowers violetcoloured, varying in colour, sometimes only spotted with purple.

Basil, E.-French basilic-Latin basilico-Greek Barxov, signifying kingly, royal, courtly.

Several of the species of the Ocimum are held in superstitious veneration by the Hindoos, and are used in their religious ceremonies. The species most in estimation at Calcutta, is known by the general name of Toolsey. The whole genus is valued for their fragrant, aromatic, and sweet scent; which, in some instances, resembles the nutmeg, clove, citron, and fennel.

That which is used in French cookery, rises about ten inches high, sending out opposite four cornered branches from the very bottom. Leaves ovate, narrowing gradually towards each end in acute points, indented on their edges. The whole plant hairy, and has the odour of cloves.

BAY TREE. Laurus.

Laurus, the ancient Latin name of the Bay Tree, for which it is retained by modern botanists, and along with which it now comprehends a great number of species, constituting one of the noblest genera in the whole vegetable kingdom. The origin of the word is now lost in the obscurity of antiquity: and whether etymologists derive it from lavo, to wash, or from laus, praise or honour, we have not the satisfaction to know.

Bay, E.-In Spanish Baya, is a berry, the fruit of the laurel. Greek Basov, a branch of the palm tree. It was used in the ancient purifications. Ainsworth. What is now called Bay, was formerly called Laurel, which has introduced some confusion.

Laurus, Latin-Laurel, English-Aqvn, Greek. Daphne, so famous for her modesty, was transformed into the Laurel, or Bay tree, which is always flourishing and pure. Apollo, her lover, crowned his head with the leaves, and ordained that for ever after, the tree should be sacred to him. He says of the tree, after the metamorphosis:

The Bay has had ascribed to it the property of resisting lightning:

There bays still grow, (by thunder not struck down,) The victor's garland, and the poet's crown.

Low at your sacred feet our poor muse lays Her, and her thunder-fearless bays.

The Laurus Nobilis, or Sweet Bay, is decided to be the Daphne of Dioscorides; and, consequently, the classical Laurel of the ancients. It is still called by the same name among the modern Greeks. It is a native of Asia and Europe. There are many species of it, some of them indigenous in America.

The L. Nobilis is a tree of slow growth. Leaves stalked, lanceolate, veiny, finely reticulated, evergreen, aromatic: flowers four-cleft, diacious, in short axillary clusters, of a pale yellow, borne only by old trees: no calyx.

In the genus Laurus, are found the Cinnamon tree, or L. Cinnamonum, whose bark furnishes the spicy aromatic Cinnamon of our shops. It is a native of Ceylon, an island of the East Indies.

The L. Camphora, or Japan Camphor tree, of this genus, is that from which the best camphor is procured. This is found in perpendicular veins, near the centre of the tree, or concreted in the knots of the wood. There is a grosser sort prepared from the roots, which is afterwards refined by a chemical process, into the transparent resin used in medicine. The Camphor tree, in its general character, is nearly related to the Red Bay of America; so similar in appearance, that, at a little distance, they are easily confounded.

The L. Cassia, or Cassia-bark tree, celebrated from all antiquity, belongs to this family: native, also, of the East Indies. It is noticed in the Old Testament, Ps. xiv. 7, 8. It resembles the Cinnamon in its aromatic, fragrant bark.

L. Sassafras, American Sassafras tree, is also of this genus. It was among the first trees of America which became known to the Europeans, on account of its medicinal virtues.

Its common

Veronica, an old but not classical name. etymology is between the Greek and Latin, from Verus, or rather Vera, true, and the Greek, a figure; and this, illiterate and barbarous as it is, has the sanction of the superstitious legend of St. Veronica, whose handkerchief is recorded to have received the impression of our Saviour's face, as he used it in bearing his cross to the place of crucifixion.

Veronica is abbreviated from Vericonica, of Vera-icon q. d. true image. Veronicas, in commerce, are imitations of that celebrated original one, preserved with great veneration at St. Peter's, in Rome; and imagined, by some, to be the handkerchief laid over our Saviour's face in the sepulchre.

Ambrosinus says, the word Veronica is German, and originated in the druggists' shops of that country. He favours the idea of its being corrupted from Vetonica, our Betonica, or Betony.

see.

Belvidere, E., from the Latin bellus, fine, and video, to

Scoparia, from the Latin Scope, a broom, because the plant is used in the West Indies for making brooms.

Scoparia Dulcis, Sweet Scoparia. The leaves have a sweet taste like liquorice, whence its name of Wild Liquorice, or Sweet Weed, by which it is known in Jamaica. Sloane says, that three spoonfulls of the expressed juice of these leaves, taken evening and morning, for three days, is counted an infallible remedy for any cough. It has long been known in our green-houses as an annual of no great beauty. It blossoms throughout the summer: the stem is very bushy, angular: leaves stalked, an inch long, light green, smooth, coarsely and bluntly serrated, tapering at the base: flowers small, white; corolla wheel-shaped, deeply four-cleft; numerous axillary, solitary, on short slender stalks: calyx in four deep equal segments.

BIRD'S-FOOT TREFOIL.

Lotus. (See Lotos.)

Lotus, or Lotos, a name applied to several herbaceous plants, essential to the maintenance of domestic cattle in countries sparingly furnished with grass.

For Trefoil, see clover.

There are several species of the Bird's-foot trefoil noticed under the article Lotus. The square podded Lotus siliquosus, with large lemon-coloured flowers-once cultivated for the pods as a vegetable; and, latterly, for its flowers. Roots perennial.

The Crimson-winged Pea, or L. Tetragonolobus, is a hardy annual, with deep crimson velvety flowers. The pods, also, esculent. This species has been celebrated, as having first called the attention of Linnæus to the sleep of the plants. He observed its flowers to close up in the evening, and open again in the morning.

Common Bird's-foot Trefoil, L. Corniculatus,* usually found in open grassy pastures, where it is conspicuous in the Autumn, with flowers of a golden yellow, more or less stained or striped with dark red: the stem clothed with closepressed hairs: pod or seed-vessel of a shining brown or copper colour: roots perennial-has been recommended for fodder and hay, by the name of Milk-vetch.

The essential character of this genus, is Legume cylindrical, straight, wings cohering longitudinally above: calyx tubular; filaments dilated upwards: corolla papilionaceous.

BOX. Buxus.

Burus, L. from the Greek is, a box, and vos, the tree. Sax. box.

The Box, sacred to Cybele, because the pipes used in her sacrifices were made of it.

(See Tooke's Pantheon.)

The Arborescent Box, or Buxus Arborescens, (Sempervirens, Linn.) a shrubby tree, from twelve to sixteen feet high; is a native of most parts of Europe, from Britain southward, and in the temperate parts of Asia and America. It was much admired by the ancients, on account of its being easily clipped into the shape of animals, and other fantastic appearances. The younger Pliny gives a florid description of the pleasure grounds at one of his country seats; in which, among other curious devices, the letters of his own name, and of other words, were orderly expressed in rows of shorn box.

The Dwarf Box, or Buxus Suffruticosa, never rises to a greater height than about three feet, and grows in thick, much-branched tufts. It is found wild in many parts of France, by the road sides, about villages, and in stony, waste places, and is said to be truly indigenous.

It is used in gardening, to divide beds from the walks of flower-gardens, and has great durability. R. E.

The Box is too well known to require a botanical description.

In allusion to the ten stamens being united at the bottom into one brotherhood, and with the single pistil inhabiting the same flower.

In France, the Broom is regarded as the emblem of Humility. Garland of Flora.

The Encyclopedia states, that the term Plantagenet has given infinite perplexity to the etymologists and antiquarians. It is allowed to have belonged to the house of Anjou; and was brought to the throne of England by Henry the Second, where it was preserved by his posterity, till the time of Henry the Eighth, a space of above four hundred years.

Skinner tells us that "the house of Anjou derived the name Plantagenet from a prince thereof, who having killed his brother, to enjoy his principality, afterwards repented, and made a voyage to the Holy Land to expiate his crime; disciplining himself every night with a rod made of the plant Genet, Genista, broom." And we are told, elsewhere, that he became nick-named Planta-genet, from the use he had made of the Broom, or Genista.

Lemon, in his English Etymology, says: "It is very observable, that fourteen princes of the family of Plantagenet have sate on the throne of England for upwards of three hundred years, and yet very few of our countrymen have known either the reason of that appellation, or the etymology of it: but history tells us, that Geofry, earl of Anjou, acquired the surname of Plantagenet from the incident of his wearing a sprig of Broom in his helmet, on a day of battle. This Geofry was second husband to Matilda, or Maud, empress of Germany, and daughter of Henry I., of England: and from this Plantagenet family were descended all our Edwards and Henrys."

Of the Broom there are three varieties-the yellow, violet, and white flowering.

B