[798] Fée mentions one near Elvas in Spain, which shot up into seven distinct trees, as it were, from a single trunk. The Douma Thebaica, he says, of Syria and Egypt, a peculiar kind of palm, is also bifurcated. The fruit of it, he thinks, are very probably the Phænico-balanus of B. xii. c. [47].
[799] “Spado.” Represented by the Greek εὔνουχος and ἔνορχος.
[800] “Cæduæ.” Though this is the fact as to some palm-trees, the greater part perish after being cut; the vital bud occupying the summit, and the trunk not being susceptible of any increase.
[801] Cerebrum.
[802] The Chamæreps humilis of the modern botanists. It is found, among other countries, in Spain, Morocco, and Arabia.
[803] Vitilia.
[804] “Vivaces.” Perhaps it may mean that the wood retains the fire for a long time, when it burns.
[805] Fée suggests that Pliny may possibly have confounded the fruit of other palms with the date.
[806] This seems to have been a general name, as Pliny says, meaning an eunuch; but it is evident that it was also used as a proper name, as in the case of the eunuch who slew Artaxerxes, Ochus, B.C. 338, by poison, and of another eunuch who belonged to Darius, but afterwards fell into the hands of Alexander, of whom he became an especial favourite. The name is sometimes written “Bagoüs,” and sometimes “Bagoas.”
[807] Dominantis in aula.