[2534] See c. [93], where he enlarges on the varieties of the mistletoe.
[2535] See B. xxiv. c. 71.
[2536] He means the garden or border-box, mentioned in c. [28] of this Book.
[2537] See B. xiii. c. [17]: the African lotus, probably; the Zizyphus lotus of Desfontaines.
[2538] This statement is entirely incorrect. If a tree loses the terminal bud, it will grow no higher; but it will not die if the extremities of the branches are cut. Such, in fact, is much more likely to happen when they are all cut off, from the extreme loss of juices which must naturally ensue at the several cicatrices united.
[2539] The Celtis australis of Linnæus. Pliny is in error in calling this tree the “Grecian bean.” In B. xiii. c. [22], he erroneously calls the African lotus by the name of “celtis,” which only belongs to the lotus of Italy; that of Africa being altogether different.
[2540] The bark, which is astringent, is still used in preparing skins, and a black colouring matter extracted from the root is employed in dyeing wool.
[2541] Quite an accidental resemblance, if, indeed, it ever existed.
[2542] “Oculus”—the bud on the trunk.
[2543] This must be either a mistake or an exaggeration; the cherry never being a very large tree.