[2798] It bears no relation whatever to the lentil, not being a leguminous plant. Fée would include under this head the Lemna minor, the Lemna gibba, and the Lemna polyrrhiza of modern botany, all being found together in the same stagnant water.
[2799] Fée remarks, that Pliny is clearly speaking of two essentially different plants under this name; the first, he thinks, may very probably be the Ervum tetraspermum of Linnæus.
[2800] This, Fée thinks, is the Salvia officinalis of Linnæus, our common sage, which has no affinity whatever with the lentil.
[2801] Sprengel thinks that he is speaking here of the Salvia triloba of Linnæus.
[2802] The Trygon pastinaca of Linnæus.
[2803] “Sage,” the plant, no doubt, that he has been describing.
[2804] See B. xviii. c. [32]. Fée thinks that the wild cicer is identical with our cultivated one, the Cicer rietinum.
[2805] See B. xviii. cc. [26] and [32].
[2806] Or “ram’s head” cicer; from its fancied resemblance to it: the name is still given to the cultivated plant.
[2807] Or “pigeon” cicer. See B. xviii. c. [32]. Fée thinks it probable that this plant may be a variety of the Ervum.