Page:Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society - Volume 1.djvu/157

Dr. Norupen’s Account of the Banyan-Tree. 121 which, undoubtedly, he had access: and this circumstance will recommend the passages, which I am about to introduce, to our particular regard.

We are in possession of two botanical works of Theophrastus, one in- scribed the History of Plants,* and the other rather unintelligibly entitled On the Causes of Plants.t In this last work, he treats of the peculiarities of different plants, of which peculiarities he endeavours to assign the reasons, or causes; hence that laconic and awkward denomination. It is a sort of Botanical Physiology. In both works, the Banyan-tree is mentioned, and altogether very fully, and accurately described. Theophrastus calls it the Indian Fig, an appellation which was given to it, by the followers of Alex- ander, on account of the resemblance, as he states, which the form of the fruit has to the common fig. It is singular to observe, that the name, which this plant bears in modern botany, Ficus Indica, should have been bestowed upon it, more than three hundred years before our era, perhaps at the very first moment that it was seen by the eye of an European. But modern science classes it with Ficus, not merely for the reason which Theophrastus alleges, but because it is marked with all the characters which belong to that genus.

I now shall cite the passages themselves, from Theophrastus. ‘The first occurs in the first book, the twelfth chapter, of the History of Plants. He there speaks of the curious mode of its rooting, and says thus:t “ The “ nature and property of the Indian Fig, with regard to its rooting, are “ peculiar; for it sends forth roots from the young branches, which roots « are lengthened, till they come in contact with the ground, and strike into «it. There is thus formed a continuation of roots, in a circle, round the
 * < tree, which does not approach the stem, but remains at a distance.”

The next, and principal passage, is in the fifth chapter of the fourth book, in the same work, and to this effect:§ “ The country of India produces t Historia Plantarum, lib. I. c.12. p. 13. (ed. Heinsii, Lugd. Bat. 1693.) “[dia 32 piens pias nal Divays i ving "Ivdining cunts * amd yap tiv Paasiv apinar mexpls ou dv cuvadn TH yn Kad pigaby* nah yiveTar Tepl To DevOpov HUKAW TUVERXES TO THY PIGGY, Guy, AAToLEVEY TOD SEAEY,IUS, HAAR aPESNKOS « § Historia Plantarum, lib. IV. ¢. 5. p. 77. “H de ‘Ivdinn xopa thy te naroupévny Exel cui, ii xaSinow Ex Thy uraduv Tas pigas av’ EKasov ETO, womep ElpnTor mpoTEpov’ aPinor OF dum Ex THY véwv, GPX tx Thy Evy, Kal ETL maraiorepwy* GuTat de cwdmrovoa TH YH, MowovoW womEp dpuppaxtov xUKry mei to Devdzov, dire yivecSan naSamep cunvnv, UP’ als nal ESac diarpicew . fioi DE cu pian Puopevon Now I. R diadnro
 * Historia Plantarum. + De Causis Plantarum.