CHAP. 40.—THE ANDRACHLE.[1]

Nearly all the Greek writers interpret the name of the tree called "andrachle," as meaning the same as "purslain:"[2] whereas purslain is, in reality, a herb, and, with the difference of a single letter, is called "andrachne." The andrachne is a wild tree, which never grows in the plain country, and is similar to the arbute tree in appearance, only that its leaves are smaller, and never fall off. The bark, too, is not rough, but might be taken to be frozen all over, so truly wretched is its appearance.

1. In the former editions, "adrachne"—the Arbutus integrifolia, Fee says, and not the Arbutus andrachne of Linnæus, as Sprengel thinks.

2. "Porcillaca." The Portulaca oleracea of Linnæus.