The Description.

This tree, which for his leaves and manner of growing I think may fitly be referred to the Jujube tree, is of two sorts; that is, the one prickly, and the other not prickly, in other respects they are both alike, so that one figure and history may serve for them both; which I will give you out of Clusius, who received this figure together with a description thereof from Honorius Bellus, and also added thereto that which Prosper Alpinus hath written of it in his De Plant. Ægypt. 5th chap. It grows to the height of an indifferent Pear tree, and the body and branches thereof are covered with a whitish ash-coloured bark: the leaves are like those of the Jujube tree, two inches long, and one broad, with three nerves running alongst them; of a deep shining green above, and more whitish underneath: and they grow alternately upon the branches: and at their coming forth grow tufts of little white flowers hanging upon single long footstalks: after these follows the fruit like unto a small apple, of the bigness for the most part of a large cherry, and sometimes as big as a walnut, of a sweet taste, containing therein a kernel or stone like that of an olive. It bears fruit twice a year, for it hath ripe fruit both in the spring and fall; yet the vernal fruit seldom comes to good, by reason of the too much moislure of the season, which causes it to become worm-eaten. The thorny kind is described by Alpinus, who rightly judges it the Connarus of Athenæus, but the figure he gives is not very accurate. That which wants prickles grows (as well as the prickly one) in Egypt and Syria, as also in the city Rethymno in Candy, whither it was brought out of Syria.

The history of both these trees is in Serapio by the name of Sadar: but he, according to his custom confounds it with the Lotus of Dioscorides, from which it very much differs. Bellonius in his second book, and 79th chap. of his Observations, reckons up Napeca amongst the trees that are always green: which is true, in those that grow in Egypt and Syria; but false in such as grow in Candy. That tree in Egypt and Syria is called Nep, or Nap. Alpinia calls it Paliurus athenæi, or Nabca ægyptorum, thinking it (as I formerly said) the Connarus mentioned in the 14th book of Athenæus his Deipnosophists.

The Virtues out of Alpinus.

A. The fruit is of a cold and dry faculty, and the unripe ones are frequently used to strengthen the stomach, and stop lasks: the juice of them being for this purpose either taken by the mouth, or injected by clyster: of the same fruit dried and macerated in water is made an infusion profitable against the relaxation and ulceration of the guts.

B. The decoction or infusion of the ripe dried fruit, is of a very frequent use against all pestilent fevers: for they affirm that this fruit hath a wonderful efficacy against venenate qualities, and putrefaction, and that it powerfully strengthens the heart.

C. Also the juice of the perfectly ripe fruit is very good to purge choler forth of the stomach and first veins: and they willingly use an infusion made of them in all putrid fevers to mitigate their heat or burning.