Image: coin depicting Antiochus III
FAGI (Lee: “M: lying back beneath wide beechen clover”)
Scientific Name: Fagus sylvatica
Description: Primarily used as a shade tree, but has been seen to be in hedge form. Its nuts attract wildlife. Approximately 60 ft. tall.
Location: Range from S. Sweden to N. Sicily.
Context: calm, relaxed, natural, one with nature
Avuena (Ecl. I.2) missing from list?
CORYLUS (Lee: “M: here in the hazel thicket just now dropping twins”)
Scientific Name: Corylus auellana
Description: Often found on the slopes of hills. Its flowers bloom from January to April. It tends to attract wildlife. Aproximately 19 ft. tall.
Location: Native to Europe and Western Asia.
Context: goat pregnant and cant move, giving birth under these plants, “the flocks hope, on naked flint, she abandoned them”; false hope? Depravity? In juxtaposition to quercus
QUERCUS (Lee: “M: I keep remembering how the oak trees touched of heaven, if we had been right minded, foretold this time”)
Scientific Name: Quercus robur (spelling not idem potent to list)
Description: The lifespan of some oaks is thought to be as long as 1500 years. Approximately 100ft. Tall.
Location: Native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa
VIBURNUM (Lee: “above the guelder-rose”)
Scientific Name: Viburnum lantana
Description: This is a large ornamental Shrub. It produces creamy white flowers and bright red berries. Approximately 12 ft. tall.
Location: Native to central, southern and western Europe, northwest Africa, and southwestern Asia.
Context: negative? Rome yoked with cypress which is evergreen, reigning over/ towering over these (also evergreen?) brambles.
CUPRESSI (Lee: “T: But she (Rome) raised her head among the other cities high as a cypress-tree above the guelder-rose”) >> first tree mentioned by Tityrus other than the reed that he plays, emphasizes longing for freedom that lay in a city whose power looms over other versions of freedom(?)
Scientific Name: Cupressus sempervirens
Description: Known as the Mediterranean Cypress. Its unique narrow columnar shape is ideal for framing large landscapes. Approximately 50 ft. tall.
Location: Native to the Mediterranean
Context: Linked with the power of Rome (reason for seeking Rome? Liberty (evergreen?))
PINUS – disagreement with/in Magguilli (Lee: “The very pines, Tityrus, the very springs, these very orchards called to you”)
Scientific Name: Pinus pinea, Pinus montana, Pinus halepensis
Description: Used and cultivated for their pine nuts. Remains of cones have been discovered in Roman camps in Britain Approximately 40 ft. tall.
Location: Native to S. Europe around the Mediterranean.
Context: the pines as a metonymy for Rome (sailing, merchants, wealth, boats, power); the power the pines hold to sway you towards the liberty of rome (and the gods “so present”)
IUNCO (Lee: “although bare rock and bog with muddy rushes covers all the pasturage”)
Scientific Name: Giuncacea Ciperacea
Description: They often grow on infertile soils in a wide range of moisture conditions. Approzimately 3 ft. tall.
Location: It natively occurs from the Mediterranean region across temperate Europe
Context: unclean, dirty, filthy grass leaving the fertile land unworkable, tough; symbol of uncultured landscape; wealthy enough to own and not farm on it.
ULMO (Lee: “nor turtledove be slow to moan from the airy elm”)
Scientific Name: Either: Ulmus minor OR Ulmus glabra
Description: Its uses include feulwood, honey, carved materials and wood/timber. Approximately 35 ft. tall.
Location: It is natievly dispersed along the western seaboard of Western Europe.
SALICTI (Lee: “ the hedge this side…its willow flowers as ever feeding Hybla bees” [54]; “not in my keeping, little goats, you’ll crop the flowering lucerne and bitter willow” [78])
Scientific Name:
Description: In Europe, often found near water. Known for producing, salicylic acid, the precursor to aspirin. Approximately 70 ft. tall.
Location: Range from Europe to the Himalayas.
PYRUS (Lee: “graft pear trees, Meliboeus, now, set vines in rows”)
Scientific Name: Pyrus piraster
Description: Also called the European Wild Pear. Considered one of the species that gave way to all other species of pear trees. Approximately 23 ft. tall.
Location: Its range covers most of Central Europe.
CYTISM (Lee: ““not in my keeping, little goats, you’ll crop the flowering lucerne and bitter willow””)
Scientific Name: Cytisus >> Medicago arborea
Description: This plant flowers from May to October. In Greece, the leaves were used in salads. Approximately 6 ft. tall.
Location: Europe and the Mediterranean.