Caustic Disclaimer. Viburnum sp., Wayfaring Tree, Shaffy's Tuin, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
In his first Eclogue Vergil compares the Eternal City Rome to a Cypress tree rearing high up above lowly hedgerow shrubs such as Viburnum. So Rome over all other cities. Many horticultural authors since, and especially in early modern times, keen on showing their historico-botanical knowledge, have quoted the Poet's lines. Thus too John Gerard (ca.1545-1612) and John Parkinson (1567-1650).
Gerard in his General historie of plants (1597) translates 'Viburnum' to 'Wayfaring Tree', a vernacular name still used today for specific 'lantana'. John Parkinson (1567-1650) - who often writes disdainfully and even caustically about his predecessors - in his great Theatrum Botanicum (1640) says: 'Gerard called it in English the Waifaring tree, but I know no travailler doth take either pleasure or profit by it, more then by any other of the hedge trees'. Hence Robinson coins his own vernacular name - so ugly, I think -: 'Pliant Mealy Tree'. I'm rather glad most people today in a variety of vernaculars stick to the ancient Latin 'Viburnum'.
Moreover, Parkinson is quite mistaken in his psychology of travellers. I myself take much pleasure through all the seasons in these pretty-blossoming shrubs and I've seen many other 'wayfarers' do the same.
Caustic Disclaimer. Viburnum sp., Wayfaring Tree, Shaffy's Tuin, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
In his first Eclogue Vergil compares the Eternal City Rome to a Cypress tree rearing high up above lowly hedgerow shrubs such as Viburnum. So Rome over all other cities. Many horticultural authors since, and especially in early modern times, keen on showing their historico-botanical knowledge, have quoted the Poet's lines. Thus too John Gerard (ca.1545-1612) and John Parkinson (1567-1650).
Gerard in his General historie of plants (1597) translates 'Viburnum' to 'Wayfaring Tree', a vernacular name still used today for specific 'lantana'. John Parkinson (1567-1650) - who often writes disdainfully and even caustically about his predecessors - in his great Theatrum Botanicum (1640) says: 'Gerard called it in English the Waifaring tree, but I know no travailler doth take either pleasure or profit by it, more then by any other of the hedge trees'. Hence Robinson coins his own vernacular name - so ugly, I think -: 'Pliant Mealy Tree'. I'm rather glad most people today in a variety of vernaculars stick to the ancient Latin 'Viburnum'.
Moreover, Parkinson is quite mistaken in his psychology of travellers. I myself take much pleasure through all the seasons in these pretty-blossoming shrubs and I've seen many other 'wayfarers' do the same.