Respecting the origin of the name various conjectures have been formed, none of which, in my opinion, are founded even on probability. Hermolaus Barbarus, Henry Stephen, Ruellius, Heresbach, and others think that _artichoke_ or _artichaut_, as it is called by the French, and _arciocco_ by the Italians, is derived from the Greek word _coccalus_, which signifies a fircone, with the Arabic article _al_ prefixed, from which was formed _alcocalon_, and afterwards the name now used[630]. This etymology is contradicted by Salmasius[631], who denies that _coccalus_ had ever that signification. He remarks also that artichokes were by the Arabs called _harsaf_, _harxaf_, or _harchiaf_; and he seems not disinclined to derive the name from these appellations[632]. Grotius, Bodæus, and some others, derive it from a Greek word[633], which occurs in Alexander Trallianus, and which is supposed to signify our plant; but that word is to be found in this author alone, and in him only once; so that the idea of these critics appears to me very improbable. Frisch affirms, in his dictionary, that our modern name is formed from _carduus_ and _scolymus_ united. Ihre[634] considers the first part of the name as the German word _erde_ (the earth), because it is often pronounced _erdschoke_; but I rather think that the Germans changed the foreign word _arti_ into the word _erde_, which was known to them, in the same manner as of _tartuffolo_ we have made _erdtoffeln_[635]; besides, Ihre leaves the latter part unexplained[636]. In the seventeenth century the plant was often called _Welsch distel_ (Italian thistle), because the seeds were procured from Italy, and also _Strobeldorn_, a word undoubtedly derived from _strobilus_. Were the original country of the artichoke really known, the etymology of the name, perhaps, might be easily explained. Linnæus says that it grew wild in Narbonne, Italy, and Sicily, and the cardoons in Crete; but, in my opinion, the information respecting the latter has been taken only from the above-quoted passage of Bellon, which is improperly supposed to allude to the artichoke. As far as I know, it was not found upon that island either by Tournefort or any other traveller. Garidel, however, mentions the artichoke under the name given it by Bauhin, _cinara sylvestris latifolia_, among the plants growing wild in Provence; but later authors assure us that they sought for it there in vain[637]. I shall here remark that the artichoke is certainly known in Persia; but Tavernier says expressly that it was carried thither, like asparagus, and other European vegetables of the kitchen-garden, by the Carmelite and other monks; and that it was only in later times that it became common[638]. FOOTNOTES [596] See Stapel, über die Pflanzen des Theophrast. p. 618. Salmasius ad Solinum, p. 159. Casauboni Animadv. in Athen. Lugd. 1621, fol. p. 146. Bauhini Hist. Plant. iii. p. 48. [597] Colum. lib. x. ver. 235.