126. The 'platanus', or plane-tree, was a favourite of the
ancients, by.whom it was propagated, for the sake of shade,
from the East to Gaul. Pliny Hist. Natur. xii. 3, 4, 5. He
mentions several of an enormous size; one in the Imperial
villa at Velitrae, which Caligula called his nest, as the
branches were capable of holding a large table, the proper
attendants, and the emperor himself, whom Pliny quaintly
styles 'pars umbrae'; an expression which might, with equal
reason, be applied to Alaric.