book of Jonah adopted one of three approaches. The noun qîqāyôn was either translated by the Greek or Latin words for (1) a gourd or (2) an ivy, or alternatively, (3) it was merely transliterated, with no attempt being made to specify the nature of the plant. In the sixteenth century two further solutions were suggested: (1) a castor-oil plant (or ricinus) and (2) a vine. Finally, because of the difficulties surrounding the translation of qîqāyôn, a number of modern translations use the general designation