Chapter 544

1982At the present day, too, it is the root of the plant that is the most important part of it.

1983The Iris Florentina, probably, of Linnæus.

1984Mentioned by Nicander, Theriaca, l. 43.

1985Probably a variety only of the preceding kind.

1986The most common varieties in Africa are the Iris alata of Lamarck, I. Mauritanica of Clusius, I. juncea, and I. stylosa of Desfontaines.

1987“Raphanus.” C. Bauhin identifies the Rhaphanitis with the Iris biflora, and the Rhizotomus with the Iris angustifolia prunum redolens.

1988See c.38of this Book.

1989No kind of iris, Fée says, fresh or dried, whole or powdered, is productive of this effect.

1990Very similar, probably, to that of Illyria.

1991All these superstitions are from Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. B. ix. c. 9.

1992This, Fée says, is quite consistent with modern experience.

1993“Irinum.” See B. xiii. c. 2.

1994Probably the Valeriana Celtica of Linnæus. See B. xii. c. 27, where it is mentioned as Gallic nard.

1995“Cæspes.”

1996See B. iii. c. 21.

1997Probably the Teucrium polium of Linnæus; the herb poley, or poley-mountain.

1998By those who carry it on their person.

1999This marvel is related by Dioscorides in reference to the Tripolium, and not the Polium.

2000The Teucrium montanum, probably, of Linnæus.

2001This name belongs, properly, to the wild or mountain Polium.

2002“Principales.” The meaning of this term is explained at the end of this Chapter. Red, yellow, and blue—or else, red, green, and violet, are probably theprimarycolours of light.

2003See B. ix. c. 65, and B. xvi. c. 12. He alludes to the Coccus ilicis of Linnæus.

2004See B. xxxvii. c. 40, as to the meaning of the word “Suspectus.” This passage, however, as Sillig remarks, is hopelessly corrupt.

2005See B. ix. cc. 60, 63.

2006“Doubly-dyed,” or “twice dipped,” in purple. See B. ix. c. 63. Littré remarks here that, according to Doctor Bizio, it was the Murex brandaris that produced the Tyrian purple, and the Murex trunculus the amethystine purple.

2007Or “violet-colour.” See B. xxxvii. c. 40.

2008For further information on these tints, see B. ix. cc. 64, 65.

2009Belonging, probably, Fée thinks, to the Cruciferæ of the genera Hesperis and Cheiranthus.

2010“Flammeis” The “flammeum,” or flame-coloured veil of the bride, was of a bright yellow, or rather orange-colour, perhaps.

2011The Celosia cristata of Linnæus.

2012“Spica.” The moderns have been enabled to equal the velvety appearance of the amaranth in the tints imparted by them to their velvets. The Italians call it the “velvet-flower.”

2013The real fact is, that the amaranth, being naturally a dry flower, and having little humidity to lose, keeps better than most others.

2014From the Greekἀ, “not,” andμαραίνεσθαι, “to fade.”

2015Being the Greek for “blue” or “azure.”

2016The Centaurea cyanus of Linnæus; our blue-bell.

2017Meaning “all gold.” It has been identified with the Gnaphalium stœchas of Linnæus, theimmortelleof the French, which forms the ingredient for their funereal chaplets.

2018Sprengel says that this is the Geum rivale of Linnæus; but then the Geum is a spring, and not an autumn flower, its blossoms bear no resemblance to those of the eglantine, and its seeds are not yellow.

2019Generally supposed to be the Chrysanthemum segetum, or golden daisy.

2020“Pastillicantibus quinquagenis quinis barbulis coronatur.” Pliny is unusually verbose here.

2021“Golden locks,” or “gold plant;” probably the Chrysocoma linosyris of Linnæus; though the name appears to have been given to numerous plants.

2022See B. xvi. c. 69, B. xviii. c.65, B. xix. c.2, B. xxiv. c. 40; also c.42of the present Book.

2023The Nerium oleander of Linnæus. See B. xvi. c. 33, and B. xxiv. cc. 47, 49.

2024As to the Zizyphum, or jujube, see B. xv. c. 14. The flower, as Pliny says, is not unlike that of the olive; but Fée remarks, that it may at the present day as justly be called the tree of Provence or of Italy, as in ancient times “the tree of Cappadocia.”

2025B. xxv. c. 67.

2026See B. v. c. 41.

2027See B. xvi. cc. 62 and 63, and B. xxiv. cc. 47 and 49.

2028Or Vitis alba, “white vine,” the Bryonia dioica of modern botany. See B. xxiii. c.16.

2029The Spiræa salicifolia of Linnæus, or meadowsweet.

2030See B. xx. c. 67, and c.30of this Book.

2031The Daphne Cnidium of Linnæus. See B. xxiii. c.35; also B. xii. c. 43. It is altogether different from the Laurus cassia, or genuine cassia.

2032See B. xx. c.63.

2033See B. xx. c.45.

2034“Sertula Camapana.”

2035Most probably, Fée thinks, the Trifolium Melilotus officinalis, a clover, or trefoil.

2036The Psoranthea bituminosa of Linnæus. It is found on declivities near the sea-coast, in the south of Europe.

2037“Pointed trefoil.” Pliny has probably committed an error here, as Dioscorides makes oxyphyllum, minyanthes, and asphaltium to be different names of the same variety. Sprengel, however, identifies this pointed trefoil with the Trifolium Italicum of Linnæus.

2038The Anethum fæniculum of Linnæus. See B. viii. c. 41, B. xx. c. 95, and B. xxx. c. 9.

2039See B. xx. c.96.

2040The “mouse-killer.” Probably the Aconitum napellus of Linnæus. See B. xxvii. c. 2.

2041See B. xvi. c. 62.

2042Fée remarks, that there is no such ivy in existence; he agrees with Dalechamps in the opinion that Pliny has confoundedκίσσος, “ivy,” withκίστος, the “rock-rose.” See B. xvi. c. 62.

2043The Daphne Cnidium and the Daphne Cneorum of Linnæus. See B. xxiii. c.35, and B. xv. c. 7.

2044In reality, they blossom in April and May, and mostly a second time in autumn as well, the Daphne Cneorum in particular.

2045See B. xx. c.69.

2046Under the head “Thymus,” Fée thinks that both the Satureia capitata of Linnæus, headed savory, and the Thymus vulgaris, and Thymus zygis of Linnæus (varieties of thyme), should be included.

2047Fée thinks that in the expression “nigricans,” he may allude to the deep red of the stalk of some kinds of thyme, more particularly at the end of summer. It is the Thymus zigis that has a white, downy stem.

2048From Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. B. vi. c. 2, and De Causis, B. i. c. 5. Fée suggests, that the seed, lying at the bottom of the calyx, may have escaped notice, and that in reality, when the ancients imagined they were sowing the blossoms, they were putting the seed in the earth. That, in fact, seems to agree with the view which Pliny takes of the matter.

2049Which lies in the interior of the Peloponnesus.

2050See B. xv. c. 1.

2051“Lapidei Campi.” See B. iii. c. 5.

2052Similar to our practice of depasturing sheep on Dartmoor and other favourite moors and downs.

2053Fée takes this to be the Inula viscosa of Desfontaines, and identifies the other kind with the Inula pulicaria of Linnæus. See B. xx. cc.63,64.

2054B. xx. c. 64.

2055Supposed to be the same as the Agrostemma coronaria of Linnæus.

2056Sprengel identifies it with the Pancratium maritimum of Linnæus. As described by Dioscorides, however, Fée takes it to be the Lilium Martagon, or Turk’s-cap lily. See c.90of this Book.

2057This is different from the Helenium of the Greeks, the Inula Helenium of Linnæus, mentioned in B. xv. c. 7. Sprengel identifies it with the Teucrium Creticum of Linnæus, the Cretan germander.

2058See B. xx. c.91.

2059“Flame.” Sprengel identifies it with the Agrostemma coronaria of Linnæus, making the flower of Jove to be the Agrostemma flos Jovis.

2060Fée remarks, that if this is our Thymus serpyllum, this exception is inexact.

2061For two islands of this name, see B. iv. c. 20, and c. 23.

2062The female Abrotonum is identified with the Santolina chamæcyparissus of Linnæus: the little-cypress Santoline. The male is the Artemisia abrotonum of Linnæus, our southern-wood.

2063Pliny has probably committed an error here in transcribing from Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. B. vi. c. 7, who, when speaking of the abrotonum, says, “It is transplanted in earthen pots, in the way employed for the gardens of Adonis,” these gardens being moveable parterres, laid out in pots or vases. We cannot agree with Hardouin, who looks upon the Adonium as a variety of the Abrotonum, and censures Salmasius for accusing Pliny of committing an error here.

2064The “White flower.” See B. xxii. c.26.

2065See B. xiii. c. 2. The sampsuchum, or amaracus, is generally thought to be the sweet marjoram, or Origanum marjorana of Linnæus. But Fée identifies it with the Origanum majoranoides of Willdenow, our organy, wild or false marjoram.

2066The “night-watcher.” According to Sprengel, this is the Cæsalpina pulcherrima of Linnæus. But, as Fée says, that is entirely an Indian plant, and has only been introduced but very recently into Europe. Hardouin identifies it with a plant called “lunaria” by the naturalists of his day, which shines, he says, with the moon at night.

2067The Cæsalpina pulcherrima is not to be found in or near Gedrosia (in ancient Persia), but solely on the shores of the Bay of Bengal.

2068Fromχῆνες“geese” andμύχοςa “corner;” because geese run into a corner on seeing it.

2069As to the meaning of this word, see B. xxviii. c. 47.

2070See c.29of this Book.

2071This has been thought to be the Cheiranthus incanus, Cheiranthus annus, and Leucoium vernum of modern botany; but Fée is of opinion that it is next to impossible to identify it. See c.14of this Book.

2072See c.33of this Book.

2073See B. xxv. c. 67.

2074In c. 11 of this Book. There is no late variety of the lily known at the present day.

2075Or “wind flower:” the Anemone coronaria of Linnæus.

2076A ranunculus. See c.94of this Book.

2077Or “vine-blossom.” See c.95of this Book.

2078Or “black violet,” mentioned by Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. B. vi. c. 7. Pliny may probably mean the purple violet, mentioned by him in c. 14 of this Book. “Melanthium” is another reading.

2079Not improbably the same as the “holochrysos,” mentioned in c. 24 of this Book.

2080“Meadow” anemone.

2081“The little sword.” See c.67of this Book.

2082There have been conflicting opinions as to the identification of the hyacinth of the ancients. Linnæus identifies it with the Delphinium Ajacis: Sprengel and Salmasius with the Gladiolus communis: Sibthorp with the Gladiolus communis triphyllos: Dodonæus and Porta the Lilium bulbiferum: and Martyn and Fée the Lilium Martagon of Linnæus, the Turk’s-cap lily. From what Pliny says in cc. 39 and 97 of this Book, and in B. xxv. c. 80, it is pretty clear that under the name of hyacinth he has confused the characteristics of two different plants. The hyacinth, too, of Dioscorides, B. iii. c. 5, is a different plant, Fée remarks, being the Hyacinthus comosus of modern botanists.

2083The GreekΑΙ, “Alas!” which the ancients fancied they saw impressed on the leaves.

2084See Ovid’s Met. B. x. l. 162-220.

2085See Ovid’s Met. B. xiii. l. 397,et seq.

2086“Unsullied by fire.”

2087Or “light” flower: the Agrostemma coronaria of Linnæus.

2088Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. B. vi. c. 7, mentions the “cerinthus” next after the flower of Jove: Pliny seems to have taken it for a kind of lily. This flower has not been identified.

2089Sprengel takes this to be the Lavandula spica, or Lavender.

2090Hardouin identifies this with the Lychnis Chalcedonica, or Cross of Jerusalem, with which opinion Fée seems inclined to coincide. Other commentators incline to the opinion that it is the Jasminum fruticans, a plant in which, beyond its smell, there is nothing at all remarkable. The exotic monocotyledon, known as the “Pothos,” has no connection with the plant here mentioned.

2091This, according to some, is the Lychnis Chalcedonica, the next being the Jasminum fruticans.

2092As known to us, all the varieties of the iris blossom in spring.

2093The purple lily, Fée thinks.

2094If this is the correct reading, which is very doubtful, this plant is unknown. M. Jan has suggested that Pliny, in copying from Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. B. vi. c. 7, has readὀρσινὸςby mistake forὀρεινός, “mountainous,” the original meaning being, “Two varieties of saffron, one of them growing on the mountains, the other cultivated;” and this last word being rendered by Pliny “hebes,” translated above as meaning “inodorous.”

2095The Acanthus, probably. See B. xxii. c.34, and B. xxiv. c. 66.

2096Forskhal speaks of an acanthus in Arabia, the leaves of which are eaten raw. Fée thinks, that these shoots might be eaten without any inconvenience, but doubts if they would make such a tempting morsel as Pliny describes.

2097Or blue-bell.

2098Linnæus and other authorities identify this with the Clematis of Dioscorides, the Vinca major and minor of modern botany, our periwinkle. Fée, however, is inclined to identify it with the Chamædaphne, or ground-laurel of B. xv. c. 39, the Ruscus racemosus of Linnæus.

2099See c.38of this Book.

2100This method of cultivation, also mentioned by Theophrastus, is never employed in modern horticulture.

2101In c. 10 of this Book.

2102See B. xix. c.50.

2103“Honey-leaf.” The Melissa officinalis of Linnæus: our balm-gentle. It is the same as the “apiastrum,” though Pliny has erroneously made them distinct plants.

2104“Wax-flower.” The Cerinthe major of Linnæus: the greater honeywort.

2105See B. xi. c. 8. On the contrary, Virgil says, Georg. iv. l. 20, that a wild olive-tree should be planted near the hives, to protect them with its shade. Varro says also, De Re Rust. iii. 16, that the bee extracts honey from the olive-tree; but according to Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. ix. c. 64, it is from the leaf, and not the flower of that tree that the honey is extracted.

2106See B. xv. c. 31. Fée is inclined to doubt the correctness of the assertion here made by Pliny.

2107See B. xiv. c. 5. The remedies for the diseases of bees in modern times are of a very similar nature, but attention is equally paid to the proper ventilation of the hives.

2108This plan is still adopted on the river Po, the ancient Padus, as also at Beauce, in the south of France, where the hives are carried from place to place upon carts. In the north of England it is the practice to carry the hives to the moors in autumn.

2109This has been doubted by Spielmann, but it is nevertheless the truth; the nature of the sugar secreted by the glands of the nectary, being analogous to that of the plant which furnishes it. The honey gathered from aconite in Switzerland has been known to produce vertigo and even delirium. Dr. Barton also gives a similar account of the effects of the poisonous honey collected from the Kalmia latifolia in Pennsylvania; and Geoffroi Saint Hilaire says that, having eaten in Brazil some honey prepared by a wasp called “lecheguana,” his life was put in very considerable danger thereby. Xenophon also speaks of the effects of the intoxicating or maddening honey upon some of the Ten Thousand in their retreat.

2110The rhododendrons and rose laurels, Fée says, which are so numerous in these parts, render the fact here stated extremely probable.

2111“Goats’ death.” Fée says that this is the Rhododendron Ponticum of Linnæus. Desfontaines identifies it with the Azalea Pontica of modern botany.

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