Chapter 672

731The Aristolochia clematis of Linnæus, almost identical with the Aristolochia Cretica and Bætica.

732The Aristolochia plistolochia of Linnæus, the Spanish branching stemmed birthwort. Fée thinks that these identifications, though probable enough, are not altogether satisfactory, and that the Greeks may have made these distinctions between varieties of the plant comparatively unknown to the rest of Europe. They are no longer held in any esteem for their medicinal properties.

733See B. xxvi. c. 91.

734“With many roots.”

735See B. xxvi. c. 62.

736See c. 6 of this Book.

737See cc. 11, 12, 13, 14, of this Book.

738See B. xx. c. 61.

739See B. xxiv. c. 80.

740See c. 15 of this Book.

741See c. 27 of this Book.

742See c. 35 of this Book.

743See c. 50 of this Book.

744See B. xvi. c. 24.

745See c. 54 of this Book. As Fée remarks, these asserted remedies for the stings of serpents are not deserving of discussion.

746The Papaver argemone of Linnæus, the Rough poppy. It is a native of France, and many other parts of Europe.

747This, Fée remarks, is not stated by Dioscorides, whose description is more correct.

748It is supposed by commentators that he is in error here, and that this description applies to the Lappa canaria, mentioned in B. xxiv. c. 116.

749The root of the Papaver argemone has no such smell.

750See B. xxi. c. 94, B. xxiv. c. 116, and B. xxvi. c. 59.

751The Boletus agaricum of Aiton, or White agaric. It is a strong purgative, but is rarely used for that purpose.

752This distinction into male and female is no longer recognized, though it continued to be so till within the last century.

753Desfontaines identifies it with the Saponaria ocimoïdes. Fée thinks it may have possibly been some kind of sage, or else a variety of the Lavendula stœchas of Linnæus, French lavender. Littré gives the Silene Gallica of Linnæus, the Gallic catchfly.

754Identified by Fée with the Pseudanchusa, Echis, or Doris of B. xxii. c. 24, the Anchusa Italica of Linnæus. Littré gives the Echium rubrum of Linnæus.

755The Arctium lappa of Linnæus, probably, our Great clot-burr. See B. xxi. c. 51.

756See B. xxi. c. 64.

757“Holy plant.”

758“Pigeon plant.”

759Our “vervain.” It was much used in philtres, and was as highly esteemed as the mistletoe by the people of Gaul. It is no longer used in medicine.

760In B. xxii. c. 3.

761On the occasion of the Feasts of Jupiter in the Capitol, prepared by the Septemviri.

762The Verbena supina of Linnæus, Recumbent vervain.

763The Verbena officinalis of Linnæus, Vervain or holy plant.

764See c. 73 of this Book.

765Mostly identified with the third Phlomos, mentioned in c. 74 of this Book. Littré gives as its synonym the Phlomis fruticosa of Linnæus, Jerusalem sage, or tree-sage.

766“Blattæ.”

767Not the “Limonion” of B. xx. c. 28, as the Statice limonium emits no juice. Desfontaines identifies it with the Scolymos or Limonia of B. xxii. c. 43; but Fée is inclined to think that Pliny is speaking of the Atractylis gummifera, but has made a mistake in the name.

768Or “five-leaved.” Most probably the Potentilla reptans of Linnæus, our Cinquefoil, or Five-leaved grass. Sprengel, however, identifies it with the Tormentilla reptans of Linnæus, the Tormentil; and other authorities with the Potentilla rupestris of Linnæus.

769Its fruit is dry, and bears no resemblance to the strawberry.

770“Five-leaved.”

771“Creeping on the ground.”

772Identified by Fée with the Sparganium ramosum of Linnæus, or Branchy burr-reed. Littré gives the Butonus umbellatus of Linnæus, the Flowering rush, or Water gladiole.

773Fée remarks, that the account given by Pliny has not the same precision as that of Dioscorides, who describes three varieties of the Daucus.

774Fée is inclined to identify the Daucus of Crete and Achaia with the Daucus Creticus of Fuchsius, the Athamanta annua of Linnæus. Desfontaines identifies it with the Athamanta Cretensis of Linnæus.

775This kind is identified by Fée with the Seseli ammoïdes of Linnæus, and by Littré with the Ammi majus of Linnæus, the Common or Greater bishop’s weed.

776Identified by Sprengel with the Daucus Mauritanicus, and by Brotero and Desfontaines with the Daucus carota, var.α, our Common carrot. Fée seems inclined to identify it with the Athamanta cervaria of Linnæus, Mountain carrot, or Broad-leaved spignel. The account given by Pliny is, however, a mass of confusion.

777Or “wild parsnip.” See B. xix. c. 27.

778For the purpose of expelling the dead fœtus, according to Dioscorides, B. iii. c. 83.

779See B. xxiv. c. 102. The plant here spoken of has not been identified, but the Epilobium angustifolium, montanum, tetragonum, &c., varieties of the Willow-herb, have been suggested. They are destitute, however, of all poisonous qualities.

780Hence its name—“Benumbing wild beasts.”

781Fée thinks that there is an error in the name, and that it is the “personata” that is here spoken of, the plant already mentioned in c. 58 of this Book. Hardouin identifies it with the Tussilago petasites—the Butter-burr, according to Nemnich—but apparently without any sufficient authority.

782Fée identifies it with the Cyclamen hederæfolium of Aiton, the Ivy-leaved sow-bread; Littré with the Cyclamen Græcum of Lamarck.

783“Tuberosity of the earth.”

784“Suum venenum ei est.” Gerard seems to have had a worse opinion of it than our author; for he states in his Herbal, p. 845, that he had experienced great misfortunes owing to hisimprudencein having cultivated Cyclamen in his garden.

785“Ivy-flowered.” It resembles the other plant in nothing but the name. Fée is inclined, with Desfontaines, to identify it with the Lonicera caprifolium of Linnæus, the Italian honeysuckle, though that plant bears no resemblance in either leaf or flower to the ivy. The Lonicera periclymenum of Linnæus, the Common woodbine or honeysuckle, has been also suggested, as well as the Bryonia alba, Solanum dulcamara, and Cucubalus bacciferus.

786According to Brotero, it is the Parnassia palustris of Tournefort, an opinion with which Fée is inclined to agree. Sprengel considers it to be the same as the Convallaria bifolia of Linnæus, our Small lily of the valley, and identifies it with the one-leafed Ceratia of B. xxvi. c. 34. Littré names the Antirrhinum asarina of Linnæus, the Bastard asarum.

787The Peucedanum officinale of Linnæus, Sulphur-wort, or Hog’s fennel. It receives its name from a fancied resemblance between its fruit and that of the “Peuce,” or pitch-tree.

788This juice, Fée remarks, is no longer known.

789Or Wall-wort. See B. xxiv. c. 35. and B. xxvi. c. 49.

790See c. 28 of this Book.

791See c. 54 of this Book.

792Identified by Fée with the Verbascum thapsus of Linnæus, Great mullein, High-taper, or Cow’s lung-wort.

793Identified by Fée with the Verbascum sinuatum of Linnæus. Desfontaines considersthisto be the male plant of Pliny, and the V. thapsus to be the female.

794Fée considers this to be the same as the Blattaria mentioned in c. 60, and identifies it with the Verbascum phlomoïdes of Linnæus. Sprengel and Desfontaines consider it to be the Phlomis lychnitis of Linnæus. Littré gives the Phlomus fruticosa of Linnæus, the Jerusalem sage, or Tree sage.

795See B. xxii. c 71.

796Fée identifies these two kinds with the Phlomis fruticosa of Linnæus; Sprengel and Desfontaines consider the second kind to be the Phlomis Italica of Smith; on insufficient grounds, Fée thinks. Littré mentions the Sideritis Romana and S. elegans of Linnæus.

797The “Lamp plant.” It is mostly identified with the Verbascum lychnitis of Linnæus, the White mullein. Fée is somewhat doubtful on the point. It is doubtful whether it is not the same as the Thryallis, mentioned in B. xxi. c. 61. Littré identifies it with the Phlomis lychnitis.

798In the last paragraph he is speaking of the Phlomos, here he evidently reverts to the Phlomis.

799Or “Female killer.” See B. xxvii. c. 2.

800Dioscorides states, somewhat more rationally, that this plant strikes the scorpion with torpor, and that the contact of hellebore revives it.

801“Rubetis.” A kind of toad, probably. See B. viii. c. 48, B. xi. c. 16, and B. xxxii. c. 18.

802Schneider, on Nicander’s Alexiph. p. 277, says that he cannot understand this passage. There is little doubt that Sillig is right in his conjecture that it is imperfect, for the pith of the narrative, whatever it may have been, is evidently wanting. The Psylli were said to be proof against all kinds of poisons. See B. viii. c. 38, and B. xi. c. 30; also Lucan’s Pharsalia, B. ix. l. 192,et seq.

803See also B. xxvii. c. 97. Fée identifies it with the Astragalus Creticus of Lamarck, Desfontaines with the Astragalus poterium.

804The “nerve-plant” and the “drinking-plant,” apparently.

805Sprengel identifies it with the Alisma Parnassifolium of Linnæus; but as that plant is not found in Greece, Sibthorp suggests the Alisma plantago of Linnæus, the Great water-plantain. It has no medicinal properties, though it was esteemed till very recent times as curative of hydrophobia.

806“Capite thyrsi.”

807See B. ix. c. 72, and B. xxxii. c. 3.

808In c. 6 of this Book.

809“Pigeon-plant.” The same as Vervain, already described in c. 59 of this Book.

810See c. 8 of this Book.

811By “Mithridatia” he probably means the antidotes attributed to Mithridates in c. 3 of this Book, and in B. xxix. c. 8, and not the plant previously mentioned in c. 26.

812See c. 27 of this Book.

813See c. 54 of this Book.

814See c. 55.

815Generally identified with the Antirrhinum Orontium of Linnæus, Small toad-flax, Calf’s snout, or Lesser wild snapdragon. Desfontaines mentions the Antirrhinum purpureum, and Littré the A. majus of Linnæus, the Common snapdragon, or Greater calf’s snout.

816“Wild lychnis.”

817Theophrastus says, B. ix. c. 21, speaking of the last-mentioned plant, “The same too, with reference to glory and consideration.” Pliny, singularly enough, has mistaken the Greek word “eucleia” (glory) for the name of a plant, and has fabricated one accordingly: a similar blunder to that made by him with reference to “hippace,” in c. 44 of this Book.

818See c. 36 of this Book.

819Fée is inclined to identify it with the Bulbine of B. xx. c. 41 probably the Hyacinthus botryoïdes of Linnæus, the Blue grape hyacinth. Brotero and Desfontaines name the Hyacinthus comosus, the Purple grape hyacinth. Littré mentions the Ornithogalum nutans of Linnæus, the May star of Bethlehem.

820Identified by Fée with the Bulbus vomitorius or Bulb emetic of B. xx. c. 41, the same, in his opinion, with the Narcissus jonquilla, the Emetic jonquil. Sprengel, however, would identify the Bulbus vomitorius with either the Narcissus orientalis or the Pancratium Illyricum; and Sibthorp considers its synonym to be the Ornithogalum stachyoïdes of Aiton. Littré gives the Muscari comosum.

821See c. 13 of this Book.

822See c. 37 of this Book, and B. xxvi. c. 28.

823There seems to be an hiatus here. From the words of Dioscorides, B. iii. c. 138, it would appear that pitch was the other ingredient, to be beaten up with the plant.

824The same as the Polytrichos of B. xxii. c. 30.

825In B. xxii. c. 30, he makes them to be the same plant, and it is most probable that they may be both referred to the Asplenium trichomanes of Linnæus.

826“Frutice.”

827See B. xxiv. c. 108.

828See c. 11 of this Book.

829See c. 54 of this Book.

830See c. 49 of this Book.

831See c. 67 of this Book.

832Or Vervain.

833Sprengel identified this plant at first with the Buplevrum longifolium of Linnæus, the Long-leaved hare’s ear, but at a later period with the Mercurialis tomentosa, the Woolly mercury. Fée suggests the Cacalia petasites or albifrons, though with diffidence. Littré gives the Cacalia verbascifolia of Sibthorp.

834See c. 83 of this Book; also B. xxii. c. 30, and B. xxvii. c. 111.

835There has been much discussion on the identification of the Hyssopum of the ancients, their descriptions varying very considerably. It has been suggested that that of the Egyptians was the Origanum Ægyptianum; that of the Hebrews, the Origanum Syriacum; that of Dioscorides, the Origanum Smyrnæum; and that of the other Greek writers, the Teuerium pseudo-hyssopus, or else the Thymbra verticillata and spicata. Fée is inclined to identify that here mentioned by Pliny with the Thymbra spicata of Linnæus, and the Garden hyssop of Dioscorides, with the Hyssopus officinalis of Linnæus. Littré states, however, that this last is a stranger to Greece, and that M. Fräas (Synopsis, p. 182) identifies the hyssop of Dioscorides with the Origanum Smyrnæum or Syriacum.

836Generally identified with the Serapias lingua of Linnæus.

837The same, most probably, as the Gladiolus of B. xxi. c. 67. See also the next Chapter in this Book.

838This was a characteristic feature of the masks used in the Roman Comedy.

839See Note 837 above. The medicinal properties here attributed to the Xiphion, or Gladiolus communis, our common Red corn-flag, are very doubtful, as Fée remarks.

840With the outer coat on, of course.

841Dalechamps is probably right in preferring the reading “carpentis” to “serpentis,” in which case the meaning would be, “or bones when accidentally crushed by the wheels of vehicles.”

842Or “meagrim.”

843Identified with the Plantago Psyllium of Linnæus, our Fleawort Fleaseed, or Fleabane.

844Nothing, Fée says, can be more absurd than this description of the plant.

845Whence its name “cynoïdes” and “cynomyia.”

846This plant has not been identified; Wild water-parsley, perhaps a kind of Sium, has been suggested.

847All the plants here mentioned are of a more or less irritating nature, and would greatly imperil the sight.

848See c. 50 of this Book.

849See c. 11 of this Book.

850See B. xviii. c. 14, and B. xxii. c. 59.

851“Collyriis.”

852A most dangerous application, in reality.

853A comparatively harmless, though useless application.

854See c. 49 of this Book.

855See c. 73 of this Book.

856In c. 70 of this Book.

857See c. 90 of this Book.

858The Corchorus of B. xxi. c. 106, is most probably altogether a different plant.

859Identified with the Anagallis arvensis of Linnæus, with a red flower, the Red pimpernel, Corn pimpernel, or Shepherd’s weather-glass.

860The Anagallis cæruleo flore of Tournefort, the Blue pimpernel.

861In reality they are destitute of medicinal properties. It is said, though apparently on no sufficient grounds, that red pimpernel is poisonous to small birds.

862Or “blood-shot eyes.”

863A disease of the pupil.

864Belladonna, a preparation from the Atropa belladonna, is now generally used for this purpose.

865“Paracentesis.”

866This plant is unknown. Fée suggests that Pliny may have made a mistake, and that the account from which he copies may have been, that when cattle have been stung by the asilus, or gadfly, they have recourse to the Anagallis.

867“Savage eye.”

868In c. 38 of this Book.

869See B. xviii. c. 44, and B. xxi. c. 63.

870Or “Plant of Circe.”

871Identified by Fée with the Atropa mandragora vernalis of Bertolini, the Spring mandrake.

872The Atropa mandragora autumnalis of Bertolini, the Autumnal mandrake.

873The Greek for “male.”

874“Dementing.” Fée remarks that the “Morion” in reality is a different plant, and queries whether it may not be the Atropa belladonna of Linnæus, the Belladonna, or Deadly nightshade, mentioned above in Note 864.

Back to Index Next