587 “Herb of Hermes.”
588 The male, as Fée suggests, bears no seed at all.
589 A mere absurdity, of course.
590 De Nat. Mul. and De Morb. Mul. B. i. and B. ii.
591 The medicinal properties of the Mercurialis are not by any means energetic, but it is still used, Fée says, as a gentle aperient.
593 Both stories are equally improbable.
594 See B. xxxiv. c. 45.
595 The weapons in early time, it must be remembered, were made of copper or bronze.
596 The third Sideritis of Dioscorides is thought to be the same with the Heracleon siderion of c. 15 of this Book. Pliny evidently confounds the Achillea and the Sideritis, totally different plants. The Achillea is identified by Fée with the Achillea tomentosa or abrotonifolia of Linnæus. As to the Sideritis, see B. xxvi. c. 12. The real Panaces heracleon has been mentioned in c. 12 of this Book.
597 Or “Thousand leaves,” probably identical with the Achillea millefolium of Linnæus, milfoil or yarrow. See B. xxiv. c. 95.
598 “Marrubii.”
599 “Ironwort.” The third Sideritis of Dioscorides, above mentioned. See c. 15 of this Book. See also B. xxvi. cc. 12 and 88.
600 Identified by Desfontaines with the Sanguisorba officinalis of Linnæus.
601 “Royal broom,” identified by many commentators with the Chenopodium scoparia of Linnæus.
602 Or “mule-plant.” It is identified by Fée with the Asplenion ceterach, or Ceterach officinarum of Linnæus, the Ceterach, a fern, and a different plant from the Teucrium of B. xxiv. c. 80, or Germander.
603 Hence its name, “Asplenium.”
604 “Exinanisse.” A fable, of course.
605 The Teuerium lucidum of Linnæus: though, as Fée says, there is little similarity between it and hyssop, or between its leaves and those of the bean. See B. xxiv. c. 80.
606 Identified by Fée with the Veratrum album and Veratrum nigrum of Linnæus, species between which there is little difference.
607 Identified by Tournefort with the Helleborus niger of Lamarck. Littré mentions the Helleborus orientalis of Linnæus.
608 The stem of white hellebore is much longer than this.
609 This comparison with the onion, Fée says, is altogether inexact.
610 If he would imply that they do this without inconvenience, the statement, Fée says, is incorrect.
611 “Cut off,” and “With many roots.”
612 Hellebore is no longer used, except in veterinary medicine.
613 Petronius Arbiter says that the philosopher Chrysippus used it.
615 Anticyra in Phocis was a peninsula, not an island.
616 In B. xxii. c. 64.
617 In B. xix. c. 18.
618 Hence the Greek name “ectomon.”
619 “Tenuior.”
620 This is the meaning assigned by Hardouin to the word “ramulos.” Holland renders it “small shoots” or “slips,” and he is probably right.
621 “Squama æris.”
622 See a similar statement as to Consiligo, in B. xxvi c. 21.
623 See B. xv. c. 7, and B. xxiv. c. 11.
624 Its properties, Fée says, are not more active than those of black hellebore.
625 Fée remarks, that they showed their wisdom in this.
626 Herophilus, it must be remembered, lived a considerable time before Themison.
627 “Forficulis.” He probably refers to c. 21, where, however, he has mentioned only a needle—“acus.” It is possibly a lapsus memoriæ on his part.
628 This he has stated to be attended with danger, in the case of black hellebore, should the dose be too strong.
629 In c. 21 of this Book.
630 Twitchings of the mouth, which cause the patient to show his teeth, like a dog.
631 Cæsalpinus identifies it with the Erythronium dens canis of Linnæus, and Commerson and Schreiber with the Dorstenia tambourissa of Sonnerat. Fée is probably right in considering its synonym as still unknown.
632 Hardouin identifies it with the Stachys Germanica, Linnæus and Sprengel with the Nepeta scordotis of Linnæus, and Fée with the Stachys Palæstina.
633 Fée remarks, that none of the plants mentioned in the last Note bear any resemblance to the “quercus,” or oak.
634 Probably the Teucrium scorodonia of Linnæus, Fée says; though, as he remarks, the description might apply to many of the Labiatæ.
635 Its names were derived from Polemon, a king of Pontus, and Philetærus, a king of Cappadocia. It is generally identified with the Polemonium cæruleum of Linnæus, Greek valerian, or Jacob’s ladder. M. Fraäs suggests that it may be the Hypericum Olympicum of Linnæus, with which he also identifies the Panaces chironion.
636 “With a thousand virtues.”
637 So called probably from a king Eupator. Sprengel and Desfontaines identify it with the Agrimonia eupatorium, but Fée prefers the Eupatorium cannabinum of Linnæus, relying upon the description given by Dioscorides. B. iv. c. 41.
638 Fée considers this to be the same with the Panaces centaurion or Pharnaceon of c. 14 of this Book, the greater Centaury. Littré also names the Centaurea centaureum of Linnæus.
639 See B. xii. c. 15. B. xxiii. cc. 58, 60, and B. xxiv. c. 77, for a preparation with a similar name, but, as Fée says, of an entirely different character.
640 In B. xxvi. cc. 15, 19, 34, 55, 66, 76, 85, and 91.
641 Or “small” centaury, Probably the Chironia centaureum of Smith, Flor. Brit., our Felwort. Littré names the Erythræa centaureum of Persoon.
642 From λιβάδες, “flowing streams.”
643 See B. xxi. cc. 10, 39, and 98, also c. 80 of this Book.
644 “Fel terræ.”
645 A word of Celtic origin, most probably, and not from the Greek, as Pintianus supposes.
646 Theophrastus, as stated by Pliny, in B. ix. c. 9, says that centaury is protected by the “triorchis” (see B. x. cc. 95, 96), and Pliny in translating the passage has made a mistake as to a third kind. Fée is probably right in his conjecture that the Centaurea centaureum is meant; though Brotier and Desfontaines look upon this as being a distinct plant, and identify it with the Rumex sanguineus of Linnæus.
647 The root of the greater centaury, Fée remarks, is of a deep red within.
648 Pliny himself is one of the “imperiti” here.
649 Son of Cæneus, and king of Arcadia. The plant is identified with the Lonicera periclymenum of Linnæus, our Woodbine or Honeysuckle. Sibthorp identifies the Clymenum of Dioscorides with the Convolvulus sepium of Linnæus, and Sprengel with the Lathyrus clymenum of Linnæus.
650 Possibly the Clymenum of Dioscorides, mentioned in the preceding Note. Littré names the Calendula arvensis, the Field marigold.
651 The Gentiana lutea of Linnæus.
652 This, Fée remarks, is not the fact.
653 This comparison is inexact.
654 It is not swarthy.
655 A king of Thrace, contemporary with Alexander the Great. Sprengel and Desfontaines identify this plant with the Lythrum salicaria of Linnæus, the purple Willow-herb. Fée, on the authority of Dioscorides, identifies it with the Lysimachia vulgaris of Linnæus, the yellow Willow-plant. Littré gives the Lysimachia atro-purpurea of Linnæus.
656 Pliny has probably mistranslated the Greek πυῤῥόν here, “reddish yellow.”
657 An absurdity, of course.
658 Artemis or Diana, the guardian of pregnant women.
659 Probably the Artemisia chamæmelifolia, Camomile-leaved mugwort. The A. arborescens, the Tree-wormwood is named by Littré.
660 Either the Artemisia Pontica of Linnæus, Little wormwood, or Roman wormwood, or else A. campestris of Linnæus, Field southern-wood.
661 Identified with the Artemisia camphorata of Linnæus, Camphorated mugwort.
662 Quite a different plant. See B. xxvii. c. 11.
663 Judging from the text of Dioscorides, a passage has been probably lost here, to the effect that “it is taken in drink by persons troubled with lascivious dreams.”
664 Identified with the Nymphæa alba of Linnæus, the White-flowered nymphæa.
665 “Adversatur ei allium.” A corrupt reading, in all probability.
666 The Nuphar lutea of Sibthorp; the Yellow-flowered nymphæa, or Nenuphar.
667 See B. v. c. i.
668 In B. xix. c. 38.
669 Il. xii. 444.
670 The Euphorbia officinarum of Linnæus, Officinal spurge.
671 An incorrect statement, as Fée remarks.
672 Its odour, Fée says, is not so strong as Pliny would have us believe.
673 On the contrary, Fée observes, it would be not unlikely to produce ophthalmia of the most obstinate kind.
674 This Fée considers to be almost impracticable.
675 Cisalpine Gaul.
676 See B. xiii. c. 35.
677 See B. xii. c. 49, B. xxiv. c. 14, and B. xxxi. c. 39.
678 The Plantago lagopus of Linnæus, according to Sibthorp; but Sprengel identifies it with the Plantago lanceolata of Linnæus, or else the P. maritima.
679 The Plantago altissima or major of modern botany.
680 I.e. the ribs, nerves, or sinews of the leaf.
681 “Seven-sided.”
682 Whence its name, from the Greek. Sprengel and Desfontaines identify it with the Borrago officinalis of Linnæus, our Borage. Littré gives the Anchusa Italica.
683 Though Pliny’s assertion is supported by the authority of the School of Salerno, Fée treats it as entirely unfounded. Leaves of borage still form an ingredient in the beverages known as Copas and Cider-cup at Cambridge. See this usage, and the identity of the Buglossos discussed at some length by Beckmann, Hist. Inv. Vol. ii. p. 340, Bohn’s Ed.
684 “Promoting cheerfulness.”
685 “Dog’s tongue.” The Cynoglossum officinale of Linnæus, Hound’s tongue, or Venus’ navel-wort; or else the C. pictum of Aiton.
686 Fée is at a loss to know how it can have been employed in topiary work or ornamental gardening.
687 This statement is made by Dioscorides with reference to Arnoglossos, Lamb’s tongue, or Plantago. See c. 39, above.
688 Identified with the Myosotis lappula of Linnæus, Prickly-seeded scorpion-grass.
689 See B. xxi. c. 64.
690 “Ranis.” Under this name he probably includes toads.
691 Sprengel and Desfontaines identify it with the Anthemis valentina of Linnæus, the Purple-stalked camomile; but Fée agrees with Sibthorp in considering it to be the Chrysanthemum segetum of Linnæus, the Corn marigold, the former not being, apparently, a native of Greece. Littré gives the Chrysanthemum coronarium of Linnæus, the Garland chrysanthemum.
692 “Steatomata.” Tumours of a fatty nature.
693 Generally agreed to be identical with the Glycyrrhiza of B. xxii. c. 2, our Liquorice. Fée says that the G. asperrima grows in great abundance on the banks of the river Volga.
694 See B. xxvii. c. 1.
695 Liquorice certainly palls the appetite, but it is very apt to create thirst.
696 In copying from the Greek, Pliny has mistaken “hippace,” a cheese made from mare’s milk, for a plant! It is very likely, however, that it would tend, like any other cheese, to appease hunger, though, probably, not thirst.
697 He has probably invented this reason himself, as it is hardly probable that the Scythians would feed their horses with cheese, even though made from mare’s milk.
698 Sprengel identifies it with the Andropogon ischæmon of Linnæus, the Woolly andropogon. Fée expresses his doubts as to its identification. It derives its name “ischæmon,” from its property of stanching blood.
699 To arrest epistaxis or bleeding at the nose.
700 The Betonica alopecuros of Linnæus, the Fox-tail betony.
701 The “little saw.”
702 “Nurtured by breezes.” M. Fraäs thinks that the Cestros of the Greeks is a different plant from the Vettonica of the Romans, and identifies it with the Sideritis Syriaca.
703 See B. xx. c. 85.
704 Pliny is the only author that mentions the Cantabrica, and his account, Fée thinks, is too meagre to enable us satisfactorily to identify it with the Convolvulus cantabrica of Linnæus.
705 A conical work-basket or cup. See B. xxi. c. 11.
706 Sprengel and other commentators identify it with the Pulmonaria officinalis of Linnæus, Lungwort or Pulmonary. Others, again, consider it to be the Veratrum album of Linnæus, or White hellebore. Fée considers that its synonym has not hitherto been discovered. Holland calls it Bear-foot.
707 B. xxvi. c. 21.
708 Fée identifies it with the Lepidium graminifolium of Linnæus, Grass-leaved pepperwort; Desfontaines with the L. Iberis of Linnæus, Bushy pepperwort. Littré gives as its synonym the Iberis amara of Linnæus, the White candy-tuft.
709 “Fictum nomen.” Salmasius thinks that by these words, Pliny means that Democrates invented the name of a friend of his as being the discoverer of this plant, which in reality was discovered by himself. It would seem to mean, however, that the name “iberis” was only a fanciful title, derived from the country where it was found, and given to it for want of acquaintance with its real name.
710 Still preserved in Galen, B. x. c. 2.
711 The Chelidonium majus of Linnæus, the Greater celandine or swallow-wort.
712 “Pastinaca erratica.” See c. 64 of this Book.
713 Identified with the Ranunculus ficaria of Linnæus, the Pilewort, or Lesser celandine.
714 The same is the case, Fée remarks, with numbers of other plants.
715 “Collyriis.”
716 The Dactylos of B. xxiv. c. 119, is supposed to be the plant alluded to. The word “canariam” is found here in former editions, but Sillig omits it. Indeed Pliny seems to say that it is quite unknown to him.
717 In B. xxii. c. 37.
718 From the Greek ἕλκω, “to draw.”
719 In B. viii. c. 41.
720 The Origanum dictamnus of Linnæus, Dittany of Candia.
721 This is an error: it grows, and doubtless did in Pliny’s time, in numerous other places; but that of Mount Ida in Crete was held in the highest esteem.
722 It has all three, in fact; as Fée says, it is evident that Pliny never saw it. Its medicinal properties are no longer held in any esteem.
723 “False-dittany.” It is generally identified with the Marrubium pseudodictamnus of Linnæus, the Shrubby white horehound; though perhaps on insufficient grounds.
724 Fée is inclined, with Sprengel, to identify it with the Origanum Creticum of Linnæus. Other commentators have suggested the Origanum Tournefortii, the Thymus mastichina of Linnæus, and the Marrubium acetabulosum of Linnæus.
725 See B. xx. c. 91.
726 “Limes Diomedis.”
727 “Most excellent for pregnancy.”
728 See B. xxvi. c. 56.
729 Identified by Fée with the Aristolochia rotunda of Linnæus, Rounded birthwort, a native of the south of France and the southern parts of Europe. Littré gives the Aristolochia pallida of Willdenow.
730 Most probably the Aristolochia longa of Linnæus, found in France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Littré gives as its synonym the Aristolochia parvifolia of Sibthorp.