1731 Also called ἀκόνη.

1732 Generally identified with the Salvia argentea of Linnæus, Silver sage, or else with the Salvia Æthiopis, Woolly sage. It must not be confounded with the plant of the same name mentioned in B. xxiv c. 102.

1733 See B. xxv. c. 73.

1734 See c. 16 of this Book.

1735 “Not growing old.” It is identified by Fée and Desfontaines with the Achillæa ageratum of Linnæus, Sweet milfoil or Maudlin. Littré gives as its synonym, the Hypericum origanifolium.

1736 See B. xx. c. 67.

1737 The ancients probably included under this name several distinct species of the aloe. They were well acquainted, Fée says, with the Indian aloe, but probably not with that of Africa. As described by Pliny, he identifies it with the Aloe perfoliata of Linnæus: Desfontaines gives the Aloe umbellata.

1738 See B. xxi. c. 68.

1739 “Asia.”

1740 See B. xxv. c. 102. The aloe is still grown in large wooden vessels, in this country, at least; but only as an ornament.

1741 He alludes to the bitumen of Judæa, much used by the Egyptians for the purposes of embalmment.

1742 He is speaking of the prepared aloes of commerce.

1743 It is still used for this purpose.

1744 There is no foundation, Fée says, for this statement.

1745 It would appear that it is still employed in India for this purpose, but it is no longer used in Europe.

1746 Identified by Fée with the Malva alcea of Linnæus, the Vervain mallow, an emollient and, comparatively, inert plant. Littré gives as its synonym the Malope malachoïdes, Marsh mallow. Sibthorp identifies it with the Hibiscus trionum, and Anguillara with the Althæa cannabina of Linnæus. It is probably the same plant as the Alcima, mentioned several times in B. xxvi.

1747 See B. xxv. c. 59.

1748 Identified with the Globularia alypum of Linnæus, the Three-toothed leaf Globularia, or Turbith.

1749 Identified by Sprengel with the Cerastium aquaticum, and by other authorities with the Alsine media of Linnæus, the Common chickweed. Desfontaines suggests the Stellaria nemorum, the Broadleaved stitchwort, but Fée prefers the Parietaria Cretica of Linnæus, Cretan pellitory, as its synonym.

1750 “Mouse-ear.”

1751 From the Greek ἄλσος, a “grove.”

1752 In c. 80 of this Book.

1753 The Parietaria officinalis; see B. xxii. c. 19.

1754 He has previously stated that it grows in the woods. The fact is, M. Fraäs says, that it grows equally upon garden walls, heaps of rubbish, in plains, upon shady rocks, and upon mountains, below an elevation of 15OO feet.

1755 Generally supposed not to be a vegetable production, but a Madrepore. Fée identifies it with the Madrepora acetabulum of Linnæus

1756 “Man’s blood.” Identified by Sprengel with the Hypericum montanum, and by Sibthorp and Fée with the Hypericum perforatum, of Linnæus, Perforated tutsan or St. John’s wort.

1757 See B. xxvi cc. 53, 54

1758 Identified with the Ambrosia maritima of Linnæus, the Sea ambrosia.

1759 The “cluster” plant. It still figures in the Materia Medica. See B. xxv. c. 36, and c. 31 of this Book.

1760 See B. xxi. c. 58.

1761 “Dispelling lassitude.” Identified with the Anagyris fœtida of Linnæus, the Stinking bean trefoil. It is a purgative, and its seeds are emetic.

1762 See B. viii. c. 41, B. x. c. 95, B. xi. cc. 24, 28.

1763 It has not been identified, Pliny being the only author that has mentioned it. The Ajuga pyramidalis of Linnæus, and the Ajura iva have been suggested.

1764 “Anonymos,” or “nameless.”

1765 See B. xviii. c. 44, and B. xxiv. c. 116. It is identified with the Galium Aparine of Linnæus, Ladies’ bedstraw, Cleavers, goosegrass, hariff, or catch weed. Its medicinal properties are next to nothing.

1766 “Navel-fruit.”

1767 “Man-loving.” See B. xxiv. c. 116.

1768 See Note 53 above.

1769 Brotero and Linnæus identify it with the Arctium lappa of Linnæus, the Burdock or clot-burr: Sibthorp with the Conyza Candida, the White fleabane: others, again, with the Celsia arcturus of Linnæus, and Sprengel with the Verbascum ferrugineum of Linnæus, the Ferruginous mullein; between which two last, Fée is unable to decide.

1770 See B. xxv. c. 73.

1771 So called from its supposed property of consuming the spleen. It is generally identified with the Asplenium ceterach of Linnæus, Spleenwort, or miltwaste. The Asplenium hemionitis of Linnæus, Mule’s fern, and the Asplenium scolopendrium of Linnæus, Hart’s tongue, have also been suggested; but Fée prefers the first-named plant.

1772 The “mule’s plant.” These animals were said to be very fond of it.

1773 This is incorrect: the Ceterach has a large quantity of seed, but it is concealed beneath a kind of downy substance.

1774 Possibly the Asclepias vincetoxicum of Linnæus, the Common white-flower swallow-wort; though Fée considers it somewhat doubtful.

1775 Those of Swallow-wort have no such resemblance.

1776 See B. xviii. c. 44.

1777 Desfontaines suggests the Inula bubonium, but Fée adopts the opinion of Jussieu and Sprengel, that it is the Aster amellus of Linnæus, the Italian starwort. It is probably the same plant as the Inguinalis, mentioned in B. xxvi. c. 59.

1778 Identified by Fée and Desfontaines with the Hypericum androsæmum of Linnæus, the Common tutsan, or Park leaves. Littré gives as the synonym the Hypericum perforatum of Linnæus, the Perforated St. John’s wort; which last is also preferred by Sprengel. Fuchsius and Mathioli think that it is the Hypericum montanum of Linnæus.

1779 See B. xxvi. c. 53.

1780 It is considered to be identical with the Ascyron.

1781 “Man’s blood.” See c. 10 of this Book.

1782 Different probably from the plant of a similar name mentioned in B. xxi. cc. 52, 59. Fée identifies it with the Vetch, mentioned in B. xviii. c. 37. Littré gives as its synonym the Vicia cracca of Linnæus, the Tufted vetch, and Desfontaines the Lathyrus aphaca, the Yellow vetchling, or bindweed.

1783 Fée considers it to be the same plant as the Anchusa or Archebion, mentioned in B. xxii. c. 25. Desfontaines identifies the Alcibium with the Echium rubrum of Linnæus. Holland observes here that Pliny “hath here forgotten himself.”

1784 “Cock’s comb.” The Rhinanthus crista galli of Linnæus, Yellow rattle, or cock’s comb.

1785 “Crest” or “Comb.”

1786 Identified by Desfontaines with the Symphytum officinale, or Great comfrey. Fée, however, considers it to be the Coris Monspeliensis of Linnæus, Montpellier coris. Lobel identifies it with the Prunella vulgaris of Linnæus, Common self-heal, and Cæsalpinus with the Hyssopus officinalis of Linnæus. See B. xxvi. c. 26.

1787 Fée reiterates his assertion here that this “rock” symphytum is a totally different plant from the Symphytum officinale, or Comfrey, though they appear to have been generally considered as identical by Scribonius Largus, Plinius Valerianus, Apuleius, and other writers.

1788 See B. xxvi. c. 26.

1789 This account of its medicinal properties applies properly to the Symphytum officinale, or Great comfrey, a plant which would appear to have been confounded by Pliny with the Alum, if Fée is right in his conjecture.

1790 Hence its Latin name “consolida,” and its French name “consoude.” Fée says that Comfrey still figures in the French Materia Medica, and that the lower classes use it in most of the cases mentioned by Pliny; he states also, that it is destitute of energetic properties, in a medicinal point of view.

1791 Σύμφυτον, “consolidating.”

1792 See B. xiii. c. 48, and B. xxvi. c. 66.

1793 The Actæa spicata of Linnæus, Herb-christopher or bane-berries, is mentioned by Desfontaines; but Fée is inclined to identify it with the Sambucus ebulus of Linnæus, the Dwarf elder, wall-wort, or dane-wort.

1794 See B. xxiii. c. 14.

1795 In B. xxi. cc. 33, 38.

1796 The Artemisia Santonica of Linnæus, Tartarian southernwood.

1797 The Artemisia Pontica of Linnæus, Little wormwood, or Roman wormwood.

1798 See B. xi. c. 75.

1799 The Artemisia absinthium of Linnæus, Common wormwood.

1800 Upon which occasion a sacrifice was offered on the Alban Mount. See further as to this Festival, in B. iii. c. 2.

1801 In B. xiv. c. 19. Wine of wormwood is still used medicinally.

1802 “Dilutum.” An infusion.

1803 It contains a small quantity of essential oil.

1804 See B. xx. c. 18.

1805 See B. xviii. c. 14.

1806 See B. xxi. c. 19.

1807 See B. xxii. c. 30.

1808 “Puls.” See B. xviii. c. 19.

1809 From a passage in Scribonius Largus, c. 191, it has been concluded that by the word “visco,” he means the juice of the Ixias or Chamæleon, mentioned in B. xxii. c. 21.

1810 See B. ix. c. 43, and B. xxxii. c. 53.

1811 This, Fée observes, is not the case.

1812 The Artemisia maritima of Linnæus, Sea wormwood: see B. xxxii. c. 31

1813 The Ballota nigra of Linnæus, the Fetid ballota, or Stinking black horehound; see B. xx. c. 89.

1814 He is in error here, as the word “melamprasion” means “black horehound.” “Black leek” would be “melamprason.”

1815 “Horehound,” properly. The Ballota is of a stimulating nature, and contains a considerable quantity of essential oil.

1816 The Chenopodium botrys of Linnæus, Cut-leaved goose foot, or oak of Jerusalem. See B. xxv. c. 36, and c. 11 of this Book.

1817 There is no such resemblance. The name “botrys” was given to the plant from the little clusters formed by the blossoms.

1818 Identified by Fée with the Prunus domestica of Linnæus, var. β, or Damascena, the Damascene plum or damson. Desfontaines considers it to be the Prunus instititia, the Bullace plum. Holland mentions in a Note, “Bullois, skegs, or such like wild plums.”

1819 The Ulva lactuca of Linnæus, Lettuce laver; see B. xiii. c. 49, B. xxiv. c. 17, and B. xxxii. c. 36.

1820 He probably says this in reference to the opinion expressed by Theophrastus, Hist. iv. 7, that it was a name for sea-weed in general, and not a specific plant.

1821 In reality, it is destitute of medicinal properties. Some kinds of laver are considered a dainty food.

1822 See B. xxii. c. 35.

1823 See B. xx. c. 67.

1824 Dioscorides speaks of two kinds of Catanance; one of which has been identified by Sprengel with the Ornithopus compressus of Linnæus, and the other with the Astragalus pugniformis. Fée expresses his doubts as to the correctness of these conclusions.

1825 “As if it would catch women, and hold them fast perforce.”—Holland. It has been suggested that the Coronopus, or “crow’s foot,” mentioned in B. xxi. c. 59, was so called for a similar reason.

1826 Prosper Alpinus identifies it with the Plantago Cretica of Linnæus, and Sprengel with the Micropus erectus of Linnæus. Fée considers it to be the Gnaphalium leontopodium of Lamarck.

1827 Other readings are “calsa,” and “calla;” but “calyx” is supported by the text of Dioscorides, B. iv. c. 23. The first kind has been generally identified with the Arum arisarum of Linnæus, Hooded arum, or Monk’s hood, and is identical probably with the Aris aros of B. xxiv. c. 94.

1828 See B. xxiv. c. 93.

1829 Probably the Anchusa tinctoria of Linnæus, Dyer’s alkanet. See B. xxii. c. 23.

1830 “Flore polentæ.” See B. xviii. c. 14.

1831 Sprengel identifies it with the Asclepias nigra, Black swallow-wort, but Fée considers it to be the Circæa Lutetiana of Linnæus, Parisian circæa, or enchanter’s nightshade. Other authorities have suggested the Capsicum annuum of Linnæus, Indian or Guinea pepper, and the Celosia margaritacea of Linnæus, Pearly celosia, or cock’s comb. M. Fraäs suggests, though with some doubt, the Cynanchum Monspeliacum, the Montpellier dog’s-bane.

1832 See B. xxi. c. 105.

1833 Identified with the Carduus parviflorus of Linnæus, the Small-flowered thistle.

1834 See B. xxv. c. 40.

1835 Identified by Fée and Desfontaines with the Polygonum persicaria of Linnæus, the Spotted persicaria, red-shanks, fleawort, or lakeweed. Littré gives the Crucianella Monspeliaca of Linnæus, Montpellier petty madder.

1836 Hence its name, signifying that it strengthens the generative powers.

1837 See B. xxvi. c. 91.

1838 See B. xxiv. c. 72. Littré remarks that Pliny is in error here, for that the Cratægos of Theophrastus is the Cratægos azarolia of Linnæus, the Parsley-leaved hawthorn, while the Aquifolia of Pliny is the Holly. As to the latter point, see B. xvi. cc. 8, 12.

1839 Hist. Plant. B. iii. c. 15.

1840 Desfontaines identifies it with the Centaurea crocodileum of Linnæus, and Littré with the Carduus pycnocephalus of Linnæus. Ruellius considers it to be the same plant as the Leucacantha of Dioscorides; which Sprengel identifies with the Cnicus Casabonæ. Fée expresses himself at a loss as to its identity.

1841 See B. xxii. c. 21.

1842 “Dog’s testicle.” Considered to be a synonym merely of the Orchis, mentioned in B. xxvi. c. 62.

1843 This comparison is totally incorrect.

1844 See B. xxvi. c. 62.

1845 Or onions.

1846 A tissue of groundless superstitions.

1847 “Golden vegetable.” Supposed to be identical with the Atriplex of B. xx. c. 38, our Orage.

1848 Cultivated orage, probably.

1849 “Earth rennet.” This plant has not been identified. Lobelius has made a guess at the Serapias abortiva of Linnæus, the Helleborine. It is pretty clear that it was unknown to Pliny himself.

1850 The same, probably, as the Trychnon of B. xxi. cc. 52, 105, Solanum nigrum or Black nightshade. In the former editions the reading is “cuculus.”

1851 The “strumous” or “scrofula” plant.

1852 Possibly the Conferva rivularis, or the C. glomerata of Linnæus, the River conferva or River sponge, or the Green cluster conferva.

1853 On account of its asserted agglutinative properties. In reality it is an inert plant, and is never used in medicine.

1854 Fée considers this statement as fabulous in every respect.

1855 See B. xiii. c. 35.

1856 “Coccus.” See B. xvi. c. 12.

1857 This is not the case. Sillig is of opinion that the passage is imperfect.

1858 The same plant as the Labrum Venereum of B. xxv. c. 108. It is used for carding cloth, but is no longer employed in medicine.

1859 Hence its name “Venus’ bath.”

1860 “Collyrii.”

1861 The same plant, probably, as the Polypodion of B. xxvi. c. 37. Littré, however, identifies it with the Asplenium adiantum nigrum of Linnæus, the Black maiden-hair, or spleenwort.

1862 It is the root that is sweet, and not the leaves.

1863 It has no such properties.

1864 The “oak-killer.” Fée thinks that it may possibly be the Convallaria uniflora of Linnæus. Desfontaines names the Cochlearia draba and Littré the Lepidium draba of Linnæus.

1865 See B. xv. cc. 7, 37, and B. xxiii. c. 83.

1866 Desfontaines and Fée identify it with the Antirrhinum spurium of Linnæus, Bastard toad-flax, calves’ snout, or snapdragon. Littré gives the Linaria Græca as its synonym.

1867 See B. xxii. c. 19.

1868 See B. xviii. c. 14.

1869 Fée, with Sprengel, identifies it with the Salsola polychlonos of Linnæus, Branchy saltwort or glasswort; Bauhin with the Passerina polygalifolia. The Crithmum maritimum of Linnæus, Sea samphire, has been suggested by Desfontaines. Littré gives the Frankenia pulverulenta of Linnæus. Holland suggests Saxifrage.

1870 “Calculus-breaking.”

1871 See B. xiii. c. 35.

1872 Sprengel suggests the Marsilea quadrifolia of Linnæus; Columna the Botrychium lunaria of Linnæus; G. Bauhin the Ornithogalum Narbonense of Linnæus, Narbonese star of Bethlehem; and Talius the Caltha palustris of Linnæus, the Marsh marigold. Fée considers its identification impossible.

1873 Because it was said to be a cause of sterility.