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1 5 8 CH R O N O LO G IC A L A R R A N G EM E N T
Agamede was acquainted with all the “ pharmaka ” medicinal plants that the Earth produces — (Horn,
il. .xi. 739).
Geranium Robertianum of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. Called in Britain herb
robcrt ixom at least the Thirteenth century (ms. vocab., and Prior), in Germany “ ruprechtskraut”
(Grieb) : the “ heradeon siderion ” supposed to have been discovered by Hercules — (Plin. xxv. 15),
termed “ sitheritis êraklëian ” by Cratevas, agglutinating wounds according to Dioscorides, and growing
in vineyards and along walls, its single root giving out many coriander-like leaves around smooth
tender whitish or reddish stems a span high and bearing small red flowers bitter and viscous to the
taste, is referred here by Dodoens p. 62, and Anguillara p. 257 : G. Robertianum was observed by
Sibthorp, and Chaubard, in shaded situations in the Peloponnesus and on the Greek islands. Westward,
the “ amomum ” of Ortus Sanitatis 22 is referred here by Sprengel : G. Robertianum is described
by Brunsfels ii. 37, Fuchsius iii. 206, and Tournefort inst. 268; was observed by Desfontaines
in the gardens of Algiers, by Savi in Etruria, and is known to grow throughout middle Europe as far
as Denmark and Moscow (fl. Dan. pl. 694, Pers., and Dec ). By European colonists, was carried
to Northeast America, where it has become naturalized in our Northern and Middle States, observed
by myself among shaded rocks in w'ild situations ; to Brazil, observed in the streets of Porto Alegre
by A. Saint-Hilaire (A. Dec.). Employed in Germany according to Prior to cure a disease called
“ ruprechts-plage ; ” and according to Lindley, “ a popular remedy in Wales in Nephritic complaints.”
Scrophularia ludda of the East Mediterranean countries. Possibly the plant in question :—■
the “ sitheritis êraklëian ” as described by Dioscorides, and Pliny, is referred here by Sibthorp, and
Sprengel ; and the “ sideritin ” by some regarded as the “ achilleon ” is enumerated by Pliny xxv. 19
as growing on walls and fetid when bruised: S. ludda is termed “ s. saxatilis lucida laserpitii mas-
siliensis fo liis ” by Tournefort inst. 167 ; was observed by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, on the Greek
islands ; is known to grow on Crete and about Naples, and on the walls of Hydrus in Southern
Italy (Bocc. mus. pl. 117, and Pers.). “ S. liv id a ” observed by Sibthorp pl. 601 in Asia Minor, but
regarded by Bory as not distinct, seems the “ aliam sideritin ” of Pliny xxv. 19 growing in vineyards
and resembling the preceding, but having wdiiter and more fleshy leaves.
Herademn sphondylium of Europe, Northern Asia, and Northwest America. Called in Britain
cow-parsnep (Ainsw., and Prior) or brankursine (Lindl), in Germany “ Ijarenklau,” in Italy
“ panace ” or “ panace erculeo ” (Lenz), in which we recognize the “ panakés êraklëiôn ” — having
according to Theophrastus ix. 11. 3 large spreading leaves three palms either way, and a bitterish
root as thick as the finger : H. sphondylium was observed by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, from the Peloponnesus
to mount Athos. Westward, is described by Rivinus pl. 4 ; is termed “ sphondylium vulgare
hirsutum ” by Tournefort inst. 320, “ s. branca ursina ” by Hoffmann ; was observed by Scopoli
in North Italy, by Linnæus in Sweden, its young shoots eaten; and is known to grow throughout
middle and Northern Europe (Pers., and Engl. bot. pl. 939). Eastward from the Black Sea, is
known to grow throughout Siberia to.'Kamtschatka (Spreng.), and as far as Unalaschka near the
American coast (Lindl ). The “ rind and ro o t ” according to Lindley “ are acrid and will ulcerate
the skin,” but the “ root contains sugar.”
Paslinaca npopanax of the East Mediterranean countries. Called in Greece “ pölukarpön ” or
“ ampëlôna” (Sibth.) or “ köirhlia ” (Fraas) : the “ panakës êraklëiôn” — of Dioscorides yielding
“ opopanax ” and growing in Cyrene, Arcadia, Boeotia, and Macedonia, cultivated besides for its
juice, very tail with a terminal “ anëthou ’’-like umbel of yellow flowers, the seed fiery and fragrant,
clearly belongs here : “ jawashir” is mentioned by Rhazes, Avicenna, and gum “ opopanax ” called
“ djoaschir” is enumerated by Alpinus, and Forskal mat, med., as imported into Egypt from Syria:
seeds of P. opopanax were found in the gum by Dodoens p. 309 ; and the living plant w'as observed
by Sibthorp, Chaubard, and Fraas, frequent in the Peloponnesus and Southern Greece ; is known to
grow also in Syria (Pers.). Westward, the account by Pliny xii. 57 and xx. too of the “ panacem ”
five cubits high, the drug “ opopanacis ” being separately mentioned, seems chiefly taken from the
Greeks : P. opopanax is described by Lobel adv. p. 312 as observed by him near Montpellier (Spreng.);
is termed “ p. sylvestris altissima” by Tournefort inst. 319; is known to grow also in Hungary, Italy,
and Sicily (Gouan pl. 13, Lam. fl. fr., Kitaib. hung. iii. pl. 212, and Pers.). According to Lindley,
opopanax is “ a fetid gum resin similar in its effects to assafcetida.”
Lagoeda cuminoides of the East Mediterranean countries. Called in Greece “ lagökuminö”
(Fraas) or “ agriorigani ” (Sibth.) ; in which we recognize the “ agrioriganos ” identified in Syn.
Diosc. with the “ panakës êraklëiôn,” — and according to Dioscorides iii. 31 having slender stems a
span high, “ anëthô’’-like umbels, white flowers, and a slender useless root: the “ panake lëptôphul-
lon ” is mentioned by Theophrastus ix. 11. 4 ; and the “ lagôôu kuminôn ” in Syn. Diosc. iv. 17 : L.
cuminoides was observed by Sibthorp, Chaubard, and Fraas, in vineyards and cultivated ground frequent
from the Peloponnesus throughout Greece. Westward, is described by Matthioli (Spreng.); is
termed “ cuminum sylvestre capitulis globosis ” by C. Bauhin (Pers.), “ cuminoides vu lga re ” by
Tournefort inst. 301.
OF A C C OM P A N Y IN G A N IM A L S A N D P L A N T S . 1 5 9
Origanum Creticum of the Mediterranean countries. Also called in Greece “ agriorigani ” (Sibth.);
in which we recognize the “ agrian orSiganSn ” or “ panakitha” or “ eraklSidn” — identified by
Diodes with the “ konilen ” (Petrich. oph., and schol. Nicand.) ; also the “ panake” not “ toptdphul-
l6 n ” of Theophrastus ix. 11. 4 ; the “ panakteion konilen” of Nicander ther. 626; the “ cunilam
bubulam” called “ panacem” by Cratevas, bruised and placed on wounds and taken internally against
serpents even by tortoises (Plin. xix. 50 to xx. 61); the “ agrian origanon ” by some called “ panakis ”
according to Dioscorides iii. 49, his “ agrioriganos,” identified with the “ konilen ” of Nicander, so far
as relates to the “ brigand ’’-like leaves clearly belonging here ; also the “ panaces heraclion ” of Pliny
xxv. 12, attributed to Hercules and by some called “ origanum heracleoticum silvestre ” from resembling
“ origano,” its root useless : O. Creticum was observed by Sibthorp, and Fraas, from Crete and
Greece throughout the Greek islands; is known to .grow also in Palestine (Pers.). Westward, is
described by Lobel pl. 494, and Tournefort inst. 199; was observed by Lenz in Italy, and is known
to grow in other parts of Southern Europe (Pers. ; see O. Heracleoticum).
Hyoscyamus albus of the Mediterranean countries. Called in Greece “ girouli ” or “ uosku-
amos,” by the Turks “ ben tocbunii! ” (Sibth.), in Egypt “ beng ” (Del.), in wliich we recognize the
“ uoskuanios” supposed to have been discovered by Hercules— (Plin. xxv. 17), mentioned also by
Plierecrates, Xenophon oecon. i. 13, Nicander alex. 415, Paulus Aegineta, and the medicinal and
mildest kind described by Dioscorides as white-seeded and growing by the seaside and in waste
places : H. albus was observed by Forskal, Sibthorp, and Chaubard, in precisely those situations
from the Peloponnesus to Smyrna. Farther South, the “ hyoscyamus ” or “ apollinaris ” is identified
by Pliny with the “ aitercum ” of the Arabs ; H. albus was observed by Delile around Alexandria,
but the seeds of “ hyoscyamus ” or “ bindj ” employed medicinally in Egypt were found by Forskal
mat. med. to be imported from Greece. Westward, “ hyoscyamus ” is prescribed by Celsus ii. 33 ;
seeds of “ alterci a lb i” and roots of “ apollinaris herbae,” by Scribonius Largus 90 to 12 1 ; the
“ apollinaris ” of the Romans is mentioned also in Syn. Diosc., and Pliny’s description corresponds :
H. albus is termed “ h. a. major vel tertius Dioscoridis et quartus Plinii ” by Tournefort inst. 118;
and is known to grow in Italy and other parts of Southern Europe (Blackw. pl. u i , Pers., Spreng.,
and Lenz).
Colchicnm montannm of the East Mediterranean countries. The “ petilio ” said to have been
named by Hercules, — in the autumn according to Pliny xxi. 25 springing up among brambles and
commended for its colour only which is that of “ rosae silvestris,” the leaves appearing after the
nodding flower turns upwards, “ parvo calyce at versicolor! ” enclosing yellow seed, may be compared :
C. montanum is described by Clusius hist. i. pl. 200 ; is termed “ c. m. angustifolium ” by Tournefort
inst. 350; was observed by Sibthorp on the mountains of Attica, and by D ’Urville on the island of
Milo (Bory).
1 124 B. C. ( = 1071 “ 23 -f- 30 years ” of Castor in Euseb. i. p, 134, see also Pausan. i. 5. 3).
A date possibly marking the accession of Pandion I I ., son of Erechtheus, and now ninth Attic king.
1 123 B. C. = : “ 6th year of Ramessu X I I .,” on the monuments— (C. Mull. fr. Man. p. 589).
“ U22 B. C. = 13th year of Wou-wang; who, vanquishing Cheou-sin.” now becomes the head
of the new dynasty of the Tcheou. He changed the name of the yeans from “ sse ” to “ nian,” a
term having reference to harvest-time (commentator of the Li-ki, and Chinese chron. table). Wou-
wang also reformed the calendar: making “ the lunation containing the Winter solstice the first one
of the y e a r ; ” and making “ the civil day commence at midnight.” *
Khi-tsu of the dethroned imperial family, unwilling to accept office under Wou-wang, was made
king of Corea — (geogr. Chin., and Klaproth).'
In this “ 13th y e a r ” (Chou-king iv. 4. i), the Hong-fan, a philosophical treatise attributed to the
emperor Yu, delivered by prince Ki-tse to Wou-wang.
* Euryale fe r o x of Southern China. A kind of waier-lily having leaves nearly a yard in diameter
and thorny on the nervures and petiole, called in China “ ki-teou : ” at this time under cultivation
but rare,— has since according to Cibot (mem. Chin, iii.) become more frequent, its seeds yielding
farina, the pulp around them eaten, and the root used medicinally ; was observed by G. Staunton
in the province of Kianang. Westward, was carried at an early period to Hindustan, where it has
become seemingly wild in lakes in Chittagong and Eastward of Calcutta and Lucknow, and is called
in Hindustanee “ machana ” (Roxb., Royle, and Drur.).
Rubus Moluccanus? of Eastern Asia. Called in Bisaya “ dagamit ” (Blanco), in Japan “ fugu
its iigo ” (Siebold) ; and the “ ronces flexibles ” holding back the door of tombs, mentioned in an ode
of the kingdom of Tchin — (Chi-King i. 12. 6) may be compared : R. Moluccanus was observed by
Rumphius V . pl. 47 on Amboyna (P e rs .); by Roxburgh, Wallich iii. pi. 234, Wight, and Graham, in
Plindustan; by Mason, in Burmah ; by Blanco, on the Philippines ; by Thunberg, in Japan; by Siebold,
on Yeso, enumerated among the useful plants.
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