Chap. 16.] MAGTDARIS. 1-47 



the root there was a black bark, which was extensively em- 

 ployed for the purposes of adulteration. The juice of the 

 plant was received in vessels, and mixed there with a layer of 

 bran ; after which, from time to time it was shaken, till it had 

 reached a proper state of maturity ; indeed, if this precaution 

 was neglected, it was apt to turn putrid. The signs that it 

 had come to maturity were its colour, its dryness, and the ab- 

 sorption of all humidity. 



There are some authors, however, who state that the root of 

 laserpitium. was more than a cubit in length, and that it pre- 

 sented a tuberosity above the surface of the earth. An incision, 

 they say, was made in this tuberosity, from which a juice would 

 flow, like milk in appearance ; above the tuberosity grew a 

 stalk, to which they give the name of '* magydaris ;"^' the 

 leaves that grew upon this stalk were of the colour of gold, and, 

 falling at the rising of the Dog-star, when the south winds 

 begin to prevail, they acted as seed for the purposes of repro- 

 duction. It was from these leaves, too, they say, that laser- 

 pitium ^® was produced, the root and the stalk attaining their 

 full growth in the space of one year. The same writers also 

 state, that it was the practice to turn up the ground about the 

 plant, and that it had no such effect as purging the cattle that 

 were fed upon it ; though one result of using it as food was, 

 that such cattle as were ailing were either cured of their dis- 

 tempers, or else died immediately upon eating of it, a thing, 

 however, that but rarely happened. The first description, 

 however, is found to agree more nearly with the silphium 

 that comes from Persis. 



CHAP. 16. MAGYDARIS. 



There is another^ variety of this plant, known as '' magy- 

 daris,"^ of a more delicate nature, less active in its effects, and 

 destitute of juice. It grows in the countries adjacent to Syria,- 

 but is not to be found in the regions of Cyrenaica. There 



9'' Poinsinet fancies that this name means " staff of the Magi.'' 



'8 Or " laser," these names being indifferently applied to the gum-resin. 



33 The whole of this paragraph has been borrowed from Theophrastus, 

 Hist. Plant. B. vi. c. iii. 



^ Sprengel takes this to be the Laserpitium ferulaceum of Linnaeus, 

 but Fee thinks it is more than doubtful if the identity can be established. 



2 From Theophrastus. Dioscorides says, on the other hand, that it 

 grows in Libya. 



