45 



324 Pliny's natusal history. [Book XXL 



CnAP. 19. THE IRIS. 



There is still another distinction, which ought not to be 

 omitted, — the fact, that many of the odoriferous plants never 

 enter into the composition of garlands, the iris ^^ and the sali- 

 unca, for example, although, both of them, of a most exquisite 

 odour. In the iris, it is the root *'' only that is held in esteem, 

 it being extensively employed in perfumery and medicine. The 

 iris of the finest quality is that found in Illyricum,"*^ and in 

 that country, even, not in the maritime parts of it, but in the 

 forests on the banks of the river Drilon'*^ and near Narona. 

 The next best is that of Macedonia, ^° the plant being extremely 

 elongated, white, and thin. The iris of Africa ^^ occupies the 

 third rank, being the largest of them all, and of an extremely 

 bitter taste. 



The iris of Illyiicum comprehends two varieties — one of 

 which is the raphanitis, so called from its resemblance to the 

 radish,^^ of a somewhat red colour, and superior ^^ in quality to 

 the other, which is known as the " rhizotomus." The best 

 kind of iris is that which produces sneezing ^* when handled. 

 The stem of this plant is a cubit in length, and erect, the flower 

 being of various colours, like the rainbow, to which circum- 

 stance it is indebted for its name. The iris, too, of Pisidia^^ 

 is far from being held in disesteem. Persons^^ who intend taking 

 and the polecat, the exhalations from which have a peculiar smell. The 

 same, too, with the urine of the panther and other animals of the genus 

 Felis. 



^^ For some superstitious reason, in all probability. Pliny mentions 

 below, the formalities with which tliis plant ought to be gathered. 



*° See B. xiii. c. 2. The ancient type of this plant, our iris, sword- 

 lily, or flower-de-luce, was probably the Iris Florentina or Florentine iris 

 of modern botany. 



*^ At the present day, too, it is the root of the plant that is the most 

 important part of it. 



^'^ The Iris Florentina, probably, of Linnaeus. 



*3 ]\Ientioned by Nicander, Theriaca, 1. 43. 



^ Probably a variety only of the preceding kind. 



51 The most common varieties in Africa are the Iris alata of Lamarck, 

 I. Mauritanica of Clusius, I. juncea, and I. stylosa of Desfontaines. 



52 " llaphanus." C. Bauhin identifies the Rhaphanitis with the Iris biflora, 

 and the Rhizotomus with the Iris angustifolia prunum redolens. 



^» See c. 38 of this iiook. 

 ^ 54 No kind of iris, Fee says, fresh or dried, whole or powdered, is pro- 

 ductive of this effect. 



55 Very similar, probably, to that of lUyria. 



^ All these superstitious are from Theophrastus, Ilist. Plant. B. ix. c. 9. 



