326 pli^t's natural histoet. pookXXI. 



the fact, as they state, that its leaves are white in the morning, 

 purple at midday, and azure ^'^^ at sunset. There are two 

 varieties of it, the field polium, which is larger, and the wild,^* 

 which is more diminutive. Some persons give it the name of 

 ** teuthrion."^^ The leaves resemble the white hairs of a 

 human being ; they take their rise immediately from the root, 

 and never exceed a palm in height. 



CHAP. 22. (8.) FABRICS WHICH KIVAL THE COLOURS OF FLOWERS. 



We have now said enough on the subject of the odoriferous 

 flowers ; in relation to which, luxury not only glories in having 

 vanquished l^ature in the composition of unguents, but has 

 even gone so far as to challenge, in her fabrics, those flowers 

 which are more particularly recommended by the beauty of 

 their tints. I remark that the following are the three princi- 

 pal^ colours; the red, that of the kermes^^ for instance, which, 

 beginning in the tints of the rose, reflects, when viewed^^ side- 

 ways and held up to the light, the shades that are found in the 

 Tyrian purple,^^ and the colours of the dibapha^°and Laconian 

 cloths : the amethystine colour, which is borrowed from the 

 violet, and to which, bordering as it does on the purple, we 

 have given the name of " ianthinum "''^ — it must, however, be 

 remembered, that we here give a general name to a colour 

 which is subdivided into numerous tints — and a third, properly 

 known as the *'conchyliated" colour, but which comprehends 



^^* Tliis marvel is related by Dioscorides in reference to tlie Tripoliura, 

 and not the Polium. 



^ The Teucrium montanum, probably, of Linnaeus. 



'^^ This name belongs, properly, to the wild or mountain Polium. 



66 '< Principales." The meaning of this term is explained at the end of 

 this Chapter. Red, yellow, and blue — or else, red, green, and violet, are 

 probably the primary colours of light. 



^^ See \^. ix. c. 65, and B. xvi. c. 12. lie alludes to the Coccus ilicis 

 of Linnaeus. 



^s See B. xxxvii. c. 40, as to the meaning of the word " Suspectus." 

 This passage, however, as Sillig remarks, is hopelessly corrupt. 



6s See Ji. ix. cc. 60, 63. 



"^ " Doubly-dyed," or " twice dipped," in purple. See B. ix. c. 63. 

 Littre remarks here that, according to Doctor Bizio, it was the Murex 

 braudaris that produced the Tyrian purple, and the Murex trunculus the 

 amethystine purple. 



71 Or <■<■ violet-colour." See B. xxxvii. c. 40. 



'2 For further information on these tints, see B. ix. cc. 64, 65. 



