331 pliny"s natural history. [Book XXI. 



had its origin in the tears of Helen, and hence it is that the 

 kind grown in the ishmd of Helena-^ is so highly esteemed. It 

 is a shrub which throws out its tiny branches along the ground, 

 some nine inches in length, with a leaf very similar to that of 

 wild thyme. 



CHAP. 34. THE ABROTONUM. TUE ADONIUM I TWO VARIETIES 



OF IT. PLAXTS WHICH EEPKODUCE THEMSELVES. THE LEU- 

 CAXTHEMU^I. 



The flower of the abrotonum,-'' which makes its appearance 

 in summer, has a powerful but agreeable smell ; it is of a 

 bright golden colour. Left to range at large, it reproduces 

 itself by layers from the tops of the branches : but when it is 

 propagated by the hand of man, it is better to grow it from 

 the seed than from the roots or slips, though even from the seed 

 it is not grown Avithout considerable trouble. The young 

 plants are transplanted in summer, which is the case also with 

 the adonium.^^ They are both of them plants of a very chilly 

 nature, though, at the same time, they are apt to receive in- 

 jury if too much exposed to the sun : when, however, they 

 have gained sufficient strength, they throw out branches like 

 those of rue. 



The leucanthemiim-^ has a similar smell to that of the 

 abrotonum : it is a foliated plant, with a white flower. 



CHAP. 35. (11.) TWO VARIETIES OF THE AMARACrS. 



Diodes, the physician, and the people of Sicily have given 

 the name of " amaracus" to the plant known in Egypt and 

 Syria as sampsuchum.^° It is reproduced two ways, from 



25 For two islands of this name, see B. iv. c. 20, and c. 23. 



27 The female Abrotonum is identified with the Santolina chamaecypa- 

 rissus of Linnagus : the little-cypress Santoline. The mule is the Aj-te- 

 misia abrotonum of Linnoeus, our southern- wood. 



2" Pliny has probably committed an error here in transcribing from 

 Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. B. vi. c. 7, who, when speaking of the abroto- 

 num, says, " It is transplanted in earthen pots, in the way employed for 

 the gardens of Adonis," these gardens being moveable parterres, laid out 

 in pots or vases. "We cannot agree with Hardouin, who looks upon the 

 Adonium as a variety of tlie Abrotonum, and censures Salmasius for ac- 

 cusing Pliny of committing an error here. 



>9 The " White flower." See B. xxii. c. 26. 



30 See B. xiii. c. 2. Tlie sampsuchum, or amaracus, is generally 

 thought to be the swe(;t marjoram, or Origanum marjorana of Linnoeus. 

 But Fee identifies it with the Origanum majoranoides of Willdenow, our 

 organy, wild or false marjoram. 



