102 pliny's natueal histoky. [Book XXV. 



CHAP. 26. (6.) THE MITHRIDATIA. 



Crateuas ascribes the discovery of one plant to Mitliridates 

 himself, the name of which is " mithridatia."^^ Near the root 

 it has two leaves resembling those of the acanthus, between 

 which it puts forth a stem supporting a flower at the extre- 

 mity, like a rose. 



CHAP. 27. THE SCORDOTIS OE SCOEDION : FOUE EEMEDIES. 



Lenaeus attributes to Mithridates the discovery of another 

 plant, the scordotis-^ or scordion, which has been described, he 

 tells us, by the hand even of that prince. This plant, he says, 

 is a cubit in height, and has a square stem, branchy, covered 

 with downy leaves, and resembling the quercus^* in appearance : 

 it is found growing in Pontus, in rich, humid soils, and has a 

 bitter taste. 



There is another'^^ variety also of this plant, with a larger 

 leaf, and resembling wild mint in appear-ance. They are both 

 of them used for numerous purposes, both individually and in 

 combination with other ingredients, as antidotes. 



CHAP. 28. THE POLEMONIA, PHILET^RIA, OE CHILIODTNAMUS I 



six EEMEDIES. 



The polemonia^® is known as the " philetaeria" by some, in 

 consequence of the contest which has arisen between certain 

 kings for the honour of its discovery. The people of Cappa- 

 docia also give it the name of " chiliodynamus."-'' The root of 

 it is substantial, and it has slender branches, with umbels 



" CfEsalpinus identifies it witli the Erythronium dens canis of Linnaeus, 

 and Commerson and Schreiber with the Dorstenia tanibourissa of Sonnerat, 

 Fee is probably right in considering its synonym as still unknown. 



-3 Hardouin identifies it with the Stachys Gemianica, Linn£Bus and 

 Sprengel with the Nepeta scordotis of Linnajus, and Fee with the Stachys 

 Palaestina. 



-■* Fee remarks, that none of the plants mentioned in the last Note bear 

 any resemblance to the " quercus," or oak. 



-5 Probably tuc Teucrium scorodonia of Linuaius, Fee says ; though, as 

 he remarks, the description might apply to many of the Labiatae. 



^ Its names were derived from Polemon, a king of Pontus, and Phile- 

 taerus, a king of Cappadocia. It is generally identified with the Pole- 

 m«)nium caeruleum or Linnaeus, Greek valerian, or Jacob's ladder. M. 

 Fraas suggests that it may be the Hypericum Olympicum of Linnaeus, 

 with which he also identities the Panaces chironion. 



37 '* "With a thousand virtues." 



