342 PRIMULACEA. 
dry in the second and some say in the third degree. It is of 
two kinds, one is well-known, and is called in Shiraz mahilu, 
and there is another kind like Persiawashdn (maiden-hair), 
and like it, of a reddish yellow colour ; the leaves are green 
and small, and the flowers yellow and small, and the plant is 
about a span high, or in my experience less. It grows on 
stones. The best is of a golden colour from Armenia, and has a 
sweet smell.” 5 
Mr. E. M. Holmes has found in the Herbarium of the 
British Museum a specimen of Dionysia diapensiefolia, Boiss, 
bearing an inscription in the handwriting of Kotschy, which 
states that the plant grows on stones, as stated by Haji Zein. 
He has also ascertained that the Persian drug is aromatic ; 
possibly Armenia may furnish a more perfumed plant belong- 
ing to the same genus. We see nothing in the description of 
Dioscorides to connect Amomon with Cardamomon. On the 
other hand, his description of Cardamomon is very short, and — 
such as he would naturally give of an article so well known 
as this must have been from its every-day employment by 
Asiatics as a masticatory and spice. In addition to this, he 
notices a use of cardamoms peculiar to India, namely, as a 
lithontriptic in nephritis and dysuria. Thedescription of Diosco- 
rides is as follows :—‘‘ Cardamomon is brought from Commagene 
(the northern province of Syria, now Camosh), Armenia, 
and the Bosphorus, but it is produced also in India and Arabia. 
Choose that which is tough, well-filled, closed ; if not in this 
state, it is too old and has lost its aroma. The taste is pungent 
and somewhat bitter. 
We think there can be no doubt that the Greeks were well 
acquainted with ‘Cardamons through their intercourse with 
Eastern nations long before the time of Dioscorides, although 
they had no exact information as to their source. As sug- 
gested by Mr. Holmes, the Amomis of Dioscorides was probably 
a plant having the same characters as his true amomum. 
The Pontic and Coptic kinds were probably entirely different 
plants used as substitutes. We must also bear in mind that 
