MiracuPouy pPant/, 129 



figures in the roots of Mandrakes have been known, and Aldro- 

 vandus tell us that he was presented with a Mandrake-root, in 

 which the image was perfect. 



It is related that, in the year 1670, there was exposed for 

 sale, in the public market of Vratislavia, an extraordinary wild 

 Bugloss, which, on account of the curiosity of the spectators and 

 the different superstitious speculations of the crowd, was regarded 

 not only as something monstrous but also as marvellous. This 

 Bugloss was a little tortuous and 25 inches in length. Its breadth 

 was 4 inches. It possessed a huge and very broad stem, the fibres 

 of which ran parallel to each other in a direcft line. It bore 

 flowers in the greatest abundance, and had at least one root. 



Aldrovandus, in his Liber de Monstyis, describes Grapes with 

 beards, which were seen in the year 1541 in Germany, in the 

 province of Albersweiler. They were sent as a present, first to 

 Louis, Duke of Bavaria, and then to King Ferdinand and other 

 princes. 



Zahn figures, in his work, a Pear of unusual size which was 

 gathered from a tree growing in the Royal Garden at Stuttgart, 

 towards the close of June, 1644. This Pear strongly resembled 

 a human face, with the features distinctly delineated, and at the 

 end, forming a sort of crown, were eight small leaves and two 

 young shoots with a blossom at the apex of each. This curious and 

 unique vegetable monstrosity was presented to his Serene Plighness 

 the Prince of Wurtemburg. 



In the same book is given a description of a monstrous 

 Rape — bearing a striking resemblance to the figure of a man 

 seated, and exhibiting perfectly body, arms, and head, on which 

 the sprouting foliage took the place of hair. This Rape grew in the 

 garden of a nobleman in the province of Weiden, in the year 1628. 



Mention is made of a Daucus which was planted and became 

 unusually large in size. Some pronounced it to be a Parsnip, 

 having a yellow root, and thin leaves. This Parsnip had an 

 immense root, like a human hand, which, from its peculiar growth, 

 had the appearance of grasping the Daucus itself. 



In Zahn's book are recorded many other vegetable marvels: 

 amongst them is the case of a Reed growing in the belly of an 

 elephant; a ear of Wheat in the nose of an Italian woman; Oats 

 in the stomach of a soldier; and various grains found in wounds 

 and ulcers, in different parts of the human body. 



Miracufou<i> Uree<^ afTt) Dfaaf^^. 



There are some few plants which have at different times been 

 prominently brought into notice by their intimate association with 



K 



