Chap. 21.] THE CHAMJELEOtf. 407 



CHAP. 20. THE PERDICIUM, PAETHENIUM, UKCEOLAK1S, OR 



ASTERCFM I ELEVEN REMEDIES. 



The perdicium or parthenium 9 for 10 the sideritis is, in rea- 

 lity, a different plant is known to the people of our country 

 as the herb urceolaris, 11 and to some persons as the " aster- 

 cum." The leaf of it is similar to that of ocimum, but 

 darker, and it is found growing on tiled roofs and walls. 

 Beaten up with a sprinkling of salt, it has all the medicinal 

 properties of the lamium, 12 and is used in a similar manner. 

 The juice of it, taken warm, is good, too, for suppurated ab- 

 scesses ; but for the cure of convulsions, ruptures, bruises, 

 and the effects of falls from a height, or of the overturning of 

 vehicles, it is possessed of singular virtues. 



A slave, who was held in high esteem by Pericles, 13 the ruler 

 of the Athenians, being engaged upon the buildings of a temple 

 in the citadel, while creeping along the top of the' roof, hap- 

 pened to fall ; from the effects of which he was relieved, it is 

 said, by this plant, the virtues whereof had been disclosed to 

 Pericles by Minerva in a dream. Hence it is that it was first 

 called " parthenium," 14 and was consecrated to that goddess. 

 It is this slave of whom there is a famous statue in molten 

 bronze, well known as the Splanchnoptes. 15 



CHAP. 21. (18.) THE CHAMELEON, IXIAS, ULOPHONON, OR 



CYNOZOLON ; TWO VARIETIES OP IT ! TWELVE REMEDIES. 



The chamaeleon 16 is spoken of as the "ixias," by some 

 authors. There are two species of this plant ; the white kind 

 has a rougher leaf than the other, and creeps along the ground, 

 erecting its prickles like the quills of a hedgehog ; the root of 



9 The Parthenium of Celsus, mentioned by Pliny in B. xxi. 104, is not 

 identical with this Perdicium (though there also he gives it that name), but 

 is the Matricaria Parthenium of Linnaeus, a different plant. See Notes to 

 C. 19. 



10 In reference to what was said at the beginning of the preceding 

 Chapter. ll Or " pitcher plant." 12 See c. 16 of this Hook. 



13 Plutarch, in his life of Pericles, tells the same story about the slave, 

 but does not speak of the appearance of Minerva. Pie relates a story, 

 however, of her appearance to Sylla, pointing out a spot near the Acro- 

 polis, where the Parthenium grew. 



14 Or ''Virgin" plant, Minerva being called "Parthenos," the " virgin." 



15 One who "cooks entrails." See B. xxxiv. cc. 19 and 31. 



16 See B. xxi. c. 56. The white is identified with the Acarna gummi- 

 fera of Linnasus, the dark or black with the Brotera corymbosa of Linnaeus. 



