90 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXV. 



other kinds, that more particularly is held in disesteem which 

 is "black and soft, such being a proof, in fact, that it has been 

 adulterated with wax. 



CHAP. 12. THE PANACES HERACLEON I THREE REMEDIES. 



A second kind of panaces is known by the name of " hera- 

 cleon," 60 from the fact that it was first discovered by Hercules. 

 Some persons, however, call it " Heracleotic origanum," or 

 wild origanum, from its strong resemblance to the origanum 

 of which we have already 61 spoken : the root of it is good ibr 

 nothing. 



CHAP. 13. THE PANACES CHIRONION : TOUR REMEDIES. 



A third kind of panaces is surnamed " chironion," from 

 him 62 who first discovered it. The leaf is similar to that of 

 lapathum, except that it is larger and more hairy ; the flower 

 is of a golden colour, and the root diminutive. It grows in rich, 

 unctuous soils. The flower of this plant is extremely effi- 

 cacious ; hence it is that it is more generally used than the 

 kinds previously mentioned. 



CHAP. 14. THE PANACES CENTATJRION OR PHARNACION I 



THREE REMEDIES. 



A fourth kind of panaces, discovered also by Chiron, is 

 known by the additional name of " centaurion :" 63 it is also 

 called " pharnacion," from King Pharnaces, it being a matter 

 in dispute whether it was really discovered by Chiron or by 

 that prince. It is grown from seed, 64 and the leaves of it are 

 longer than those of the other kinds, and serrated at the edge. 

 The root, which is odoriferous, is dried in the shade, and is 

 used for imparting an aroma to wine. Some writers distin- 



60 Identified with the Laserpitium Chironium of Linnaeus, otherwise 

 called Pastinaca opopanax. Fee observes, that when the word ' Panaces ' 

 is used alone, this plant is always the one meant. 



61 In B. xx. ec. 62, 69. 



62 The Centaur Chiron ; see B. vii. c. 57. Sprengel identifies this plant 

 with the Hypericum origani folium of Willdenow, but Fee is inclined to 

 think that its synonym is still unknown. M. Fraas, in his Synopsis, p. 

 139, identifies it with the Hypericum Olympicum, an odoriferous plant, 

 which the H. organifoiium is not. 



63 The Centaurea centaurium of Linnaeus, the greater centaury. 

 6i " Seritur." 



