102 PLINY'S FATTJEAL HISTORY. [Book XXV. 



CHAP. 26. (6.) THE MITHRIDATIA. 



Crateuas ascribes the discovery of one plant to Mithridates 

 himself, the name of which is " rnithridatia." 22 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 SCOBDOTIS OK SCORDION I FOUR REMEDIES. 



Lenaeus attributes to Mithridates the discovery of another 

 plant, the scordotis 23 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 24 in appearance : 

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

 bitter taste. 



There is another 25 variety also of this plant, with a larger 

 leaf, and resembling wild mint in appearance. They are both 

 of them used for numerous purposes, both individually and in 

 combination with other ingredients, as antidotes. 



CHAP. 28. THE POLEMONIA, PHILETJERIA, OR CHHJODYNAMUS ! 



SIX REMEDIES. 



The polemonia 26 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." 27 The root of 

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



22 Caesalpinus identifies it with the Erythronium dens canis of Linnaeus, 

 and Commerson and Schreiber with the Dorstenia tambourissa of Sonnerat. 

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



23 Hardouin identifies it with the Stachys Gernianica, Linnaeus and 

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

 Palaestina. 



24 Fee remarks, that none of the plants mentioned in the last Note bear 

 any resemblance to the " quercus," or oak. 



25 Probably tue Teucrium scorodonia of Linnaeus, Fee says ; though, as 

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



26 Its names were derived from Poleraon, a king of Pontus, and Phile- 

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

 monium caeruleum of Linnaeus, Greek valerian, or Jacob's ladder. M. 

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

 with which he also identifies the Panaces chironion. 



' " With a thousand virtues." 



