Historical. 



*5 



as Nuphar. A long list of common names is given : Wasser Gilgen, 

 Haarwurz, Haarstrang, Nenuphar in apothecary books, Clavus Veneris, 

 Digitus Veneris, Alga palustris, Papaver palustre. The account of the 

 medicinal virtues of these plants does not materially differ from those 

 previously given. 



Matthiolus, in his Commentary on Dioscorides (1554), transcribes 

 the chapter on Nymphaea from that writer with numerous slight verbal 



Fig. 4. "Faba Aegyptla.' 



facsimile from Mftttliiotas. 



Fig. 5." Nymphaea alba.' 



Facsimile from Lobelias. 



changes. He understands " Nymphaea " to signify our N. alba, and 

 gives " Nymphaea altera," also called " blephara," for Nuphar. The 

 two are figured side by side in rude but quite recognizable cuts ; but 

 these may have been inserted by C. Bauhin, whose notes were added 

 to the original in the edition which I have seen. On the identity of 

 the Egyptian Nymphaea and Nelumbo, Matthiolus was hopelessly at 

 sea ; for Nelumbo had been so long extinct in Egypt that nothing 

 could be found there to correspond with the descriptions given by the 

 classic writers. So, after much weighing of evidence, our author invented 



