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CHAMOMILE.— ANTHEMIS. 



Natural order, Compositce discoides. A genus 

 of the Si/ngenesia Poiygamia superflua class. 



This herb is the Avftepis of Dioscorides, 

 and the Av^e/mov of Theophrastus. It was 

 called Leucanthemis, and Leucanthemus, from 

 the whiteness of the double blossom : others 

 named it Eranthemon, because it flourished 

 so early in the spring ; and on account of its 

 savour resembling an apple, it was called 

 Chamxmelon, from which the English name 

 is derived. 



Ancient story informs us, that this plant 

 took its generic name from Athemis, a virgin 

 shepherdess, who kept her flock near Cuma, 

 and not far from the cave where one of the 

 Sibyls delivered her oracles. Athemis fre- 

 quently assisted at these ceremonies, and 

 being present when the fate of lovers was 

 to be decided, was so frightened by Arphor- 

 les bursting abruptly into the cave to know 

 his doom, that she died on the spot, and was 



