204 Aster History; MAcER 
The 77 genuine chapters follow no definite order, but begin 
with familiar garden plants, with the three Compositae, Artemisia,* 
Abrotanum and Absinthium, and end with foreign drugs, as Gario- 
filus (cloves), Costusand Aloé. Each plant is given usually 20 lines 
or more, chiefly of its properties ; sometimes much longer, Sinapi 
(mustard), Caulis (cabbage), Ruta, Betonica, Plantago, Elleborus 
albus and Absinthium, each exceeding 60 lines. Sometimes a few 
descriptive touches indicate Macer’s personal enthusiasm; as the 
following : 
“XXI. Rosa.—I have said the flower + of flowers among us by 
right is the rose, because in beauty it surpasses all flowers, and in 
odor. Nor yet does this flower avail to delight us in beauty or 
odor so much as it avails by its aid in varying medicines. 
“ XXII. Litium.—Golden roses,t as I think is fitting, should 
be followed § by the silvery lilies, which neither in beauty nor 
odor are deemed to yield place, if compared to the grace of 
roses. Nor less in its many healings is it fit for the needs of men. 
The bulb of that root which produces the lilies, roofed under burn- 
ing coals, and grated together with the olive, is a wonderful remedy 
if superadded to the burns from a fire; and yet better if rose-oil 
be joined with the olive. 
“XL. Viola.—Not the grace of roses can pass, nor can lilies, 
the fragrant violets in beauty, nor in power, nor in odor. 
“ XLII. /ris—The very color of its flowers gives the name to 
Iris ; indeed like the colors of heaven are the colors of Iris.” 
Occasionally Macer makes mention of habitats, as 
XVIII. Acidula (= Sedum).—Crescit arenosis in pratis et 
secus amnes. 
Occasionally he refers to an incident or tradition, as Galen's 
story of the boy with the peony-root amulet hung from his neck, 
lines 1618-1627 ; and that of Alcides (Hercules) crowning himself 
with dill (Apium), lines 334-5. 
ee oS Se 
* The Arthemisia of Macer’s MSS. and of most mediaeval writers. 
t Flos forum in Macer; Strabus’ forum flos. ined 
} Aurosas ut credo rosas argentea debent Lilia, etc. Geroult, 1509, first expl 
this as from aurum, i. ¢., golden. 
4 Pliny, 21, 11, says, “ The lily holds the next highest rank after the rose.”” ee - 
bus, writing of the lily as a type of the Virgin Mary, ranked it above the rose. 
