ALBERTUS’ COMPOSITAE QTT 
as Meyer and Jessen observe, p. 339, while “ from Avicenna he 
takes all he wrote about the medical properties of the plants 
treated, quoting it with or without use of the identical language.”’ 
Considering the beauty of Aster Amellus in the subalpine region. 
and observing Albert’s wide personal acquaintance with subalpine 
Bavarian plants, we would have expected mention of this Aster, and 
perhaps its omission does not indicate his failure to notice it but his 
failure to regard it as of medicinal utility. The wide difference be- 
tween his treatment of plants and that of Roman and of Renaissance 
botany is to be noted in the absence from his work, not only of 
Aster as such, but as veiled under such names as Stella, Bubonium, 
Inguinalis, Unguinaria, Ynguinaria, or Alibium. 
He treats about 23 Compositae, mostly familiar plants like his 
Enula campana, the most important of which in the present con- 
nection are his Oculus porci (Tragopogon), see znfra under Anguil- 
lara, and his Rostrum porcinum (Leontodon), already noticed 
under Hippocrates, p. 108. 
Sponsa solis he uses for Cichorium, as did Plateario, and also for 
Calendula officinalis L., which he says, p. 579, is (like Aster) valu- 
able for poisonous bites: “trita confert morsui venenatorum, posita 
super vulnus.”’ 
Senecio he uses, but Jessen could not decide for what plant. 
Policaria, also doubtful; perhaps Pulicaria vulgaris Gaertn. 
“ Yppia, quae tanacetum agreste’”’; 7. ¢.,2anacetum vulgare L.* 
* Among plants confused by others with Aster, his usage is as follows: 
Eryngium campestre L., under Yringum, Iringum or Hyringum, p. 568, confused 
by him as by Plateario with their ‘‘ secacul,” Pastinaca secacul Russ 
eu 
whence its present English name dennet). He ment f 
of cloves, this Gariofilata, and his Ungula Caballina, Asarum Europacum L., which has 
More of the odor, but he says nothing of the odor of cloves in Dianthus nor in roots of 
Aster Amellus. 
Chelidonium seems to appear blended with some other plant unknown, 
gular name of Venae tinctorum, Painters’ Veins, derived from Avicenna, and 
tecommended for the eyes. The name is said by Albertus to be from its use for dyeing 
and because the plants extenduntur sicut venae, p. 578 
in his sin- 
by 
ami. An echo of the minglings of two plants under the Ve 
mark that * all parts are certainly frigid and humid, though there are some that call 
Violet Wwarm,”’ 
