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CRESCENZI ON ERYNGIUM 297 
while Thomas de Cantiprato had presumably finished his Natura 
Rerum in 1244, Bartholomaeus his De proprietatibus about 1256, 
and Vincent his S*ecu/um about 1260. But Crescenzi seems to 
have known the traveller, Jacobus de Vitriaco, De Cantiprato’s 
patron, to whose trophies brought from the Orient Crescenzi seems 
to refer in his chapter on palms. He knew Simon Januensis, for 
his chapter on the Ivus or the yew, Zaxus baccata, doubtless de- 
rives its name Ivus from Simon’s remark in the C/avis that ‘‘ Taxus 
is popularly called Yvo or Yvum.” Probably it was through 
Simon’s translation that Crescenzi knew Serapion, whom he quotes 
concerning his Cuscuta (bk. 6, ch. 29). Healso cites, as Burgundius, 
an unknown plant writer,—the translator, concludes Meyer, of 
some Geoponic work from Greek into Latin, which appears by name 
of Liber de Vindemio. 
CRESCENZI’s ‘‘ IRINGIO”’ 
Crescenzi does not mention Aster by name; his chapter 7, 
book 10, dell’ Astore, relates to a sparrow-hawk, Lat. astur, Writing 
his plant-descriptions largely from Plateario,* and himself also liv- 
ing south of its normal range, it was natural that Crescenzi should 
devote no special chapter to Aster Amellus. He should naturally 
be expected to come closest to Aster in his chapter on Eryngium, 
his Iringio and Irincii. In such a chapter Serapion, or his trans- 
lation at least, had blended Aster with Eryngium, and as Crescenzi 
knew and used Serapion, the repetitions of such a blending might 
have been looked for in him. But he was too wary ; at least, little 
definite trace occurs; Crescenzi’s references to Eryngium as an 
aphrodisiac + may have come from Pliny as well as Serapion ; the 
ment the real use that Pliny might have meant, saying ‘‘ Pliny says that with the _— 
of Celidonia the swallows (rondini) restore the eyes of their young to their primitive 
State, when they may chance to have become coated over in any way.” ? 
t Observing « iringio”’ is ‘‘ottimo al coito’’; later he adds that from Satyrion 
(the orchid Serapias) they now make similar aphrodisiacs, making festicoli confettt with 
honey; but they are better if the confection has dates added to it, or pistache and 
honey,”’ bk. 6, c. 108 
