338 ASTER History; RUELLIUS 
translation of Dioscorides’ fourth book; the flowers he calls 
“purple or yellow.” * 
IDENTIFICATION OF ASTER WITH AsreRULA ODORATA L. 
In 1536 (at Paris) Ruellius published his De natura stirpium 
ibri tres, a compilation of all that he could find about plants in 
the ancients ; besides recapitulating, p. 633,+ what was said of 
Aster Atticus by Dioscorides and Pliny, he adds (in Latin), “It 
is deemed by many to be the plant commonly called Aspergula 
minor,” an identification based on the star-like radiation of the As- 
perula stem-leaves ; (see p. 339, 343) and ‘“ There is another 
Aster (7. ¢., star-like leaf) now commonly called Ste//a,’’ meaning 
Alchemilla doubtless ; also “What plant the Aster meant to the 
-ancients I do not know,” and ‘“‘ What was the herb which Pausa- 
nias calls Asterion, I have not ascertained.” 
The following uses of Aster are quoted by Ruellius in slightly 
‘different form from his predecessors as now known. 
“Ad herniam puerorum commendant hanc (Stellam, Ruel- 
lius’ “ Alius Aster,” (= Alchemilla)). 
“Ejus decoctio quae virgines videri volunt insident ....... (also 
meant for Alchemilla ; a use explained in 1568 by Matthioli). 
“ Bibitur aster adversus serpentes, sed ad inguinum medicinam 
sinistra manu decerpi jubent et juxta cinctus alligari; (modifica- 
tion of Cratevas’ use of Aster). 
“ Prodest et coxendicis doleri admota” (modification of Pliny’s 
use of Aster). 
LXV. Manarpi 
Joannes Manardus, a true son of Ferrara, was born there 
1462, and died there 1536; was professor of medicine there, and 
famed as a practicing physician too, becoming court-physician 
1513-1516 to King Ladislaus of Hungary. ‘A worthy critic of 
Marcellus Vergilius ” Meyer terms Manardi; his critical revision t 
* Quoting from my copy of edition 1543. 
t Quoting my copy of Ruel, 2d edn., Basle, 1537, from the Froben press. 
t An edition also of his Epistles, Leyden, 1549, entitled as of ‘‘ Io. Manardi Fer- 
rariensis’’ was used by S rengel, whose judgment however often differed from es 
nardus. The £pistles were earlier published at Basle, by Isingrin, 1540, under HNC : 
‘* Epistolarum ... libri xx.’ 
