Of two colors, It makes me believe that in the begi 
MatrHIoui’s ASTER DESCRIPTION 383 
Matthioli, after often reissuing his Aster chapter in this form 
of the 1560 Latin edition, enlarged it greatly in his Italian edition 
of 1568,* where it forms chapter 122, instead of 115. This new 
description in Italian is much more diffusely written than the 
Latin.+ 
with eight distinct angles, more conspicuous and toothed throughout all around, so that 
they bear the form of a broadly open star. The stem is slender, half a cubit high 
from which go out many branchlets ; at their summit are slender pallid flowers in form 
of stars. It is remarkable for its root, which equals a finger in thickness, and exceeds 
the palm in length. It springs up in May and flowers in June. Itis e cacious in 
drink, not alone for healing internal ulcers of the viscera, but sinuous ulcers ; and it 
also heals wounds. It is sought by German surgeons, and celebrated with wondrous 
praises ; since they mix it with happy success in vulnerary potions. Its dry powder 
or its decoction heals enterocele. This same powder is given with wine or by rule of 
cochlear measure for fifteen or twenty days to women to secure seminal retention and 
promote conception, Its liquor is given to drink, or is rubbed on externally, to check 
leucorrhoea, Its daily injection wonderfully constricts these parts, changing them to 
the virgin state. Taken in drink it is still better. It contracts lax and falling breasts, 
making them hard and solid, if its tincture is often rubbed on. It is of especial value 
when mixed with Hypocistis, Equisetum, Stypteria, and dried roses. [In the Italian 
edition these are ‘‘1’ Hipocistido, le Rose secche, la Coda di Cavallo herba, and 1’Al- 
lume.’?] [An excellent figure of Alchemilla, the lady’s mantle, accompanies the de- 
tailed description of which the preceding abstract is a summary.] ‘“ Nomina, Aster 
Atticus among Greeks and Latins, Astaraticon among the Arabs, Aster attico among 
Italians, Sternkraut among Germans, Asfergout e mineur among the French.’’ 
Matthioli’s preface is dated Innspruck, April 1, 1568 
‘ t Ladd an abstract of the particulars in which it differs, entering the headings in 
italics as before. 
“Aster Attico, or Inguinale (translation of Dioscorides follows, changing ‘* purple 
or yellow’’ of 1560 to ‘‘ purple and yellow’’; instead of ‘‘ anthemidis modo’’ of 1 560 
he now reads * simile alla camamilla.”’) Aster Attico and sua essaminatione. Aster 
Attico is known in our common speech as Stella d » Athene. ... It has acquired the 
name of Stella, a star, because when the flowers are expanded, all that which is around 
itis purple and that within may be seen to be yellow, and the little leaves ( 
celle”) of the circumference are similar to the rays which surround a star. Notwith- 
standing the blame that others cast upon me, contradicting my opinion, the belief still 
Possesses me that the Aster Atticus is the same with that plant which produces flowers 
and which identical 
Not for their opposi- 
of 
“ 
inning of this chapter (of Diosco- 
tides), where one reads in the description of the flowers, 07 yellow, one ought to read 
‘al, and, namely, flowers purple and yellow, for which emendation I have the 
_ -*Pproval of a good herbalist (duoni semplicisti ; i. ¢., Valerius Cordus? who had died 
