102 
plint's nattjeal history. 
[Book XXY. 
CHAP. 26. (6.) THE MITHKIDATIA. 
Crateuas ascribes the discovery of one plant to Mithridates 
himself, the name of which is mithridatia.'*^^ ITear the root 
it has two leaves resembling those of the acanthus, between 
which it puts forth a stem supporting a flower at the extre- 
mity, like a rose. 
CHAP. 27. THE SCOEDOTIS OE SCOEDION : FOTJE SEMEDIES. 
Lenseus attributes to Mithridates the discovery of anothej' 
plant, the scordotis^^ or scordion, which has been described, he 
tells us, by the hand even of that prince. This plant, he says, 
is a cubit in height, and has a square stem, branchy, covered 
with downy leaves, and resembling the quercus'^* in appearance : 
it is found growing in Pontus, in rich, humid soils, and has a 
bitter taste. 
There is another'^^ variety also of this plant, with a larger 
leaf, and resembling wild mint in appearance. They are both 
of them used for numerous purposes, both individually and in 
combination with other ingredients, as antidotes. 
CBAP. 28. THE POLEMONIA, PHILET^EIA, OE CHPLIODYNAMUS I 
six EEMEDIES. 
The polemonia^^ is known as the philetseria" by some, in 
consequence of the contest which has arisen between certain 
kings for the honour of its discovery. The people of Cappa- 
docia also give it the name of chiliodynamus."'^ The root of 
it is substantial, and it has slender branches, with umbels 
~2 Caesalpimis identifies it with the Erythronium dens canis of Linnaeus, 
and Commerson and Schreiber with the Jjorstenia tambourissa of Sonnerat. 
Fee is probably right in considering its synonym as still unknown. 
23 Hardouin identifies it with the Stachys Gernianica, Linnaeus and 
Sprengel with the Nepeta scordotis of Linnaeus, and Fee with the Stachys 
Palaestina. 
Fee remarks, that none of the plants mentioned in the last Note bear 
any resemblance to the " quercus," or oak. 
'^^ Probably tue Teucrium scorodonia of Linna3us, Fee says ; though, as 
he remarks, the description might apply to many of the Labiatse. 
26 Its names were derived from Polemon, a king of Pontus, and Phile- 
tserus, a king of Cappadocia. It is generally identified with the Pole- 
monium caeruleum of Linnaeus, Greek valerian, or Jacob's ladder. M. 
Fraas suggests that it may be the Hypericum Olympicum of Linnaeus 
with which he also identifies the Panaces chironion. 
27 •< With a thousand virtues." 
