Chap. 59.] 
HIERABOTANE. 
121 
Henbane, pounded with the leaves on, is taken in wine, for 
the stiDg of the asp in particular. 
CHAP. 59. — HIERABOTANE, PERISTEEEON, OR VEREENACA J TWO 
YARIETIES OF IT I TEN KEMEDIES. 
Eut among the Eomans there is no plant that enjoys a more 
extended renown than hierabotane,^^ known to some persons 
as peristereon,"*^ and among us more generally as verbe- 
naca."^ It is this plant that we have already mentioned as 
being borne in the hands of envoys when treating with the 
enemy, with this that the table of Jupiter is clean sed,^^ with 
this that houses are purified and due expiation made. There 
are two varieties of it : the one that is thickly covered with 
leaves is thought to be the female plant ; that with fewer 
leaves,^^ the male. Both kinds have numerous thin branches, 
a cubit in length, and of an angular form. The leaves are 
smaller than those of the quercus, and narrower, with larger 
indentations. The flower is of a grey colour, and the root 
is long and thin. This plant is to be found growing every- 
where, in level humid localities. Some persons make no 
distinction between these two varieties, and look upon them as 
identical, from the circumstance of their being productive of 
precisely similar effects. 
The people in the Gallic provinces make use of them both for 
soothsaying purposes, and for the prediction of future events ; 
but it is the magicians more particularly that give utterance to 
such ridiculous follies in reference to this plant. Persons, they 
tell us, if they rub themselves with it will be sure to gain the 
object of their desires ; and they assure us that it keeps away 
fevers, conciliates friendship, and is a cure for every possible 
disease ; they say, too, that it must be gathered about the 
rising of the Dog-star — but so as not to be shone upon by sun 
or moon — and that honey- combs and honey must be first pre- 
sented to the earth by way of expiation. They tell us also 
48 " Holy plant.'' ^9 " Pigeon plant.'' 
^ Our "vervain." It was much used in philtres, and was as higbly 
esteemed as the mistletoe by the people of Gaul. It is no longer used in 
medicine. In B. xxii. c. 3. 
^- On the occasion of the Feasts of Jupiter in the Capitol, prepared by 
the Septemviri. 
^•^ The Verbena supina of Linnaeus, Eecumbent vervain. 
^ The Verbena officinalis of Linnaeus, Vervain or holy plant. 
