Foreign Vegetables. 147 
Artic. IV. Of Dittany of Crete. 
Diftamnum Creticum et Dittamnus Cretica , Offic . 
AoJa^tcv, Theophraft. A fdla/AVo;, Diofc. Aid! afxvou, Gal . 
Diclamnum , Plin. Diftamnus, Virgilii. Thefe Names 
are afligned to fome Leaves which are ufually found 
in the Shops. They are fomewhat roundifli, about 
an Inch long, inclining to a green Colour, covered 
with a thick white Down, and frequently grow up- 
on fmall Stalks, on the Tops of which are long 
fcaly depending Heads of a purplifh Colour. The 
Leaves have a fragrant, agreeable Smell, and acrid, 
aromatick, hot Tafte. They are brought from the 
Hand of Candy , which was anciently called Crete. 
They ought to be chofen frefh, found, whole, free 
from Mouldinefs, covered with Down, and of an 
hot Tafte and good Smell. 
Diofcorides defcribes three Species of Dittany. 
1. Alxlupvos xgilixri, DiElamnum Creticum , feu yxviMv 
cly^x, Pulegium Sylveftre , £>uorumd. 2. 
vo?, Diffamnum fpurium. 3. A eteo», 
Dittamnum Cretenfe alterum , foliis Sifymbrii . Thefe 
three Species are likewife mentioned by Pliny. The 
firft is that which occurs in the Shops, notwith- 
ftanding they aftert it has neither Flower nor Fruit. 
But we muft believe, that Diofcorides was either led 
into this Miftake by others, or, as Matthiolus thinks, 
that his Words have been altered; becaufe < Theo - 
phraftus fuppofes it to bear Fruit, /. ix. Hift. c . 16. 
where he fays the Leaves only are ufed, and neither 
the Branches, nor Fruit. Damocrates alfo in Galen , 
1 . 5. xxlx yivn, fpeaks of Dittany as bearing Flowers. 
Befides, the Poet Virgil exprefsly mentions both 
the Flower and the Stalk, VEn. 1 . 12. 
Dldlamnum geniirix Cretan carpit ab Ida , 
L 2 Puberi - 
