of his abilities. He published a Plantarum at 
Naples, in 1592; and the copper-plates were prin- 
cipally from his own designs, and superior to any 
that had preceded them. In the execution of the 
plates themselves, it is said that he also assisted. 
He was a mathematician and musician, and seems to 
have been one of those individuals who, possessing 
a peculiar versatility of talent, improve every thing 
that comes under their notice. Though they are not 
the Philosopher’s stone itself, still every thing be- 
comes brighter by their touch. Columbia made con- 
siderable progress in a new arrangement of plants ; 
and was, perhaps, the first that noticed the parts of 
fructification as applicable to classification ; on which 
the great Linneus, an hundred years afterwards, 
built for himself a monument of immortal fame. He 
was a musician also, and invented an instrument, 
which he called the Sambuca Lyncia. It had five 
hundred strings, of different lengths, and the tone of 
each was divided into four parts, to include all the 
genera, diatonic, chromatic, and enharmonic. This 
may have been a great achievement, but the inven- 
tor surely forgot that there were very few Columnas 
in the world to continue its use. 
The flower of the Scutellaria Columnae will re- 
commend itself by its beauty, independently of any 
further attraction. It may be planted in the open 
border, in light soil, where it will increase, and some- 
times produce seeds. It may afterwards be divided; 
or seeds may be sown in the spring, in pots, or on 
an open border of rich earth. It may also be struck 
from cuttings, and the young plants should have a 
slight protection in winter. 
Persoon’s Synopsis, 2, p. 136. 
