78 
FLORAL EMBLEMS. 
BIRTH. 
Dittany .—Origanum Dictamus. 
“ A branch of healing dittany she brought. 
Which in the Cretan fields with care she sought.’’ 
This plant, so celebrated for having been se¬ 
lected by Venus for the cure of iEneas, is pre¬ 
sented as the symbol of nativity or birth; 
perhaps from the phenomenon in its natural 
history. These flowers exude a viscid juice, 
which towards the evening exhales in vapour 
or gas, and which is so ignitible, that the 
smallest flame will set it in a blaze, which 
runs over the whole plant without causing the 
least injury. 
“ Contemplez cette fraxinelle, 
Lors qu’ Apollon fuit sous les eaux, 
A cote de sa tige frele 
Agiter d’ imprudens flambeaux ; 
A P instant sa robe legere 
S’ embrase, etincell de feux, 
Et le jour, inquiet, douteux, 
Croit encor regner sur la terre.” 
