Am•]^0auyr;x87h6a.rm,}         Medicinal  Plants  of  Greece.  195 
and  Thymus,  the  latter  of  which  is  frequently  completely  covered 
with  it.  It  occurs,  also,  often  upon  the  flax  (Aivov),  whence  is  derived 
its  specific  name,  epilinon.  It  was  recommended  by  Pliny  in  dropsi- 
cal affections,  in  which  it  is  still  employed,  also  in  angina  and  gouty 
complaints. 
Nerium  Oleander. — This  beautiful  plant  is  called  in  Greece  rhodo- 
daphne  (from  ^podov,  rose,  and  ddcpv/j,  laurel  or  bay),  or  rose  bay,  and 
picrodaphne  (niKpoz^  bitter),  or  bitter  bay  ;  the  name  nerion,  vqptov,  is 
derived  from  i^/>oc,  humid,  and  indicates  a  water-loving  plant,  because 
it  grows  in  moist  places.  When  taken  internally,  the  extreme  bitter- 
ness nearly  always  produces  nausea ;  but,  after  long-continued  use,  it 
has  been  found  to  be  of  some  value  in  epilepsy,  by  reducing  consider- 
ably the  frequency  of  the  paroxysms,  although  not  effecting  a  complete 
cure. 
Anagyris  fcztida  is  a  leguminous  tree,  the  leaves  of  which  have  pur- 
gative properties,  and  are  employed  by  the  peasants  like  senna,  under 
the  name  of  pseudo-sinamiki,  false  senna  leaves.  When  the  leaves 
are  rubbed  between  the  fingers,  their  very  offensive  odor  is  developed, 
which  is  likewise  perceived  when  the  tree  is  shaken  either  by  hand  or 
by  the  wind.  This  is  the  origin  of  the  Greek  proverb,  "Avdyupcv 
Kwic<7 — pLjj  avdyopcv"  which  has  been  in  use  from  very  remote  times, 
and  which  signifies  (Do  not  shake  the  anagyris),  to  avoid  stirring  up 
unpleasant  affairs  which  in  the  course  of  time  have  been  forgotten. 
The  fruit  having  a  resemblance  to  beans,  they  are  called  agriophaselo, 
or  wild  beans,  in  the  island  of  Cyprus. 
Atractylis  gummifera,  by  the  ancient  Greeks  called  chamaileon,  is  a 
handsome,  thistle  like  plant,  yielding  an  exudation,  which  is  collected 
by  women  and  children,  and  sold  as  pseudo-mastich  or  acantho-mastich. 
The  pieces,  consisting  of  agglutinated  tears,  are  oblong  in  shape,  and 
usually  about  two  inches  in  length  by  one  inch  in  thickness.  Its  root  bears 
some  resemblance  to  celery  and  parsnip,  and  is  occasionally  mistaken 
for  these  esculent  roots.  In  the  island  of  Melos  four  children  were 
poisoned  and  died  last  year  from  eating  the  root  of  this  plant,  and 
another  case  had  occurred,  a  few  years  ago,  in  the  island  of  Mykonos. 
The  holy  plants  Verbena. — Not  only  the  genus  which  at  present  bears 
that  name,  but  medicinal  plants  generally,  were  in  olden  times  known 
by  the  name  of  verbena,  i.  e.,  hpo  fioraw],  hierobotane,  or  holy  plants, 
