322 NOTES

:ï9 Styraæ is said by Dioscurides I. 66, who describes its prepara—
tion and uses, to be the gum of a tree something like the quince.
This is echoed by Pliny XII. 124; it comes from Syria, Cyprus,
Crete and other localities in the Orient. 'Theophrastus IX. 7,
gives sfyjrax in a list of plants used for perfumes and says it does
not grow in Europe.

20 Laser in classical authors was the juice of the root and stalk
of the plant silphion (Latin /aserpi(&um), a famous herb formerly
exported from Cyrene on the N. coast of Africa. Its sale was a
profitable monopoly of the kings of Cyrene and it is mentioned by
Pindar in his Odes in the 5th cent. B.c. But it became extinct,
destroyed by grazing flocks, according to Pliny XIX. 39, who says
he remembers that a single stalk of silphion was found at Cyrene
and sent as a present to Nero. 'The Treasury of Cyrene at Delphi
had columns, parts of which survive, carved to represent silphion
stalks; it cannot safely be identified with any known plant. In
Pliny's time, only Persian, Syrian and Armenian [aser was used,
far inferior to that of Cyrene and much adulterated. It is uncer—
tain which, if any, of the various laserpitia (umbelliferae) of modern
botany was meant by Fracastorius. But when Hippocrates com—
mends örös ocwAgiov, juice of silphion, he no doubt means the kind
which grew at Cyrene.

: Lignum aspalathi, the dark red wood of a shrub described by
Dioscurides I. 20 as astringent and diuretic; Celsus V.27. Pliny
XXIV. 111, says that several herbs are called aspalathuws. Hort,
on Theophrastus IX. 7 (list of aromata), identifies with Calycotome
villosa.

: Vilezx agnus castus, the 'chaste tree'!, a Mediterranean shrub,
emblem of chastity among the ancients; its aromatic seeds were used
as a stimulant. Perhaps the &yros of Dioscurides I. 103; not in
Celsus. Pliny XXIV. 59 explains why it is called 'chaste/ by the
Greeks; he calls it vitez.

2$ Fracastorius devotes the last Book of his poem Syphilis to a
panegyric of the wood and bark of hyacus. For a detailed account
of the preparation of guaiae, see pp. 277 ff.

24 Agalochus is perhaps Aloezylon agallochum, aloe wood, Asiatic,
not related to the ordinary aloe, now chiefly from Cochin China.
Dioscurides I. 22, says from India and Arabia. Not in Theophras—
tus, Celsus or Pliny.

"s Chamaedrys (Greek, 'ground—oak'!), Teucrtium chamaedrys
Labiata, also called chamaedrops, has been identified with wali
germander which at any rate has pink flowers and leaves like the
oak, as described by Dioscurides III. 98, who gives its use in medi—
cine. Pliny XXIV. 130 gives /rizago as the Latin name, and a long
list of the ailments for which it was recommended. It is still &
favorite remedy in the herboristeries of France and Switzerland.
Dr. Singer in 7^e Herbal in Anfiquity, reproduces & colored picture
of Camedrium from an English Herbal dated 1120. 'Theophrastus