[1095] Or “mountain-parsley.” Probably the Athamanta oreoselinum of Linnæus. Some commentators, however, take it to be the Laserpitium formosum of Wilidenow. Sprengel identifies it with the Selinum oreoselinum of Linnæus.
[1096] The Apium petroselinum, probably, of Linnæus.
[1097] The Lactuca sativa of Linnæus. This account of the Greek varieties is from Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. B. vii. c. 4.
[1098] This, no doubt, is fabulous, and on a par with the Greek tradition that Adonis concealed himself under the leaves of a lettuce, when he was attacked and killed by the wild boar. The Coss, or Roman, lettuce, as Fée remarks, is the largest of all, and that never exceeds fifteen to twenty inches in height, leaves, stalk and all.
[1099] This would seem not to be a distinct variety, as the rounded stalk is a characteristic of them all.
[1100] “Sessile.” A cabbage-lettuce, probably; though Hardouin dissents from that opinion.
[1101] Columella more particularly. There are still varieties known respectively as the black, brown, white, purple, red, and blood-red lettuce.
[1102] Martial, B. v. Epig. 79, gives to this lettuce the epithet of “vile.”
[1103] It has been suggested that this may have been wild endive, the Cichoreum intubus of botanists.
[1104] Or “poppy-lettuce.” See B. xx. c. [26]. The Lactuca virosa, probably, of modern botany, the milky juice of which strongly resembles opium in its effects.