[1978] The Cheiranthus tristis of Linnæus, or sad gilliflower, Fée thinks.
[1979] See B. viii. c. 23. Pliny did not know of the existence of the musk-deer, the Muschus moschiferus of Eastern Asia: and he seems not to have thought of the civet, (if, indeed, it was known to him) the fox, the weasel, and the polecat, the exhalations from which have a peculiar smell. The same, too, with the urine of the panther and other animals of the genus Felis.
[1980] For some superstitious reason, in all probability. Pliny mentions below, the formalities with which this plant ought to be gathered.
[1981] See B. xiii. c. 2. The ancient type of this plant, our iris, sword-lily, or flower-de-luce, was probably the Iris Florentina or Florentine iris of modern botany.
[1982] At the present day, too, it is the root of the plant that is the most important part of it.
[1983] The Iris Florentina, probably, of Linnæus.
[1984] Mentioned by Nicander, Theriaca, l. 43.
[1985] Probably a variety only of the preceding kind.
[1986] The most common varieties in Africa are the Iris alata of Lamarck, I. Mauritanica of Clusius, I. juncea, and I. stylosa of Desfontaines.
[1987] “Raphanus.” C. Bauhin identifies the Rhaphanitis with the Iris biflora, and the Rhizotomus with the Iris angustifolia prunum redolens.