[242] Desfontaines says that it is the Periploca angustifolia; Fée gives the Apocynum folio subrotundo of C. Bauhin, round leafed dogsbane.
[243] This is the fact; and hence one of its names “cynanche,” or “dog-strangle.”
[244] This, Fée says, is the fact. The plant is rich in essential oil, and is consequently a powerful excitant. See B. xix. c. 62.
[245] In B. xvi. c. 11.
[246] A gall or fungoid production, or, in some instances, a catkin. Fée says that Pliny has committed an error here in attributing a cachrys to rosemary, the Libanotis stephanomaticos, which, in reality, belongs to the Libanotis canchryphorus or Libanotis prima.
[247] So called from the Greek βραδύ, “slow,” according to some authorities; by reason of the slowness of its growth.
[248] Identified by Fée with the Sabina vulgatior of Lobelius, or Juniperus Sabina, variety β, of Lamarck.
[249] The Sabina baceifera of J. Bauhin, the male savin, the type of the plant.
[250] See Ovid’s Fasti, B. i. l. 341, as to this custom, and Virgil’s “Culex,” l. 403.
[251] It is still a common notion, though Fée says an ill-founded one, that it produces abortion. Indeed we find Galen stating to the same effect.