[932] Or “Venus’ bath.” Identified by Littré with the Dipsacus silvestris of Linnæus, and by Fée with the Dipsacus fullonum of Linnæus, the Teazel, or Fuller’s thistle. It received its Roman name from the form of the leaves, which are channelled, and curved at the edges.
[933] This is entirely erroneous; he may possibly have mistranslated some author, who has stated that the rain-water settles in reservoirs formed by the leaves.
[934] He alludes to the larvæ of the Curculio or weevil, which are found in the head of the Dipsacus, and many other plants. See B. xxvii. c. 62, and B. xxx. c. 8.
[935] “Frog-plant.”
[936] “Little frog.” Called “Crow-foot” by us.
[937] Sprengel identifies it with the Ranunculus Seguieri, Fée with the R. Asiaticus, also a native of Greece.
[938] Identified by Desfontaines with the Ranunculus hirsutus, or philonotis. Fée, with Hardouin, considers it to be the same as the Apiastrum of B. xx. c. 45, and identifies it with the Ranunculus Sardoüs of Crantz, the plant probably which produces a contraction of the mouth, rendered famous as the “Sardonic grin,” and more commonly known as the Ranunculus sceleratus, Apium risus, or Apium Sardoüm, “Laughing parsley,” or “Sardinian parsley.”
[939] Identified by Sprengel and Desfontaines with the Ranunculus repens. or Creeping crow-foot; but by Fée, with the Ranunculus muricatus of Linnæus.
[940] Identified by Desfontaines with the Ranunculus aconitifolius; by Fée with the Ranunculus aquatilis of Linnæus, the Water crowfoot. The Ranunculi are all active poisons.
[941] A fabulous assertion, probably, and it is very doubtful if any one ever made the trial of its efficacy.