Dactilis

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Dactilis secundum Dyascoridem vocatur aristologia longa.


Apparatus:

Dactilis (-is f ) AC e f | Dactilus B


Translation:

Aristologia longa {"broad-leaved birthwort"} according to Dyascorides is also called dactilis.


Commentary:

Simon ultimately refers to Dioscorides Longobardus, 3, 4, ed. Stadler (1899: 377), De aristolocia, where it is said: Longa vero aristolocia masculus est, qui et doctilis/ v.l. dattilus dicitur - "the long aristolocia is male, and it is called doctilis". The word was understandably misunderstood by the translator or in subsequent transmission, because the original Greek text names the synonym as δακτυλῖτις /daktylîtis/, lit. "finger-shaped", apparently referring to its long root. Simon, most likely only following his source, has instead of the expected *dactilitis the more common word dactilis/ dactilus, which is taken to mean "finger" in Greek, i.e. δάκτυλος /dáktylos/.


Botanical identification:

The identification of this plant is relatively uncontroversial. The plant's name was used over two millennia and has remained intact ever since Aristolochia longa was adopted by Linnaeus. The plant has a Mediterranean distribution. The Greek name ἀριστολοχεία /aristolocheía/ literally means "best for women in childbirth", hinting at the healing power that was attributed to it. This is also reflected in the English name "birthwort".


See also: Aristologia (1), Aristologia (2)

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