De materia medica (Greek manuscript Grec 2179)

The illustrations depict two distinct species. The upper plant is Long Birthwort, showing its characteristic elongated, tapering root. The lower plant is Round Birthwort, distinguished by its bulbous, turnip-like root and clusters of fruit.

LONG BIRTHWORT WHICH SOME

HAVE CALLED FINGER-PLANT original: "Daktylitin," likely referring to the finger-like shape of the root; OTHERS CALL IT
THE ABORTION-PLANT original: "Amblothridion," reflecting its historical medicinal use in inducing labor or miscarriage. IT GROWS IN
MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS, FOR THE
Birthwort original Arabic: "Zarawand"

MOST PART IN BARE PLACES. IT HAS
LEAVES SIMILAR TO IVY,
WHICH ARE SMALL, SPREAD OUT,
SOMEWHAT ROUNDED, AND
TENDER. MANY SHOOTS
RECLINE FROM A SINGLE ROOT.
THE ROOT IS THICK, BITTER,
AND HAS A YELLOWISH
COLOR. A HEAVY
ODOR IS PROMINENT.

ROUND BIRTHWORT

THE COLOR OF ITS LEAVES
IS LIGHT;
IT HAS WHITE FLOWERS
AND IS FULL OF FRUIT.
THE ROOT OF THE
ROUND VARIETY IS
SPHERICAL, SIMILAR TO A
TURNIP original: "gongyli," referring to a round rape or turnip.
THE WHOLE ROOT IS ABOUT THE
THICKNESS OF A SMALL CLUB original: "propallestylou," a reference to a small rod or handle
AND IS EXCEEDINGLY BITTER.
THIS VARIETY...