New Genera of American Plants

MATTHIOLA.

Plate 6.

Matthiola a genus of flowering plants, though the plant described here by Plumier is likely the Caribbean shrub Guettarda scabra rather than the modern "Stock" flower is a genus of plant with a single-petaled original: "monopetalo" flower, funnel-shaped and somewhat tube-shaped; its calyx (C) then develops into a soft, somewhat round fruit, filled with a round stone (F), in which a kernel (G) of the same shape is contained.

I have recognized only one species of Matthiola.
Matthiola with a rough, somewhat round leaf and blackish fruit.

Pietro Andrea Mattioli of Siena, born to Francesco Mattioli and Lucrezia Boninsegna in the year 1500, was a physician of great renown, and especially famous for that botanical work his "Commentaries on Dioscorides," which became the standard botanical text of the Renaissance so many times reprinted. As the Imperial Physician-in-Chief, he was exceptionally well-versed in the reading of the Ancients and taught many non-negligible medicines. However, critics and censors of his works were not lacking. What wonder if, since he himself attacked others with a black tooth original: "atro petebat dente"; a Latin idiom for malicious or biting criticism, the victims did not weep like children, but raised very sharp horns prepared against the biter. He died in Trento, where he had settled, in the year 1577 at the age of 77.

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MARANTA.

Plate 36.

Maranta the genus including Arrowroot is a genus of plant with a single-petaled flower, shaped like a funnel and expanded into six parts, three of which are alternately larger than the others; the lower part of the calyx, however, turns into an egg-shaped fruit, with a single capsule, filled with a hard and wrinkled seed.

I have recognized only one species of Maranta.
Reed-like Maranta, with a leaf like Cannacorus Indian Shot or Canna lily.

Gessner, On the writers of botanical matters, in his notes to Cordus.

Bartolomeo Maranta of Venosa, a physician, composed three books on the method of identifying simples herbal remedies made from a single plant; original: "simplicium medicamentorum" with great elegance and erudition, which are supremely useful for correctly understanding countless passages in Dioscorides. He possessed a subtle and sharp mind, and his diligence in observing and examining plants was truly admirable. He died in the year 1554.

LONICERA.