Pseudodoxia Epidemica

What is therefore delivered in favour thereof, by Authors ancient or modern, must have its root in tradition, imposture, far derived similitude, or casual and rare contingency. So may we admit of the Epithet of _Pythagoras_, who calls it _Anthropomorphus_[SN: Orchis Anthropomorphus cujus Icon in Kircheri Magia parastatica.]; and that of _Columella_, who terms it _Semihomo_; more appliable unto the Man-_Orchis_, whose flower represents a Man. Thus is _Albertus_ to be received when he affirmeth, that _Mandrakes_ represent man-kind with the distinction of either Sex. [SN: De mandragora.] Under these restrictions may those Authors be admitted, which for this opinion are introduced by _Drusius_; nor shall we need to question the monstrous root of _Briony_ described in _Aldrovandus_ [SN: De monstris.]. [Sidenote: _Generations equivocal, are yet commonly regular and of a determinate form or species._]