A Chymical Dictionary

Hydropiper

Plants animals and natural materials · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A plant described through red spotting.

In the book. Hellebria similarly adds a colour feature to a plant name, specifying red flowers on a kind of black hellebore.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 25; facsimile PDF page 353.

Historical Definition

Hydropiper is arsmart marked with red specks or spots.

Meaning

The common name and visible marks form the identification. The entry does not give a location, preparation or medicinal action. The red specks should remain part of the description instead of being discarded as an incidental detail.

Use in the Book

Hellebria similarly adds a colour feature to a plant name, specifying red flowers on a kind of black hellebore. Haro gives only a kind of fern. These comparisons show the varying precision of the dictionary’s botanical descriptions. Hydropiper’s stated marks support recognition without establishing a modern species by themselves.

Places to Read

Haro. An unspecified kind of fern.

Hellebria. Black hellebore distinguished by red flowers.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 25; facsimile PDF page 353 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary 1650, s.v. Hydropiper

See also. Haro; Hellebria