A Chymical Dictionary

Diapensia

Plants animals and natural materials · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A plant glossed through Alchamilla and lady’s-mantle.

In the book. Collatenna gives lion’s-foot or a particular styptic medicine; Coruscus gives mouse-ear.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 19; facsimile PDF page 347.

Historical Definition

Diapensia is Alchamilla, that is, lady’s-mantle.

Meaning

Two naming levels appear in the definition: Alchamilla and the familiar English lady’s-mantle. The entry identifies the name but gives no botanical description, medical action or preparation. Its function is recognition within a text.

Use in the Book

Collatenna gives lion’s-foot or a particular styptic medicine; Coruscus gives mouse-ear. These common-name glosses are useful historical evidence, but none supplies the descriptive detail required to settle every modern species question. The modernised definition therefore retains lady’s-mantle without adding a scientific name.

Places to Read

Collatenna. A plant name and a medicine classified by a restraining property.

Coruscus. A plant identified by the common name mouse-ear.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 19; facsimile PDF page 347 — Facsimile

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

See also. Collatenna; Coruscus