Enthroned. Ballota pseudodictamnus, Greek Horehound, False Dittany or Divinity, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
According to that great Groningen Botanist and Horticulturalist Abraham Munting (1626-1683), our Pseudodictamnus, Dictamnus creticus verus and another sort are all more or less the same when it comes down to their all-healing medicinal qualities. He does add that they're very susceptible to damp, rain, and cold; they must absolutely be taken inside into the 'stove' before Dutch winter begins because otherwise they will rot away.
The plant hails from Greece and more specifically from Crete. 'Dictamnus' is connected to Mount Dicte on Crete where the Greek Supergod Zeus was said to have been reared in the famed Dikteon Cave. The English 'Dittany' is clearly derived from the Latin. It would seem that 'Divinity' is a pronunciation slip of 'Dittany' (or more improbably, a connection might have been made to Zeus). The common English name 'Horehound' has nothing to do with the Great Dogs walked by their mistresses in certain streets of ill repute in Large Towns such as Amsterdam. 'Hore' is from 'hoary', hairy, denoting the leaves of Ballota; the 'hound' - which does not connect to the doggy 'hound' - derives from an old word - 'hune' - which is the name of a plant.
The rain had been heavy in the night, and there's a puddle in our right Horehound's lap.
Enthroned. Ballota pseudodictamnus, Greek Horehound, False Dittany or Divinity, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
According to that great Groningen Botanist and Horticulturalist Abraham Munting (1626-1683), our Pseudodictamnus, Dictamnus creticus verus and another sort are all more or less the same when it comes down to their all-healing medicinal qualities. He does add that they're very susceptible to damp, rain, and cold; they must absolutely be taken inside into the 'stove' before Dutch winter begins because otherwise they will rot away.
The plant hails from Greece and more specifically from Crete. 'Dictamnus' is connected to Mount Dicte on Crete where the Greek Supergod Zeus was said to have been reared in the famed Dikteon Cave. The English 'Dittany' is clearly derived from the Latin. It would seem that 'Divinity' is a pronunciation slip of 'Dittany' (or more improbably, a connection might have been made to Zeus). The common English name 'Horehound' has nothing to do with the Great Dogs walked by their mistresses in certain streets of ill repute in Large Towns such as Amsterdam. 'Hore' is from 'hoary', hairy, denoting the leaves of Ballota; the 'hound' - which does not connect to the doggy 'hound' - derives from an old word - 'hune' - which is the name of a plant.
The rain had been heavy in the night, and there's a puddle in our right Horehound's lap.