What was a Saracens Consound?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
January 25, 2002
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading—>Click here.
Saracens Consound is an odd reference; words no longer used and little mentioned in older writings. The Greeks and Romans called the Arabs of the Syrian Desert, Saracens. In the Eighth Century, north African tribes raided along the coasts of Italy, but the barbaric tribes were replaced by civilized and educated Arabs.
These Arabs settled in Sicily and built a civilization while Rome lay in the Dark Ages. By the Middle Ages the term Saracens was used indiscriminately and derogatorily to refer to any Moslem. The civilized Arab and the barbarian confused under the same name.
Saracens Consound was one of a number of plants generally known as the woundworts. As their name implies, the woundworts were used to staunch the flow of blood and treat penetrating wounds. Gerard's Herbal (1633) has three chapters dedicated to the woundworts. Of Saracens Consound he writes, "With it I cured Master Cartwright a Gentleman of Grayes Inne, who was grievously wounded into the lungs."
Gerard gives a clue to the derivation of the name, "Saracens Consound is called in Latin Solidago Saracenica, or Saracens Comfrey, and Consolida Saracenica". Today, the Solidago are the goldenrods, but both Solidago and Consolida derive from the Latin, soldare, "to make whole". The name Saracenica meant pertaining to the Saracens.
Little is remembered of the history of the Saracens. One thousand years ago on the island of Sicily, the Saracens numbered two million in eighteen cities and 900 villages. They had agriculture, industry, arts, mathematics, and science. They also had physicians who left a legacy of herbal lore.
Taxonomically, Saracens Consound or Solidago Saracenica, is probably the plant now referred to as Senecio fluviatilis. Wild plants of the British Isles has two photographs of Senecio fluviatilis. To view the photographs, click on the link:
Click here to view the photographs
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
Who was Andrea Doria? What's in a Name? - April 12, 2002
Why was yarrow named for Achilles? What's in a Name? - August 2, 2002
Who introduced this African berry to the Americas? Plants that Changed History - January 27, 2004
Something about that cane sugar Plants that Changed History - February 17, 2004
How did the Spanish break Arab control of the sweet spice? Plants that Changed History - Nov 6, 01
What is the onion of Ashkelon? What's in a Name? - May 21, 2004
|
