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Who was Andrea Doria?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

April 12, 2002

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In Gerard's second book of The Herbal, a page is titled, Chap. 103. Of Captaine Andreas Dorias his Wound-woort. He describes the plant, "This plant hath long and large thick and fat leaves, sharp pointed, of a blewish green like unto Woad, which being broken with the hands hath a prettie spicie smell. Among these leaves riseth up a stalk of the height of a tal man, divided at the top into many other branches, where upon grow small yellowish flowers, which turneth into down that flieth away with the wind."

Andrea Doria Andrea Navagero Giclee Print by Raphael

About the Artwork
Italian Renaissance artist Raphael (1483 – 1520) painted works exemplifying his era’s ideals of beauty and harmony. A child prodigy, he exceeded the talents of the leading painter in his hometown of Urbino, Italy when he was 12. Raphael was noted for his brilliant Vatican stanzas, and the Madonnas he portrayed with unprecedented human sentiments. He also masterfully utilized depth, perspective, light and shadow, which made his figures appear warm, serene and lifelike. Pope Julius II’s respect for Raphael was so profound that he had planned to make him Cardinal. Buy Giclee Print at AllPosters.com

When Gerard published his Herbal, Andrea Doria had been dead for 37 years.

Christopher Columbus and Andrea Doria were contemporaries. Columbus sought a new trade route to the East Indies; Doria sailed the Mediterranean. Doria is said to have discovered how to sail ships against the wind.

Over the years, Doria's allegiances varied with the political turmoil of Europe. He armed eight galleys and for twelve years fought the Barbary pirates. In 1532, when Suleiman tried to take Hungary, Doria captured two Ottoman Empire cities, Coron and Patras. In 1536, he united ships from the pope, the Knights of Malta, and Venice. The fleet cornered the Barbary king, Barbarossa in the Gulf of Arta. For some reason, Doria let Barbarossa escape.

The northern coast of Africa from Egypt to the Atlantic was the Barbary Coast. The Moors (Berbers) banished from Spain and the Saracens exiled from Sicily settled the coast and took to piracy. (See Plants that Changed History, Nov. 6, 2001) They raided European ships entering the Mediterranean laden with goods.

It is impossible to say with certainty what plant was Andreas Dorias Woundwort. It appears a goldenrod or Solidago. Thirty-six years later when Thomas Johnson revised The Herbal, he footnoted a confusion between Saracen's Consound (What's in a Name?, Jan. 25, 2002) and Dorias Woundwort, but had stated, "...they are all of the same faculty in medicine."

The Catholic Encyclopedia has more information on Andrea Doria and his rise to power in Europe. To learn more about the adventurer, click on the link:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05134b.htm

''This design reminds me of leaves that dance when the wind blows,'' says Peruvian designer Regina Flores. Lovingly shaping Andean silver, she creates a light-hearted bracelet that is very original. She names it Tusuy, Quechua for ''Dance.''

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Wollemi Pine

National Geographic®

This survivor from the age of the dinosaurs is one of the greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century. The Wollemi pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest tree species, belonging to a 200-million-year-old plant family thought to have been extinct for more than two million years.

Previously known only from fossil records, it was presumed extinct until a single tree was found in the Wollemi National Park, Australia, in 1994. Subsequent research discovered 100 adult trees that have survived in a single canyon in this wild and rugged area. Click here to view canyon, trees and fossil record.

You can assist in the conservation effort and enjoy the unique opportunity to ensure the continued survival of this rare species by giving the tree as a gift or growing your own. Suitable for indoor container gardening. Can also be used as a landscape tree in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 7, which includes New England, the Midatlantic states, and much of the Midwest.

Comes with a care manual with the full story about the discovery and fascinating history of the Wollemi pine. Tree will be approximately 8"H when shipped. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these plants will fund ongoing conservation research. Click here to get your Wollemi Pine and assist in the conservation effort.

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