| 释义 |
‖ silphium|ˈsɪlfɪəm|
[L., ad. Gr. σίλϕιον.]
1. A plant of the Mediterranean region, yielding a gum-resin or juice much valued by the ancients as a condiment or medicine; the juice obtained from this plant, also called laser1.
The plant has been variously identified as Thapsia garganica or silphion, and Narthex silphium. It was largely cultivated for export at Cyrene on the north coast of Africa.
[1706Phillips (ed. 6), Silphium, the Herb Laserwort.] 1753Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Laser, When Cyrene no longer afforded the silphium, it was sought for in other places. 1781Pennant Hist. Quadr. II. 432 These, with the plant Silphium, were used to denote the country of Cyrene, where both were found. 1820Mitchell Aristoph. I. 239 The silphium, or herb Benjamin, was much used by the ancients in medicine. 1858Birch Anc. Pottery I. 268 The subject of Arcesilaus..attended by the different officers of his stores, and watching the weighing of the silphium. 1869Rawlinson Anc. Hist. 81 A trade by which Carthage obtained the commodities that she needed, wine, oil, dates, salt fish, silphium.
b. attrib., as silphium land, silphium plant, silphium-spice.
1820Mitchell Aristoph. I. 239 Do you remember, sir, when silphium-spice was sold so cheap? 1886Guide Exhib. Galleries Brit. Mus. 189 Representations of what is thought to be the silphium plant—an early source of commerce in Cyrene. 1899Macnaghten tr. Catullus vii. in Story of Catullus 28 As many grains as are of Libyan sand By rich Cyrene in the silphium land.
2. A genus of N. American composite plants including the rosin-weed or compass plant and the prairie dock; a plant of this genus.
1771Encycl. Brit. III. 602/1. 1800 Abercrombie's Ev. Man own Gard. 689/2 Silphium, bastard chrysanthemum. 1819Pantologia X. s.v., Jagged-leaved silphium... Broad-leaved silphium. 1846–50A. Wood Class-bk. Bot. 336 Silphium Trifoliatum, Ternate-leaved Silphium. |