Notes & Queries Archive
QUERY1850

The Plant "Haemony."

By J. M. BASHAM. (17. Chester Street, Belgrave Square)

Can any of your readers furnish information of, or reference to the plant *Haemony*, mentioned in Milton's *Comus*, l. 638.:— "—a small unsightly root, But of divine effect,... The leaf was darkish, and had prickles on it, But in another country, as he said, *Bore a bright golden flower, but not in this soil:* —More medicinal is it than that Moly, That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave; He called it *Haemony*, and gave it me, And bade me keep it as of sov'reign use 'Gainst all enchantments," &c. &c. The Moly that Hermes to Ulysses gave, is the wild garlick, [Greek: molu] by some thought the wil…

Topics: Literature, Medicinal Plants, Mythology