The ancients called it Cambria, and those of more recent times, Wales; there, an ancient ash tree, split down the middle by a monstrous storm, skillfully displayed the image of the Lord's Cross. It remained there for many years to impress the memory of the Cross upon human hearts, especially at a time when most wicked men were alive.

We maintain, along with Saint Augustine, that all these wonders—whether they are properly or improperly named—derive their origin from the most high God. As he left written: "Whatever bodily or seminal causes are applied to the generation of things, whether through the operations of angels, or men, or any animals whatsoever, or through the mingling of males and females, whatever takes place in tender conceptions, the very natures themselves—which are produced thus or so in their own kind—are made by none other than the most high God. His hidden power, penetrating all things with an immutable presence, causes to be whatever exists in any way, insofar as it exists; for unless He acted to make it so, it could not exist at all." Thus far Saint Augustine; and this is enough on these matters.

MONSTROUS LIKENESSES IN PLANTS

Various likenesses observed in roots, branches, and other parts of plants are either represented by Nature consistently within certain species, or they are shaped in only a few individuals and quite rarely. If these likenesses are formed naturally within the herbs themselves as a rule, then these plants are not called "monstrous." This can be seen in the wild *Antirrhinum*, whose seed pods resemble human skulls; for this reason, herbalists refer to this plant as the "Dead Man’s Head." Furthermore, there is a certain plant among the Greeks called *andreikelos*, which is similar to a man—the name being formed by syncope and the change of a smooth breathing to a rough one. This plant seems to correspond with the Mandrake, which reflects the basic outlines of the human figure in its root; this is why Columella called the Mandrake "half-human," writing: "Though the mandrake, sown with frantic grass, produces flowers of the half-human, and the mournful Hemlock."

This same plant was called *anthropomorphos* by Pythagoras, as it reflects the form of a man. We might also pass over other plants representing the human figure, such as certain species of *Satyrium* orchids, one of which has a flower that beautifully mimics the human shape; for this reason, it is known to the Greeks as *anthropozoos*, as if the plant bears the image of a living human in its bloom. Likewise, the *Palma Christi*, another species of *Satyrium*, produces roots that mimic the human hand, and one may observe the same thing in many other plants, as was explained in detail in the first chapter of this book under the heading of "Named Things."

However, we shall not discuss these regular occurrences here, since they are produced consistently according to the laws of Nature; instead, we shall record only certain rare likenesses occasionally observed in plants. Of this kind was a certain root of White Bryony found with a human-like image, which is still preserved in the public Museum. Again, a certain root was given to us as a gift, in which Nature skillfully shaped the likeness of a man, as shown in Illustration I, depicted from both the front and the back.