Ancient Romans Were Obsessed With This Remarkable Herb – Then It Vanished Forever

Silphium was an extinct Libyan plant renowned for contraception, medicine, and trade. Its disappearance remains a historical mystery, and scientists continue searching for surviving descendants. Roman leader Julius Caesar is said to have kept a stock of it in the treasury. Ancient writer Pliny the Elder says Rome’s Emperor Nero owned the last stalk of [...]

from SciTechDaily https://ift.tt/O3I0t7A