ambrōsie

Used as L loan-word in this occurrence (cf. →hind-heoloþe and →wyrt-gemangnes by a translator who could not cope with the classical concept of 'ambrosia' and substituted a plant as source for the sweet smell? The L source does not indicate a specific plant, so it is problably a general reference to the mythological fragrant food / drink / oil of the Greek gods 'ambrosia'. For a list of plants associated with L AMBROSIA cf. André (1985, s.v.) and for the discussion of L AMBROSIA in the OE glossaries Rusche (2000,182ff). Marzell (2000,V,253) refers to 13 plants that are associated with the old L name AMBROSIA.

The DOE translates "the plant ambrosia, perhaps wood sage", the latter is the native Teucrium scorodonia L., Salbei-Gamander. It also is the OE →hind-heoloþe, which glosses L AMBROSIA. The name 'wood sage', though, derives from the similarity of the leaves to those of Salvia pratensis L., meadow clary, Wiesen-Salbei (cf. Marzell 2000,IV,676f.) not from its rank pungent smell, which is similar to hops (cf. Grieve 1971, s.v. 'germander, sage-leaved'). Another fragrant plant associated with AMBROSIA (cf. OED, s.v. 'ambrose') is the Mediterranean Chenopodium botrys L., Jerusalem oak goosefoot, Klebriger Gänsefuß which is also described in Pliny (XXVII,XI,28) and Dioscurides (III,130) for its sweet smell. Another possible identification is Artemisia maritima L., sea wormwood, Strand-Beifuß, the ambrosia of Dioscurides (III, 129).