The Voynich Ninja

Full Version: Ziziphora - f14r
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
Ziziphora is a genus of the family Lamiaceae. The species of the same genus are medicinal plants used in ancient times. This plant You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. looks-like the illustration on f14r. Although, I can't convince myself that there is a Ziziphora with a single flower on its stem, the leaf and flower style was a little bit shocking.

The translation was like: Capricorn side, single flower. We (are) in the sea and Taurus came to the Moon. In the place of the product, there is Ziziphora intoxicant. It is a bitter product.  (procedure You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.)

The term defined as Ziziphora was the sequence R.T'.A.K = رتاک and the output in Dehkhoda lexicon was pronounced like "rotak" written form رتک with various synonyms: پودنه بََرّی, مشکطرامشیع, بقلةالغزال (the written form in Voynich has the second vowel but first vowel is not specified). Not many descriptions were available for these synonyms so I searched in dictionary again مشک طرا مشیع was actually Kakouty (Ziziphora) a well-studied plant in traditional medicine and apparently it was written about the plant in Makhzan al Adviyeh.
At Makhzan al advieyeh (18th century): its wine defeats sadness.

Further, Ziziphora's components increase serotonin level and this plant is known to have antidepressant effects. The sequence M.S.K.R turns to مسکر (equal to intoxicant, liquor, wine, and everything that causes intoxication). Thus, having the word right next to the R.T.A.K possibly defining as Ziziphora was surprising. Ziziphora capitata has similarities to the illustration, example, the flower curve (+Tubular shape) as well as accumulated upper leaves under inflorescence (Some other species include Z. teniour and Z. persica).

However, flowers are not singular on the stem (plant characteristic; having one flower, is mentioned in the first line and also can be seen in the drawing). We can't be sure if the artist had differentiated flower-head perfectly, but the drawing doesn't seem to have a bilabiate corolla. In the drawing the leaf shape is like an arrow-head or sagittate vs Ziziphoras have lanceolate leaves. Moreover, phyllotaxy for leaves is whorled in the drawing, but Ziziphora has opposite phyllotaxy. As you can see, there is no way to scientifically count the drawing a Ziziphora. (+Petiole, and pedicle lengths are also not acceptable)