Pedanius Dioscorides of Anazarbus (AD 40–90) Greek physician in Rome. Author of De Materia Medica, the most important medical herbal ever written, used and copied for 1600 years.

Acanthus dioscoridis L. Acanthaceae. Distribution: Iran, Iraq, southern Turkey. Herbaceous perennial flowering plant. Named for Pedanius Dioscorides of Anazarbus, 1st century Greek physician and herbalist whose book De Materia Medica detailed over 1,000 (mostly) plant based medicines, was the basis for medical texts from 70AD to the end of the 17th century.

Acanthus dioscoridis in the family Acanthaceae is usually found on dry rocky hillsides in Iran, Iraq and southern Turkey. In the herbaceous border, spikes of pink hooded flowers in summer with silvery-green basal leaves are striking. It is fully hardy, but well-drained soil is essential as it does not cope well with wet soil in winter. Established plants can be divided in early autumn or spring to increase stocks.