Dittany
the popular name of the plants of the genus Dictamnus, an herb of the rue family, found in the Mediterranean region. The leaves are pinnate, the large white or rose-colored nate, The flowers are in terminal racemes. whole plant is covered with oily glands, and the secreted oil is so volatile that in hot weather the air round the plant becomes inflammable. D. Fraxinella and D. albus are found in gardens. The dittany of the United States is Cunila Mariana, a labiate plant. The dittany of Crete is Origanum Dictamnus, and the bastard dittany is a species of Marrubium (horehound), both labiates. DIU (dē'ū), a seaport situated at the E. extremity of a Portuguese island (7 by 2 miles) of the same name, off the S. coast of Kathiawar; 180 miles N. W. of Bombay. Once an important city of 50,000 inhabitants, it has sunk in importance till now the whole island has but 15,000 inhabitants, mostly fishermen.
Some magnificent buildings still attest its ancient splendor, such as the Jesuit College (1601), now a cathedral. The place has been in possession of the Por- DIURETICS tuguese since 1535, and stood a famous siege in 1545.