152 pliny's natural history. [Book XII. 



monds ; all which sophistications may, however, be detected by 

 the taste. The price of storax of the best quality is seventeen 

 denarii per pound. It conies also from Pamphylia, but this 

 last is more arid, and not so full of juice. 



CHAP. 56. GALBANUli. 



Syria produces galbanum too, which grows upon the same 

 mountain of Amanus : it exudes from a kind of giant-fennel 81 

 of the same name as the resin, though sometimes it is known 

 as stagonitis. The kind that is the most esteemed is cartila- 

 ginous, clear like hammoniacum, and free from all ligneous 

 substances. Still, however, it is sometimes adulterated with 

 beans, or with sacopenium. 82 If ignited in a pure state, it 

 has the property of driving away serpents 83 by its smoke. It 

 is sold at five denarii per pound, and is only employed for 

 medicinal purposes. 



CHAP. 57. (26.) PANAX. 



Syria, too, furnishes panax, 84 an ingredient used in unguents. 

 This plant grows also at Psophis in Arcadia, about the sources 

 of the Erymanthus, in Africa also, and in Macedonia. This is 

 a peculiar kind of giant-fennel, which stands live cubits in 

 height : it first throws out four leaves, and then six, which lie 

 close to the ground, round, and of very considerable size ; those, 

 however, which grow towards the top resemble the leaves of 

 the olive. It bears its seed in certain tufts, which hang down, 

 just as in the fennel. The juice is obtained by incisions 



81 A shrub of the family of Ombelliferee, belonging to the genus bubon. 

 It is a native of Asia Minor and Syria. 



82 See B. xix. c. 52, and B. xx. c. 75. 



83 This was a common notion with the Romans. Virgil, Georg. B. iii. 

 1. 415, says : — 



"Galbaneoque agitare graves nidore chelydros.'' 

 Though considered to produce a pleasant perfume by the ancients, it is no 

 longer held in estimation for that quality, and is only employed in some 

 slight degree for medical purposes. 



84 The produce of the Pastinaca opopanax of Linnaeus, or the Panax 

 Copticum of Bauhin, an umbelliferous plant which abounds in the East, 

 and is not uncommon in the south of France. The gum called Opopanax 

 was formerly used, and its supposed virtues are indicated by its name, 

 which signifies " the juice which is the universal remedy." 



