200 pltnt's natural history. [Book XIII. 



emerges entirely from the water and opens its flower ; after 

 which it still continues to rise, until at last it is to be seen 

 raised quite aloft, high above the level of the water. This 

 lotus has a root about the size of a quince, enveloped in a black 

 skin, similar to that with which the chesnut is covered. The 

 substance that lies within this skin is white, and forms very 

 pleasaut food, but is better cooked, either in water or upon 

 hot ashes, then in a raw state. Swine fatten upon nothing 

 better than the peelings of this root. 



CHAP. 33. (19.) THE TREES Of CYRENAICA. THE PALIURUS. 



The region of Cyrenaica places before the lotus its paliurus, 77 

 which is more like a shrub in character, and bears a fruit of 

 a redder colour. This fruit contains a nut, the kernel of which 

 is eaten by itself, and is of a very agreeable flavour. The 

 taste of it is improved by wine, and, in fact, the juices are 

 thought to be an improvement to wine. The interior of 

 Africa, as far as the Garamantes and the deserts, is covered 

 with palms, remarkable for their extraordinary size and the 

 lusciousness of their fruit. The most celebrated are those in 

 the vicinity of the Temple of Jupiter Hammon. 



CHAP. 34. NINE VARIETIES OF THE PUNIC APPLE. BALAUSTIUM. 



But the vicinity of Carthage is claimed more particularly as 

 its own by the fruit the name of which is the " Punic apple;" 78 

 though by some it is called " granatum." 79 This fruit has 

 been distinguished into a variety of kinds; the name of 

 " apyrenum" 80 being given to the one which has no 81 woody 

 seeds inside, but is naturally whiter than the others, the pips 

 being of a more agreeable flavour, and the membranes by 

 which they are separated not so bitter. Their conformation in 



77 Probably the Phamnus paliurus of Linnseus ; the Spina Christi of 

 other botanists. 



78 The pomegranate, the Punica granatum of botanists. 



79 Or "grained apple." 



60 From the Greek ctTrvprjvov, "without kernel." This Fee would not 

 translate literally, but as meaning that by cultivation the grains had been 

 reduced to a very diminutive size. See B. xxiii. c. 57. 



81 This variety appears to be extinct. Fee doubts if it ever existed. 



w See B. xxiii. c. 57 



