Chap. 35.] THE EUrLEUISON. 421 



CHA.P. 34. THE ACANTHUS, P^DEKOS, OE MELAMPHYLLOS : PITE 



KEMECIES. 



The acanthus ^ is a plant that grows in cities, and is used 

 in ornamental gardening. It has a broad, long leaf, and is 

 used as a covering for the margins of ornamental waters and of 

 parterres in gardens.^^ There are two varieties of it ; the one 

 that is thorny^^ and crisped is the shorter of the two ; the 

 other, which is smooth,^" is by some persons called " psede- 

 ros,"" and by others *' melamphyllos."^^ rpj^g p^^^ of this 

 last is remarkably good for burns and sprains ; and, boiled with 

 the food, a ptisan more particularly, it is equally good for 

 ruptures, spasms, and patients who are in apprehension of 

 phthisis. The root is also beaten up and applied warm for 

 hot gout. 



CHAP. 35. TnE BUPLEUKON : FIVE KEMEDIES. 



' The bupleuron^^ is reckoned by the Greeks in the number 

 of the leguminous plants which grow spontaneously. The 

 stem of it is a cubit in height, the leaves are long and nu- 

 merous, and the head resembles that of dill. It has been 

 extolled as an aliment by Hippocrates, and for its medicinal 

 properties by Glaucon and Nicander. The seed of it is good 

 for the stings of serpents; and the leaves, or else the juice, ap- 

 plied as a liniment with wine, bring away the after-birth. The 

 leaves, also, in combination with salt and wine, are applied to 



s^ As to the Acanthus or thorn, in a more general sense, see B. xxiy. 

 c. 66, and the Notes. 



^^ Phny the Younger speaks of the Acanthus being used for a similar 

 purpose, Epist. B. v. Ep. 6. 



^* The Acanthus spinosus of Linnoeus. 



'" The Acanthus mollis of Linnaeus ; the brankursinc. 



91 " Lad's love." 



8- " Black-leafed." Fee thinks it probable that this name may have been 

 given to the variety " niger," of I^iiller, which grows in great abundance 

 in Sicily and Italy. 



93 " Bull's side," apparently. Fee Bays that the identification of this 

 plant is quite uncertain ; the Buplevrum rigidum of Linuseus, the Bup- 

 levrum Baldense of Willdenow, and the Amuii majus of liinnaeus, having 

 been suggested. The first, he thinks, could never have been used as a 

 vegetable, and the second is only found oa Mount Baldo in Carniohi, and 

 in Croatia. Though the Animi majus is m'>re tlian a cubit in height, and 

 could never h^'e been used as a vegetable, lie looks upon it as tUe most 

 likely of the three. The seeds of it were formerly used as a carminative. 



