122 Pliny's natuhal histort. [Book XXV. 



that a circle must first be traced around it with iron ; after 

 which it must be taken up with the left hand, and raised aloft, 

 care being taken to dry the leaves, stem, and root, separately 

 in the shade. To these statements they add, that if the ban- 

 queting couch is sprinkled with water in which it has been 

 steeped, merriment and hilarity will be greatly promoted 

 thereby. 



As a remedy for the stings of serpents, this plant is bruised 

 in wine. 



CHAP. 60. — THE BLATTAKIA t ONE EEMEDT. 



There is a plant very similar in appearance to verbascum,^* 

 so much so, indeed, as to be frequently gathered for it by mis- 

 take. The leaves,^^ however, are not so white, the stems are 

 more numerous, and the flower is of a yellow colour. Thrown 

 upon the ground, this plant attracts black beetles^^ to it, whence 

 its Eoman appellation '* blattaria." 



CHAP. 61. LEMONITJM : ONE EEMEDY. 



Lemonium^® furnishes a milky juice, which thickens like 

 gum. It grows in moist, watery localities, and is generally 

 administered, in doses of one denarius, in wine, 



CHAP. 62. — QUINaUEFOLIUM, KNOWN ALSO AS PENTAPETES, PEN- 

 TAPHYLLON, OK CHAM^^ZELON : THIRTY-THEEE KEMEDIES. 



There is no one to whom quinquefolium^^ is unknown, being 

 recommended by a sort of strawberry*"" which it bears : The 

 Greeks give it the name of pentapetes,^^ pentaphyllon,®^ and 

 chamoBzelon.®^ The root, when taken up, is red; but as it 



s5 See c. 73 of this Boole. 



56 Mostly identified with the third Phloraos, mentioned in c. 74 of 

 this Book. Little gives as its synonym the PLlomis fruticosa of Linnaeus, 

 Jerusalem sage, or tree-sage, st <'Blatta3." 



*^ Not the " Limonion " of B. xx. c. 28, as the Statice limonium emits 

 ho juice. Desfontaines identifies it with the Seolymos or Limonia of B. 

 xxii. C.43; but Fee is inclined to think that Pliny is speaking of the 

 Atractylis gumniifcra, but has made a mistake in the name. 



59 Or '* five-leaved." Most probably the Potentilla reptans of Linnaeus, 

 our Cinquefoil, or Five-leaved grass. Sprengel, however, identifies it with 

 the Tormentilla reptans of Linnaeus, the Tormentil ; and other authorities 

 with the Potentilla rupestris of Linnasus. 



*" Its fruit is dry, and bears no resemblance to the strawberry. 



61 it Five-leaved." 62 u (jigeping on the ground." 



