348 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOET. [Book XXI- 



separates 16 into fine filaments when chewed, like those of the 

 spider's web. The head, 17 protruding from among the leaves, 

 is very remarkable ; and the leaves, which are extremely large, 

 even when compared with those of trees, are very similar to 

 those of the plant found in our rivers, and known by the 

 name of " personata." 18 So much do the people of that 

 country take advantage of the bounteousness displayed by 

 their river, that they are in the habit of plaiting 19 the leaves 

 of the colocasia with such skill as to make vessels of various 

 shapes, which they are extremely fond of using for drinking 

 vessels. At the present day, however, this plant is cultivated 

 in Italy. 20 



CHAP. 52. THE CTCHORIUM. THE ANTHALITJM OK ANTICELLIUM, 



OR ANTHYLLUM. THE (ETTJM. THE ARACHIDNA. THE 

 ARACOS. THE CANDRYALA. THE HYPOCHCERIS, THE CATJCAL1S. 

 THE ANTHRISCUM. THE SCAND1X. THE TRAGOPOGON. THE PAR- 

 THEN1UM OR LEUCANTHES, AMARACUS, PERDICIUM, OR MURALIS. 

 THE TRYCHNUM OR STRYCHNTJM, HALICACABUM, CALLIAS, DOR- 

 YCNION, MAN ICON, PERITTON, NEURAS, MORIO, OR MOLY. THE j 

 CORCHORUS. THE APHACE. THE ACYNOPOS. THE EPIPETRON. 

 PLANTS WHICH NEVER FLOWER. PLANTS WHICH ARE ALWAYS 

 IN FLOWER. 



In Egypt, next to the colocasia, it is the cichorium that is 

 held in the highest esteem, a plant which we have already 

 spoken 21 of under the name of wild endive. 22 It springs up 

 after the rising of the Vergiliae, and the various portions of it 

 blossom in succession ; the root is supple, and hence is used for 

 making withes even. The anthalium 23 grows at a greater 



16 These filaments are mentioned also by Martial, Epig., B. viii. Ep. 

 33, and B. xiii. Ep. 57. But according to Desfontaines, this description 

 applies to the stalks of the Nymphaea lotos, and not of the Arum colocasia. 



17 "Thyrsus." 



18 Desfontaines has identified this with the Arctium lappa of botanists ; 

 but that is a land plant, and this, Pliny says, grows in the rivers. If 

 the reading here is correct, it cannot be the plant of the same name men- 

 tioned in B, xxv. c. 58. 



19 This applies, Desfontaines says, to the Nymphzea nelumbo. 



20 Here he returns, according to Desfontaines, to the Arum colocasia. 



21 See B. xx. c. 29. 22 " Intubum erraticum." 

 23 The Cyperus Es<julentus of Linnaeus. 



