Chap. 59.] THE ANTHEMIS. 355 



CHAP. 58. THE TRIBULUS I THE ANONIS. 



The tribulus 80 grows nowhere except in marshy places 

 though held in abomination elsewhere, 81 it is employed on the 

 banks of the Nilus and Strymon as an article of food. It 

 always bends towards the water, and has a leaf like that of 

 the elm, with a long stalk. In other parts of the world there 

 are two varieties of this plant; the one 82 with leaves like those 

 of the chicheling vetch, the other with leaves protected by 

 prickles. This last variety blossoms also at a later period 

 than the other, and is mostly found in the hedge-rows about 

 farm-houses. The seed of it is black, rounder than that of the 

 other, and enclosed in pods : that of the other variety bears a 

 resemblance to sand. 



Among the prickly plants there is also another kind, known 

 as the "anonis i" 83 indeed, it has thorns upon the branches, 

 to which leaves are attached similar to those of rue, the stem 

 being entirely covered also with leaves, in form resembling a 

 garland. It comes up in land that has been newly ploughed, 

 being highly prejudicial to the corn, and long-lived in the 

 extreme. 



CHAP. 59. PLANTS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THEIE STEMS : THE 

 CORONOPUS, THE ANCHTJSA, THE ANTHEMIS, THE PHYLLANTHES, 

 THE CREP1S, AND THE LOTUS. 



Some, again, among the prickly plants have a stem which 

 creeps along the ground, that, for instance, known as the 

 " coronopus." 84 On the other hand, the anchusa, 66 the root of 

 which is employed for dyeing wood and wax, has an upright 

 stem ; which is the case also with some of the plants that are 

 prickly in a less degree, the anthemis, 86 for example, the phyl- 



80 The Trapa natans of Linnaeus, or water chesnut, a prickly marsh plant 

 of Europe and Asia. Hence our word " caltrop." 



81 " Dira res alibi." 



82 These two plants have no affinity whatever with the one just men- 

 tioned. The first of these so-called varieties is the Tribulus terrestris of 

 Linnaeus ; and the second is identified by Fee, though with some doubt, 

 with the Fagonia Cretica of Linnaeus. 



83 The Ononis antiquorum of Linnaeus, the Cammock, or rest-harrow. 

 M The Cochlearia coronopus. See B. xxii. c. 22. 



85 The Anchusa tinctoria, probably, or dyers' alkanet. See B. xxii. c. 23, 

 66 See B. xxii. c. 26. 



