Chap. 68.] THE ASPHODEL. 359 



is of an acrid taste. The aphace, too, is bitter, and so is the 

 plant called " picris," 17 which also remains in flower the whole 

 year through : it is to this bitterness that it is indebted for its 

 name. 18 



CHAP. 66. PLANTS IN WHICH THE BLOSSOM MAKES ITS APPEAR- 

 ANCE BEFORE THE STEM. PLANTS IN WHICH THE STEM APPEARS 

 BEFORE THE BLOSSOM. PLANTS WHICH BLOSSOM THREE TIMES 

 IN THE TEAR. 



The peculiarities also of the squill and saffron deserve re- 

 mark ; for while all other plants put forth their leaves first, 

 and then a round stem, these show the stem before the leaf 

 makes its appearance : in the saffron, however, the blossom is 

 protruded by the stem, but in the squill it is the stem that 

 first makes its appearance, and then the flower emerges from 

 it. This plant blossoms three times in the year, indicating 

 thereby, as previously stated, 19 the three seasons for ploughing. 



CHAP, 67. THE CYPIROS. THE THESION. 



Some authors reckon among the bulbs the root of the cypiros, 

 or gladiolus; 20 it is a pleasant food, and when boiled and 

 kneaded up with bread, makes it more agreeable to the taste, 

 and at the same time more weighty. Not unlike it in appear- 

 ance is the plant known to us as the " thesion," 21 but it is of an 

 acrid flavour. 



CHAP. 68. THE ASPHODEL, OR ROYAL SPEAR. THE ANTHER1CUS 



OR ALBtTCUS. 



Other plants of the bulbous kind differ in the leaf : that of 

 the asphodel 22 is long and narrow, that of the squill broad and 

 supple, and the form of that of the gladiolus is bespoken by its 

 name. 23 The asphodel is used as an article of food, the seed of 

 it being parched, and the bulb roasted ; 24 this last, however, 



J 7 See B. xxii. c. 31. 



18 From the Greek triKpoQ. !9 In B. xviii. c. 65. 



20 " Little sword :" the Gladiolus communis of Linnaeus. See the re- 

 marks on the hyacintbus of the ancients in the Notes to c. 38 of this Book. 



21 Sprengel says that it is the Thesium linophyllum of modern botany: 

 an opinion at which Fee expresses his surprise. See B. xxii. c. 31. 



23 The Asphodelus ramosus of Linnaeus. 



23 " Little sword." 



24 It is no longer employed as an article of food. 



