70 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOKT. [Book XXIV. 



accompanied by the vine, there grows a plant, known to the 

 Gauls as the "rodarurn." 26 It has a knotted stem like the 

 branch of a fig-tree, and the leaves, which are very similar to 

 those of the nettle, are white in the middle, though in process 

 of time they become red all over. The blossom of it is of a 

 silvery hue. Beaten up with stale axle-grease, due care being 

 taken not to touch it with iron, this plant is extremely useful 

 for tumours, inflammations, and gatherings ; the patient, how- 

 ever, on being anointed with it must spit three times on the 

 right side. They say too, that as a remedy it is still more 

 efficacious, if three persons of three different nations rub the 

 right side of the body with it. 



CHAP. 113, THE PLANT CALLED IMPIA : TWO REMEDIES. 



The plant called "impia" 27 is white, resembling rosemary 

 in appearance. It is clothed with leaves like a thyrsus, and is 

 terminated by a head, from which a number of small branches 

 protrude, terminated, all of them, in a similar manner. It is 

 this peculiar conformation that has procured for it the name 

 of " impia," from the progeny thus surmounting the parent. 

 Some persons, however, are of opinion that it is so called 

 because no animal will touch it. Bruised between two stones 

 it yields an effervescent juice, which, in combination with 

 wine and milk, is remarkably efficacious for quinzy. 



There is a marvellous property attributed to this plant, to 

 the effect that persons who have once tasted it will never be 

 attacked by quinzy ; for which reason it is given to swine : 

 those among them, however, which refuse to take it will be sure 

 to die of that disease. Some persons too are of opinion that 

 if slips of it are put into a bird's nest, they will effectually 

 prevent the young birds from choking themselves by eating too 

 voraciously. 



CHAP. 114. THE PLANT CALLED VENUS* COMB I ONE EEMEDT. 



Prom its resemblance to a comb, they give the name of 

 " Venus' comb" 29 to a certain plant, the root of which, bruised 



16 Fee suggests that this may possibly be the Spiraea ulmaria of Linnaeus. 



27 The " impious " or " unnatural " plant, Fee identifies it with the 

 Filago Gallica of Linnaeus, the corn cudweed. It is destitute of medicinal 

 properties, and what Pliny states is without foundation. 



29 Generally identified with the Scandix pecten Veneris, corn cicely, or 

 shepherd's needle. See B. xxii. c. 38. 



