Chap. 20.] THE TEUCRICW. 95 



destitute of branches, and elegantly clothed all over with 

 isolated leaves of a round form. Others again, maintain that 

 it has a squared stem, that the heads of it are small and like 

 those of horehound, 89 and that the leaves are similar to those 

 of the quercus they say too, that this last has the property of 

 uniting the sinews when cut asunder. Another statement is, 

 that the sideritis 90 is a plant that grows on garden walls, and 

 that it emits, when bruised, a fetid smell ; that there is also 

 another plant, very similar to it, but with a whiter and more 

 unctuous leaf, a more delicate stem, and mostly found growing 

 in vineyards. 



They speak also of another 91 sideritis, with a stem two 

 cubits in length, and diminutive branches of a triangular 

 shape : the leaf, they say, resembles that of fern, and has a 

 long footstalk, the seed being similar to that of beet. All 

 these plants, it is said, are remarkably good for the treatment 

 of wounds. The one with the largest leaf is known among 

 us by the name of "scopae regiae," 9 * and is used for the cure 

 of quinzy in swine. 



CHAP. 20. THE TEUCKION, HEMIONION, OK SPLENION : TWO 

 REMEDIES. 



At the same period also, Teucer discovered the teucrion, a 

 plant known to some as the " hemionion." 93 It throws out 

 thin rush-like stems, with diminutive leaves, and grows in 

 rugged, uncultivated spots : the taste of it is rough, and it 

 never blossoms or produces seed. It is used for the cure of 

 affections of the spleen, 91 and it is generally understood that 

 its properties were discovered in the following manner : The 

 entrails of a victim having been placed upon this plant, it 

 attached itself to the milt, and entirely consumed it ; 95 a 



89 "Marrubii." 



90 "Ironwork" The third Sideritis of Dioscorides, above mentioned. 

 See c. 15 of this Book. See also B. xxvi. cc. 12 and 88. 



91 Identified by Desfontaines with the Sanguisorba officinalis of Linnaeus. 



92 " lloyal broom," identified by many commentators with the Cheno- 

 podium seoparia of Linnaeus. 



93 Or "mule-plant." It is identified by Fee with the Asplenion eete- 

 rach, or Ceterach officinarum of Linnaeus, the Ceterach, a fern, and a dif- 

 ferent plant from the Teucrium of B. xxiv. c. SO, or Germander. 



94 Hence its name, " Aspleniurn." 



95 " Exinanisse." A fable, of course. 



