110 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXV. 



CHAP. 41. CYNOGLOSSOS : THREE REMEDIES. 



To this plant we may also annex an account of the cynoglos- 

 sos, 76 the leaf of which resembles a dog's tongue, and which pro- 

 duces so pleasing an effect 77 in ornamental gardening. The 

 root, it is said, of the kind which bears three 78 stems sur- 

 mounted with seed, is very useful, taken in water, for tertian, 

 and of that with four stems, for quartan, fevers. 



There is another plant 79 very similar to it, which bears 

 diminutive burrs resembling those of the iappa : 79 * the root of 

 it, taken in water, is curative of wounds inflicted by frogs 80 

 or serpents. 



CHAP. 42. THE BUPHTHALMOS OK CACHLA : 01TE REMEDY. 



There is the buphthalmos 81 also, so called from its resem- 

 blance to an ox's eye, and with a leaf like that of fennel. It 

 grows in the vicinity of towns, and is a branchy plant, with 

 numerous stems, which are boiled and eaten. Some persons 

 give it the name of " cachla." In combination with wax, it 

 disperses scirrhi. 82 



CHAP. 43. PLANTS WHICH HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED BY CERTAIN 

 NATIONS. THE SCYTHICE : ONE REMEDY. 



Entire nations, too, have been the discoverers of certain 

 plants. The Scythse were the first to discover the plant known 

 as " scythice," 83 which grows in the vicinity of the Palus 83 * 



76 " Dog's tongue." The Cynoglossum offieinale of Linnaeus, Hounds' 

 tongue, or Venus' navel-wort ; or else the C. pictum of Alton. 



77 Fee is at a loss to know how it can have been employed in topiary 

 work, or ornamental gardening. 



78 This statement is made by Dioscorides with reference to Arnoglossos, 

 Lamb's tongue, or Plantago. See c. 39, above. 



79 Identified with the Myosotis lappula of Linnaeus, Prickly-seeded 

 scorpion-grass. 79 * See B. xxi. c. 64. 



80 " Ranis." Under this name he probably includes toads. 



81 Sprengel and Desfontaines identify it with the Anthemis valentina of 

 Linnaeus, the Purple-stalked camomile ; but Fee agrees with Sibthorp in 

 considering it to be the Chrysanthemum segetum of Linnaeus, the Corn 

 marigold, the former not being, apparently, a native of Greece. Littre gives 

 the Chrysanthemum coronarium of Linnaeus, the Garland chrysanthemum. 



2 " Steatomata." Tumours of a fatty nature. 



83 Generally agreed to be identical with the Glycyrrhiza of B. xxii. c. 2, 

 our Liquorice. Fee says that the G. asperrima grows in great abundance 

 on the banks of the river Volga. 83 * See B. xxvii. c. 1. 



