Chap. 64.] THE DAUCUS, 123 



dries it becomes black and angular. Its name is derived from 

 the number of its leaves : it puts forth and withers with the 

 leaves of the vine. This plant also is employed in the purifica- 

 tion of houses. 



CHAP. 63. THE SPARGANION I ONE REMEDY. 



The root, too, of the plant known as the sparganion, 63 is 

 taken in white wine, as a remedy for the stings of serpents. 



CHAP. 64. FOUR VARIETIES OF THE DAUCUS I EIGHTEEN 



REMEDIES. 



Petronius Diodotus has distinguished four kinds of daucus, 

 which it would be useless here to describe, the varieties being 

 in reality but two 64 in number. The most esteemed kind is that 

 of Crete, 65 the next best being the produce of Achaia, and of 

 all dry localities. It resembles fennel in appearance, only 

 that its leaves are whiter, more diminutive, and hairy on the 

 surface. The stem is upright, and a foot in length, and the root 

 has a remarkably pleasant taste and smell. This kind grows 

 in stony localities with a southern aspect. 



The inferior sorts are found growing everywhere, upon de- 

 clivities for instance, and in the hedges of fields, but always in 

 a rich soil. The leaves are like those of coriander, 66 the stem 

 being a cubit in length, the heads round, often three or more in 

 number, and the root ligneous, and good for nothing when 

 dry. The seed of this kind is like that of cummin, while that 

 of the first kind bears a resemblance to millet ; in all cases 

 it is white, acrid, hot, and odoriferous. The seed of the 

 second kind has more active properties than that of the first ; 

 for which reason it should be used more sparingly. 



If it is considered really desirable to recognize a third 



63 Identified by Fee with the Sparganium ramosura of Linnaeus, or 

 Branchy burr-reed. Littre gives the Butonus umbellatus of linnaeus, the 

 Flowering rush, or Water gladiole. 



64 Fee remarks, that the account given by Pliny has not the same pre- 

 cision as that of Dioscorides, who describes three varieties of the Daucus. 



65 Fee is inclined to identify the Daucus of Crete and Achaia with the 

 Daucus Creticus of Fuchsius, the Athamanta annua of Linnaeus. Des- 

 fontaines identifies it with the Athamanta Cretensis of Linnaeus. 



66 This kind is identified by Fee with the Seseli ammoides of Linnaeus, 

 and by Littre with the Ammi majus of Linnaeus, the Common or Greater 

 bishop's weed. 



