144 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOET. [Book XXV. 



larger of which is sown in earthen pots. By some persons it 

 is known as " buphthalmos," 96 and by others as "zoopth- 

 almos," or else as " stergethron," because it forms an in- 

 gredient in the composition of philtres. Another name 

 given to it is "hypogeson," from the circumstance that it 

 generally grows upon the eaves 95 * of houses : some persons, 

 again, give it the names of " ambrosion" and " amerimnon." 

 In Italy it is known as " sedum magnum," 96 "oculus," or 

 " digitellus." The other kind 97 of aizoiim is more diminutive, 

 and is known by some persons as " erithales" 98 and by others 

 as " trithales," from the circumstance that it blossoms three 

 times in the year. Other names given to it are " chryso- 

 thales" 99 and " isoetes : J)1 but aizoiim is the common appellation 

 of them both, from their being always green. 



The larger kind exceeds a cubit in height, and is somewhat 

 thicker than the thumb : at the extremity, the leaves are simi- 

 lar to a tongue in shape, and are fleshy, unctuous, Ml of juice, 

 and about as broad as a person's thumb. Some are bent down- 

 wards towards the ground, while others again stand upright, 

 the outline of them resembling an eye in shape. The smaller 

 kind grows upon walls, old rubbish of houses, and tiled roofs ; 

 it is branchy from the root, and covered with leaves to the ex- 

 tremity. These leaves are narrow, pointed, and juicy : the 

 stem is a palm in height, and the root is never used. 



CHAP. 103. THE ANDBA.CHLE AGRIA OK ILLECEBEA: THIRTY-TWO 



KEMEDIES. 



A similar plant is that known to the Greeks by the name of 

 " andrachle agria," 2 and by the people of Italy as the " illece- 



95 "Bull's eye," "living eye, "and " love exciter." The Semper vivum 

 tectorum of Linnaeus, common Houseleek or Sengreene. 



95 * Called "geisa" in Greek. 



96 " Great houseleek," "eye," or "little finger/' 



97 Fee identifies it with the Sedum ochroleiicum of Sibthorp ; Sprengel 

 with the Sedum altissimum, and others with the Sedum acre, varieties of 

 Wall pepper, or Stone-crop. Littre gives the Sedum amplexicaule of 

 Decandolle. 98 " Spring blossoming." 



99 " Blossoming like gold." l " The same all the year." 



2 " Wild andrachle." Desfontaines identifies it with the Sedum stel- 

 latuin ; Fee, though with some hesitation, with the Sedum reflexum of 

 Linnaeus, the Sharp-pointed stone-crop, or Prick-madam. The Sedum, 

 however, is of a caustic and slightly corrosive nature, and not edible ; in 

 which it certainly differs from the Andrachle agria of our author. Holland 

 calls it " Wild purslain." 



