Chap. 107.] THE EPHEMEEON. 147 



given it the name of " erigeron," 17 because it is white in 

 spring. The head is divided into numerous downy filaments, 

 which resemble those of the thorn, 18 protruding from between 

 the divisions of the head : hence it is that Callimachus has 

 given it the name of " acanthis," 19 while others, again, call it 

 " pappus. 20 " 



After all, however, the Greek writers are by no means agreed 

 as to this plant; some say, for instance, that it has leaves 

 like those of rocket, while others maintain that they resemble 

 those of the robur, only that they are considerably smaller. 

 Some, again, assert that the root is useless, while others aver 

 that it is beneficial for the sinews, and others that it produces 

 suffocation, if taken in drink. On the other hand, some have 

 prescribed it in wine, for jaundice and all affections of the 

 bladder, heart, and liver, and give it as their opinion that it 

 carries off gravel from the kidneys. It has been prescribed, 

 also, by them for sciatica, the patient taking one drachma 

 in oxymel, after a walk ; and has been recommended as ex- 

 tremely useful for griping pains in the bowels, taken in raisin 

 wine. They assert, also, that used as an aliment with vinegar, 

 it is wholesome for the thoracic organs, and recommend it to 

 be grown in the garden for these several purposes. 



In addition to this, there are some authorities to be found, 

 which distinguish another variety of this plant, but without 

 mentioning its peculiar characteristics. This last they recom- 

 mend to be taken in water, to neutralize the venom of serpents, 

 and prescribe it to be eaten for the cure of epilepsy. For my 

 own part, however, I shall only speak of it in accordance with 

 the uses made of it among us Romans, uses based upon the 

 results of actual experience. The down of this plant, beaten 

 up with saffron and a little cold water, is applied to defluxions 

 of the eyes ; parched with a little salt, it is employed for the 

 cure of scrofulous sores. 



CHAP. 107. THE EPHEMEBON : TWO BEMEDII S. 



The ephemeron 21 has leaves like those of the lily, but smaller j 



17 "Ea/oi ypa>i/, "aged," or " hoary in spring." 



18 " Spinae." He probably uses a wrong term, and means " thistle." 



19 It may possibly have been so called from the Acanthis, or goldfinch, . 

 that bird being fond of groundsel, 



20 u Thistle-down." If Pliny is speaking of groundsel, he is wrong in 

 his assertion that it turns white, or in other words, goes to seed, in spring. 



21 Sprengel identifies it with the Ornithogalum stachyoides ; but that 



