184 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXVI. 



praised by Hippocrates. 39 This is one of the wild plants that 

 are commonly eaten at all events, we find Callimachus men- 

 tioning it as one of the viands set on table by the peasant 

 Hecale. 40 It is a species of garden batis, 41 with a stem a palm 

 in height, and a hot seed, odoriferous like that of libanotis, 42 

 and round. When dried, the seed bursts asunder, and discloses 

 in the interior a white kernel, known as " cachry" to some. 

 The leaf is unctuous and of a whitish colour, like that of the 

 olive, only thicker and of a saltish taste. The roots are three 

 or four in number, and about a finger in thickness : the plant 

 grows in rocky localities, upon the sea-shore. It is eaten raw 

 or else boiled with cabbage, and has JL pleasant, aromatic 

 flavour ; it is preserved also in brine. .^ 



This plant is particularly useful for strangury, the leaves, 

 stem, or root being taken in wine. It improves the complexion 

 of the skin also, but if taken in excess is very apt to produce 

 flatulency. Used in the form of a decoction it relaxes the 

 bowels, has a diuretic effect, and carries off the humours from 

 the kidneys. The same is the case also with alcea: 43 dried and 

 powdered and taken in wine, it removes strangury, and, with 

 the addition of daucus, 44 is still more efficacious : it is good 

 too for the spleen, and is taken in drink as an antidote to the 

 venom of serpents. Mixed with their barley it is remarkably 

 beneficial for beasts of burden, when suffering from pituitous 

 defluxions or strangury. 



CHAP. 5 1 . THE ANTHYLLION ; TWO REMEDIES. THE ANTHYLLIS I 



TWO REMEDIES. 



The anthyllion 45 is a plant very like the lentil. Taken in 

 wine, it is remedial for diseases of the bladder, and arrests 

 haemorrhage. Another variety of it is the anthyllis, a plant 

 resembling the chamsepitys, 46 with a purple flower, a powerful 

 smell, and a root like that of endive. 



CHAP. 52. CEPJ3A: ONE REMEDY. 

 The plant known as "cepsea" 47 is even more efficacious. It 



39 De Nat. Mul. c. 20, and De Morb. Mul. I. 10. 



40 See B. xxii. c. 44. 41 See B. xxi. c. 50. 

 42 See B. xxv. c. 18. 43 See B. xxvii. c. 6. 

 44 See B. xxv. c. 64. 45 See B. xxi. c. 103. 



46 See B. xxi. c. 103. 



47 The Sedum cepaea of Linnaeus, the Sea purslain. Holland calls it 

 *' Beccahunga," or " Brooklime." 



