236 PLINY'S NATTJBAL HISTOBY. [Book XXVII. 



CHAP. 30. (8.) THE BALLOTES, MELAMPBASION, OB BLACK LEEK I 



THKEE BEMEDIES. 



The Greeks give to the ballotes 4 the other name of " melam- 

 prasion," meaning " black leek." 5 It is a branchy plant, with 

 black angular stems, covered with hairy leaves, larger and darker 

 than those of the leek, 6 and possessed of a powerful smell. The 

 leaves, bruised and applied with salt, are highly efficacious for 

 bites inflicted by dogs : cooked upon hot ashes and applied in 

 a cabbage leaf, they are curative of condylomata. Mixed with 

 honey, this plant acts as a detergent upon sordid ulcers. 



CHAP. 31. BOTBYS, AMBBOSIA, OB ABTEMTSIA : ONE BEMEDY. 



Botrys 7 is a shrublike plant, which has small yellow 

 branches, with the seed growing all round them, and leaves 

 resembling 8 those of endive. It is found upon the banks of 

 running streams, and is used for the cure of hardness of 

 breathing. The people of Cappadocia call this plant " am- 

 brosia," others again, " artemisia." 



CHAP. 32. THE BBABYLA I ONE BEMEDY. 



The brabyla 9 is possessed of astringent properties like those 

 of the quince, but beyond this, authors give no particulars 

 relative to it. 



CHAP. 33. BBYON MABITIMUM : FIVE BEMEDIES. 



Sea bryon 10 is a plant, no doubt, 11 with leaves like those of 



4 The Ballota nigra of Linnaeus, the Fetid ballota, or Stinking black 

 horehound ; see B. xx. c. 89. 



5 He is in error here, as the word " raelamprasion " means " black 

 horehound.'* " Black leek " would be " melamprason." 



6 " Horehound," properly. The Ballota is of a stimulating nature, and 

 contains a considerable quantity of essential oil. 



7 The Chenopodium botrys of Linnaeus, Cut-leaved goose foot, or oak 

 of Jerusalem. See B. xxv. c. 36, and c. 11 of this Book. 



8 There is no such resemblance. The name " botrys " was given to 

 the plant from the little clusters formed by the blossoms. 



9 Identified by Fee with the Prunus domestica of Linnaeus, var. /?, or 

 Damascena, the Damascene plum or damson. Desfontaines considers it 

 to he the Prunus instititia, the Bullace plum. Holland mentions in a Note, 

 " Bullois, skegs, or such like wild plums." 



10 The Ulva lactuca of Linnaeus, Lettuce laver ; see B. xiii. c. 49, B. 

 xxiv. c. 17, and B. xxxii. c. 36. 



11 He probably says this in reference to the opinion expressed by Theo- 



