THLOPHRASTUS of Eresus in Lesbos, 

 horn about ^70 BC, is the author of the 

 most important botanic-al works that have 

 survived from classical antiquity. He was 

 in turn the student, collaborator, and suc- 

 1 1 ss< >r ol' Aristotle. Like his predecessor he 

 \\as interested in all aspects of human 

 knowledge and experience, especially 

 natural science. His writings on plants 

 form a counterpart to Aristotle's zoologi- 

 cal works. 



In the En^um- into Plants Theophrastus 

 classifies and describes varieties covering 

 trees, plants of particular regions, shrubs, 

 herbaceous plants, and cereals; in the last 

 of the nine books he focuses on plant 

 juices and medicinal properties of herbs. 

 The Loeb edition is in two volumes; the 

 second contains two additional treatises: 

 On Odors and \\cathcr Signs. 



In De Causis Plantarum Theophrastus turns 

 to plant physiology. Books One and Two 

 are concerned with generation, sprouting, 

 llouerina and fruiting, and the effects of 

 climate. In Books Three and Four Theo- 

 phrastus studies cultivation and agricul- 

 tural methods. In Books Live and Six he 

 discuses plant breeding; diseases and 

 other cause's ol death; and distinctive 

 flavors and odors. 



Theophrastus' celebrated Characters, of a 

 (jiiite different nature, is the earliest kno\\ n 

 character \\riting and a striking reflection 



>l c ontemporar\ lite. 



