ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vi. 10-11 



1 There is another kind which is said to be 

 abundant in Ethiopia, called the doum-palm 2 ; this 

 is a shrubby tree, not having a single stem but 

 several, which sometimes are joined together up to 

 a certain point 3 ; and the leaf-stalks are not long, 4 

 only the length of a cubit, but they are plain, 5 and 

 the leafage is borne only at the tip. The leaf is 

 broad and, as it were, made up of at least 6 two 

 leaflets. This tree is fair to look upon, and its fruit 

 in shape size and flavour differs from the date, 

 being rounder larger and pleasanter to the taste, 

 though not so luscious. It ripens in three years, so 

 that there is always fruit on the tree, as the new 

 fruit overtakes that of last year. And they make 

 bread out of it. These reports then call for 

 enquiry. 



7 The dwarf-palm, as it is called, is a distinct kind, 

 having nothing but its name 8 in common with other 

 palms. For if the head is removed, it survives, 

 and, if it is cut down, it shoots again from the 

 roots. It differs too in the fruit and leaves ; for 

 the leaf is broad and flexible, and so they weave 

 their baskets and mats out of it. It is common in 

 Crete and still more so in Sicily. 3 However in 

 these matters we have said more than our purpose 

 required. 



U; ffvvrjpTrifj.fi'a (J-^XP' TW&S ' <r ' Aid.; ffvvrjpTTilJitvas 



rtfbs elei' MV. 

 * (j.\v ins. W. after Sell. (omitted above). 

 6 i.e. without leaflets, except at the tip. 

 6 t\axlffTotv Bas. ; eAox^rwv U. cf. Arist. Elh. N. 5. 3. 3, 



Plin. 13. 39. 8 For b^wp-ov cf. 9. 10. 1 n. 



9 A dwarf palm is now abundant at Selinunte: cf. Verg. 

 A en. 3. 705, palmosa Sdinua. 



143 



