ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. ix. 1-3 



same kind, 1 since it is by their use that the different 

 characters are recognised. 2 



The Idaean kind is, as we have said, of straighter 3 

 and stouter growth, and moreover the tree is 

 altogether more full of pitch, and its pitch is blacker 

 sweeter thinner and more fragrant 4 when it is 

 fresh ; though, when it is boiled, it turns out 

 inferior, 5 because it contains so much watery matter. 

 However it appears that the kinds which these 

 people distinguish by special names are distinguished 

 by others merely as 'male' and ( female.' The 

 people of Macedonia say that there is also a kind of 

 fir which bears no fruit whatever, in which the 

 'male' 6 (Aleppo pine) is shorter and has harder 

 leaves, while the ' female ' (Corsican pine) is taller 

 and has glistening delicate leaves which are more 

 pendent. Moreover the timber of the ' male ' kind 

 has much heart-wood, 7 is tough, and warps in joinery 

 work, while that of the ' female ' is easy to work, 

 does not warp, 8 and is softer. 



This distinction between ( male ' and ' female ' 

 may, according to the woodmen, be said to be common 

 to all trees. Any wood of a ' male ' tree, when one 

 comes to cut it with the axe, gives shorter lengths, 

 is more twisted, harder to work, and darker in 

 colour ; while the ' female ' gives better lengths. 

 For it is the ' female ' fir which contains what is 

 called the aigis 9 ; this is the heart of the tree ; the 



6e Kal y\VKVTepa xal Xeirrorepa Kal euwSeerrepa Aid. \eirTorepa, 

 ? less viscous. 



6 cf. 9. 2. 5 ; Plin. 16. 60. 6 Plin. 16. 47. 



7 irepi/j.rjrpa conj. R. Const. : SO Mold, explains ; irpifj.r)rpia 

 UMV. cf. 3. 9. 6. 



8 a<TTpa#7J conj. R. Const.; 6t<rrpa$7j Aid. 



9 aiVSa : cf. 5. 1. 9 ; Plin. 16. 187. 



213 



