ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xi. i2-xn. i 



resembles that of galingale phleos thryon 1 and sedge ; 

 but this needs 2 further enquiry. 



There is also a kind of reed (bush-grass) which 

 grows on land, and which is not erect, but sends out 

 its stem over the ground, like the dog's-tooth grass, 

 and so makes its growth. The 'male' reed is solid : 

 some call it eiletias 3 



The Indian reed (bamboo) is very distinct, and 

 as it were a totally different kind ; the ' male ' is 

 solid and the ' female' hollow (for in this kind too 

 they distinguish a 'male' and a 'female' form); a 

 number of reeds of this kind grow from one base and 

 they do not form a bush ; the leaf is not long, but 

 resembles the willow leaf ; these reeds are of great 

 size and of good substance, so that they are used for 

 javelins. They grow by the river Akesines. 4 All 

 reeds are tenacious of life, and, if cut or burnt down, 

 grow up again more vigorously ; also their roots are 

 stout and numerous, so that the plant is hard to 

 destroy. The root is jointed, like that of the dog's- 

 tooth grass, but this is not equally so in all kinds. 

 However let this suffice for an account of reeds. 



Of rushes. 



XII. It remains to speak of the rush, 5 as though 

 it belonged to this class of plants, inasmuch as we 

 must reckon this also among water plants. Of this 

 there are three kinds 6 as some distinguish, the 

 'sharp' rush, which is barren and is called the 

 'male'; the 'fruiting' kind which we call the 'black- 



3 Sch. marks a lacuna ; there is nothing to correspond to 

 6 /j.ev &ppr)t>. 4 Chenab. 



5 cf. 1. 5. 3 ; 1. 8. 1 ; Plin. 21. 112-115 ; Diosc. 4. 52. 



6 fc>ee Index. 



379 



