ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, VI. i. 2-3 



also pot-herbs, such as cabbage rue and others 

 like them. Of these it is perhaps more appropriate 

 to speak under their proper designation, that is, 

 when we come to make mention of coronary plants 

 and pot-herbs. Now let us first speak of the 

 wild kinds. Of these are several classes and sub- 

 divisions, which we must distinguish by the char- 

 acteristics of each sub-division as well as by those of 

 each class taken as a whole. 1 



The most important difference distinguishing class 

 from class which one could find is that between the 

 spineless and the spinous kinds. Again under each 

 of these two heads there are many differences 

 distinguishing kinds and forms, of which we must 

 endeavour to speak severally. 



2 Of spinous kinds some just consist of spines, as 

 asparagus and skorpios ; for these have no leaves 

 except their spines. Then there are the spinous- 

 leaved plants, as thistle eryngo safflower ; these and 

 the like have their spines on the leaves, whence 

 their name. Others again have leaves as well as 

 their spines, as rest-harrow caltrop and pheos? which 

 some call stoibe. Caltrop is also 4 spinous-fruited, 

 having spines on the fruit-vessel. Wherefore this 

 peculiarity marks it off from almost all other plants ; 

 though many trees and shrubs have spines on the 

 shoots, as wild pear pomegranate Christ's thorn 

 bramble rose caper. Such 5 are the general dis- 

 tinctions which may be made among spinous plants. 



'6\ois e?8e<n ; and below ysvwv and elSwv both refer to the 

 smaller divisions called /uep? above. 2 Plin. 21. 91. 



8 & <peus t)v conj. Sch.; 6 </>Aeo>s ft Ald.H. ; Kal b 8rj rives Ka\. 

 <TT. P. 2 . cf. 6. 5. 1 and Index. 



4 Kal irepiicapTra.KavOos conj. Sell.; /cat i) irepiKapiria, 

 KO.VQOV UMVAld. cf. 6. 5. 3. 6 olv add. Scb. 



