ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, VI. 11. 2-4 



leaf, somewhat like that of the olive ; the leaf of 

 the black is like that of the tamarisk l and fleshy ; 

 the white grows more on the ground and is scented, 

 while the black is scentless. In both the root, which 

 runs deep, is large (and the branches which divide at 

 the ground level are numerous thick and woody), 

 and the root is also very woody. 2 It is also very 

 tough, wherefore it is used for binding and to put 3 

 round things, like the withy. It grows and flowers 

 after the autumnal equinox, and remains in flower a 

 long time. 



4 Of marjoram the black form is barren, the white 

 bears fruit. 5 There is a black and a white thyme, 

 and it flowers very freely : it is in bloom about the 

 summer solstice. It is from this flower that the bee 

 gets the honey, and by it 6 beekeepers say that it is 

 made known whether they have a good yield of 

 honey or not ; for, if the thyme flowers abundantly, 7 

 they have a good yield, but the bloom is injured or 

 even destroyed if it is rained upon. 



Savory, and still more marjoram, has a conspicuous 

 fruitful seed, but in thyme it is riot easy to find, 

 being somehow mixed up with the flower ; for men 

 sow the flower and plants come up from it. 8 This 

 plant is sought and obtained by those in Athens who 

 wish to export such herbs. But it has a peculiarity 

 as compared both with similar plants and with most 

 others, namely the kind of region which it affects 9 ; 

 they say that it can not be grown or become 



6 Plin. 21. 56 and 154. 



6 TOVTW conj. Sch.; rovro Aid. 



7 K<H\US mBod.; &\\us UMVAld H. 



8 Plin. 21. 57. 



9 rb Kara TOVS T^TTOVS conj. W. j Kal Kara rovs r. Aid.; ical 

 Kara rdirovs P. 



