ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, VI. in. 5~iv. i 



colour. We have also the inconsistent statement 

 that sheep are not purged by eating the leaves ; for 

 they say that in spring and in winter they are driven 

 into the hill-country, where l they feed on this and 

 on another plant 2 which is like southernwood ; both 

 these plants appear to be heating and not to cause 

 purging, but, on the contrary, to have a drying effect 

 and promote digestion. It is also said that, if a sheep 

 which is sick or in bad condition comes to that 

 district, it is quickly cured or else dies, but usually it 

 recovers. Which of these accounts is true is matter 

 for enquiry. 



3 The plant called magydaris is distinct from sil- 

 phium, being of later growth and less pungent, 

 and it does not produce the characteristic juice ; 

 experts can also easily distinguish it by its appear- 

 ance. It grows in Syria and not in Cyrene, and they 

 say that it is also abundant on Mount Parnassus, and 

 some call it silphium. Whether however, like sil- 

 phium, it avoids cultivated ground is matter for 

 enquiry, as also whether it has any resemblance or 

 likeness in leaf and stalk, and, in general, whether 

 it produces a juice. In these examples we may 

 consider the class of ferula-like plants [and, in 

 general, that of spinous plants. 4 ] 



Of spinous under-shrubs and their differences. 



IV. Taking next the class of spinous plants (for 

 we must next speak of them), we have already dis- 

 tinguished 5 those which are altogether spinous and 

 those which have spinous leaves, and now we must 



4 teal . . . aKavOutirj. These words occur only in U: they 

 cannot belong here. Note that rb /iev aKavdwSes '6\us occurs 

 just below. 6 6. 1. 3. 



21 



