ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, VI. vm. 3-5 



the Phrygian sweet marjoram ] ; also the plant called 

 ' regret,' 2 of which there are two kinds, one with a 

 flower like that of larkspur, the other not coloured 

 but white, 3 which is used at funerals ; and this one 

 lasts longer. The iris also blooms in summer, and 

 the plant called soap-wort, which has a beautiful 

 flawer but is scentless. In autumn bloom the other 

 kind of narcissus, 4 the crocus, both the scentless 

 mountain form and the cultivated one (saffron - 

 crocus) ; for these bloom directly the first rains 

 come. The fruit 5 of the cotoneaster and the flower 

 of the smilax, both of them wild plants, are also 

 used in garlands. 



Such are the seasons at which each appears ; and, 

 to speak generally, there is no interval of time nor 

 flowerless period, but even winter produces flowers, 

 for all that it seems to be unproductive by reason of 

 the cold, since the autumn flowers continue into 

 winter, and to a much greater extent if the season 

 be mild. For all things, 6 one may say, or at least 

 most of them, extend beyond their proper season, 

 and all the more if the place be sunny ; so that there 

 is a continuous succession. These then are the 

 periods and seasons at which the various flowers are 

 produced. 



7 The life of the gilliflower is at most three years ; 

 as it ages it degenerates and produces paler flowers. 8 

 A rose-bush lives five years, after which its prime 9 

 is past, unless it is pruned by burning 10 ; with this 

 plant too the flowers become inferior as it ages. 

 Position and a suitable climate contribute most to 



6 KapTry : PHn. l,c. apparently read &vQet. 



6 iravr $ conj. St.; tt6.vrt] Ald.H. 7 Plin. 21. 69. 



8 foconj. St.; acl AW. 



9 fcrjuftr cofij, Seal; irV- Aid. 10 of. 6. 6. 6. 



53 



