ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, VII. xv. 2-4 



Such peculiarities are common in other plants also ; 

 thus l it is the nature of the house-leek to remain 

 always moist and green, its leaf being fleshy smooth 

 and oblong. It grows on flat shores, 2 on the 3 earthy 

 tops of walls, and especially on tiled roofs, when 

 there is on them a sandy accumulation of earth. 



Possibly one might mention many other eccen- 

 tricities. But, as has been repeatedly said, we must 

 only observe the peculiarities and differences which 

 one plant has as compared with others. Some plants 

 are found in several forms which have almost 4 the 

 same name, for instance the lotos ; for of this there 

 are many forms differing in leaves stems flowers and 

 fruit, including the plant called melilotos 5 ; there are 

 also forms differing in the virtues for which 6 they 

 are used as food, and again in their fondness for 

 different localities. So too is it with many other 

 plants. 



Others are found in fewer forms, as strykhnos? 

 which is a general name covering plants that are 

 quite distinct ; one is edible and like a cultivated 

 plant, having a berry-like fruit, and there are two 

 others, 8 of which the one is said to induce sleep, 

 the other to cause madness, or, if it is administered 

 in a larger dose, death. The same thing may be 

 observed in other plants which are widely dif- 

 ferent. Now about the other herbaceous plants 

 enough has been said ; but concerning corn and 

 corn-like plants we must speak next ; for this 

 subject still lies before us. 



6 8e TT? conj. Sch. ; Sirred UM ; Sirra?* Aid. 



7 cf. 7. 7. 2 ; Plin. 21. 177-179 ; Diosc. 4. 70-73 ; Index. 



8 In 9. 11. 5 these two plants are said to be ffuv<t>vvfj.oi, i.e. 

 different forms of the same plant, whereas the 'edible' 

 (TTpvxvos is the same only in name (dnuw^ta). cf. 9. 12. 5. 



? 39 



