ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IX. x. 1-4 



creeps on the ground ; the plant has numerous roots,, 

 to wit, the slender roots which are serviceable. 



Also they say that the black is fatal to horses oxen 

 and pigs,, wherefore none of these animals eat it ; 

 while the white is eaten by sheep, and from this 

 circumstance the virtue of the plant was first 

 observed, since it purges them ; it is at its prime 

 in autumn, and past its prime when spring comes. 

 However the people of Mount Oeta gather it for the 

 meetings 1 of the Amphictyons ; for it grows there 

 in greatest abundance and best, though at only one 

 place in the district of Oeta, namely about Pyra. 



(The seed of rupture-wort is mixed with the 

 potion given to promote easy vomiting ; this plant 

 is a small herb). 



The black kind of hellebore grows everywhere ; 

 it is found in Boeotia, in Euboea and in many other 

 places ; but best is that from Mount Helicon, which 

 mountain is in general rich in medicinal herbs. The 

 white occurs in few places ; the best and that which 

 is most used comes from one of four places, Oeta, 2 

 Pontus, Elea, and Malea. 3 They say that that of 

 Elea grows in the vineyards and makes the wine so 

 diuretic that those who drink it become quite 

 emaciated. 



But best of all these and better than that found 

 anywhere else is that of Mount Oeta, while that of 

 Parnassus and that of Aetolia (for the plant is 

 common in these parts too and men buy and sell it, 

 not knowing * the difference) are tough and ex- 



2 6 before Olralos add. Sch. 



3 Ma\ia>T7js conj, Hahnemann, c/. Strabo 9. 3. 3 ; McKrtrctAi- 

 WTTJS Aid. Plin. I.e. gives Parnassus as the fourth locality: 

 c/- 4. 



4 The words o\>x foe may have arisen from OVK et'SJres. 



367 



