ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. vi. 9-11 



ground ^ would be a root, and so would the tiniffle, 

 the plant which 2 some call puff-ball, the iiingon, and 

 all other underground plants. Whereas none of these 

 is a root ; for we must base our definition on natural 

 function and not on position. 



However it rasLj be that this is a true account and 

 yet that such things are roots no less ; but in that 

 case we distinguish two different kinds of root, one 

 being of this character ^ and the other of the other, 

 and the one* getting its nourishment from the 

 other ^ ; though the fleshy roots too themselves seem 

 to draw nourishment. At all events men invert ^ the 

 roots of cuckoo-pint before it shoots, and so they 

 become larger by being prevented from pushing' 

 through to make a shoot. For it is evident that the 

 nature of all such plants is to turn downwards for 

 choice ; for the stems and the upper parts generally 

 are short and weak, while the underground parts 

 are large numerous and strong, and that, not only in 

 the instances given, but in reeds dog's-tooth grass 

 and in general in all plants of a reedy character and 

 those like them. Those too which resemble ferula ^ 

 have large fleshy roots. 



^Many herbaceous plants likewise have such roots, 

 as colchicum '^^ crocus and the plant called ' par- 

 tridge-plant ' ; for this too has thick roots which are 

 more numerous than its leaves. ^^ (It is called the 

 ' partridge-plant ' because partridges roll in it and 

 grub it up.) So too with the plant called in Egjpt 



^ arpi(povai conj. Sch.; Tp4<povffi MVAld.; cf. 7. 12. 2. 



" 5iaj87jvat conj. W. ; Stadeivai UMV. 



** i.e. have a hollow stem (umbelliferous plants, more or 

 less). 9 Plin. 19. 99. 



^* o-TaA.a| UMV; o(rw<iAa| mBas. : perhaps corrupt. 

 " Plin. 21. 102. 



49 



