ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vin. 12-ix. i 



there grows under ground the thmg called malina- 

 thalle ^ ; this is round in shape and as large as a medlar, 

 but has no stone and no bark. It sends out leaves 

 like those of galingale. These the people of the 

 country collect and boil in beer made from barley, 

 and they become extremely sweet, and all men use 

 them as sweetmeats. 



All the things that grow in such places may be 

 eaten by oxen and sheep, but there is one kind of 

 plant "^ which grows in the lakes and marshes which is 

 specially good for food : they graze their cattle on it 

 when it is green, and also dry it and give it in the 

 winter to the oxen after their work ; and these keep 

 in good condition when they have no other ^ kind 

 of food. 



There is also another plant * which comes up of its 

 own accord among the corn ; this, when the harvest 

 is cleared, they crush slightly^ and lay during the 

 winter on ^ moist ground ; when it shoots, they cut 

 and dry it and give this also to the cattle and horses 

 and beasts of burden with the fruit which forms on 

 it. The fruit in size is as large as sesame, but round 

 and green in colour, and exceedingly good. Such 



one might take to be specially remarkable plants of 

 Egypt. 



IX. Every river seems to bear some peculiar plant, 

 just as does each part of the dryland. *" For not even 

 the water-chestnut grows in all rivers nor everywhere, 

 bat only in marshy rivers, and only in those whose 

 depth is not more or not much more than five cubits, 



* Corchorxis triloctilaris. See Index App. (20). 



» G seems to have read {nro-rriffoLvrei (lemter pinsentes) ; 

 vTOTT-fiffcwTfs W. with Ald.H. 



* els conj. W. ; tijv Aid. 



7 Plin. 21. 98 ; Diosc. 4. 15. 



357 



