ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. x. 2-4 



of Egj^jt, in Thesprotia, and in other lakes). When 

 it grows under water, it is smaller.^ Such is the 

 goat-willow. 



The water-lily ^ is in shape like the poppy.^ For 

 the top of it has this character, being shaped like 

 the pomegranate flower,^ but it is longer in propor- 

 tion to the size of the plant. Its size in fact as a 

 whole is that of an apple ; but it is not bare, having 

 round it white membranes,^ and attached to these 

 on the outside are grass-green ' leaves,' "^ like those 

 of roses when they are still in bud, and of these 

 there are four ; when it is opened it shews its seeds, 

 which are red ; in shape however they are not like 

 pomegranate" seeds, but round small and not 

 much longer than millet seeds ; the taste is insipid, 

 like that of wheat-grains. It ripens in summer and 

 has a long stalk. The flower is like a rose-bud, 

 but larger, almost twice as large. Now this and the 

 leaf float on the water : but later, when the bloom is 

 over and the fruit-case * has formed, they say that it 

 sinks deeper into the water, and finally reaches the 

 bottom and sheds its fruit. 



Of the plants of the lake they say that water-lily 

 sedge and phleos bear fruit, and that that of the 

 sedge is black, and in size like that of the water-lily. 

 The fruit of phleos is what is called the ' plume,' ° 



" i.(. sepals. 



^ (>6ais conj. Bod. from Nic. Ther. S87 and Schol. ; biCais 

 UMVAldH. 



* ■rfpiKapriov conj. W. ; KaraKapwiov MSS. Kara- probably 

 due to KaruKKiveaOai. 



' cf. Diosc. 3. 118. at>07i\rjv, sc. Kafrrhv elpai. But Sch. 

 mggests that further description of the fruit has dropped 

 ijut, and that the clause ^ . . . Kovlas does not refer to the 

 !ruit. 



363 



