BOOK XII. Lvi. 126 Lix. 129 



L\T. Svria also supplies ffalbanum," which also ^f^«" *«ni- 

 grows on Mount Amanus ; it comes trom a kmd 

 of fennel which they call stagonitis, like the resin 

 of the same name. The kind of galbanum most 

 esteemed is cartilaginous, clear Hke hammonia- 

 cum and free from all woody substance. Even so 

 it is adulterated with beans or with sacopenium.* 

 Pure galbanum, if burnt, drives away snakes with 

 its smell. It is sold at 5 denarii a pound. LVII. 

 Pure galbanum is only useful for medicinal purposes ; 

 but Syria produces all-heal which is used for un- 

 guents as well. It also grows at Psophis in Arcadia 

 and round the spring of Erymanthus, and in Africa 

 and in Macedonia also. It has a pecuHar stalk 

 7J feet long; this throws out first four leaves and 

 then six lying on the ground, which are very large 

 and of a round shape, but the leaves on the top of 

 the plant are like those of the oHve ; the seed hangs 

 in tufts Hke that of the fennel. The juice is got by 

 means of incisions made in the stalk at harvest time 

 and at the root in autumn. It is valued for white- 

 ness when it coagulates, the next grade being 

 assigned to juice of a pale colour, while the black 

 is held of no value. The price of the best quaHty 

 is two denarii a pound. L\TII. From this fennel 

 the one caHed bear's-wort fennel differs only in the 

 ieaf, which is smaUer, and has divisions Hke a 

 plane-leaf. It only grows in shady places. Its 

 seed, bearing the same name, resembles that of 

 hart-wort; it is only useful for medicine. LIX. 

 Syria also suppHes the malobathnim,'^ a tree with a 

 folded leaf, the colour of a leaf that has dried up ; 

 from it oil is pressed to use for unguents, Egypt 

 also producing it in stiH greater quantity. But the 



voL. rv. r» ^9 



