BOOK XVI. XXXVI. 87-xxxviii. 90 



XXXVI. An exceptionally remarkable thing occurs PeaUiaHties 

 in the case of the elm, Hme, oHve, white poplar and "^^^^'^^^' 

 willow : after midsummer their leaves turn right 

 round, and no other indication shows with greater 

 certainty that the season is finished. Also their leaves 

 contain in themselves a variation that is common to 

 all fohage : the under surface, towards the ground, 

 is of a bright grass-green colour, and on the same side 

 they are comparatively smooth, while on their upper 

 part they have sinews and hard skin and articulations, 

 but creases underneath hke the human hand. The 

 leaves of the ohve are whiter and not so smooth on 

 the upper side, and ivy-leaves the same. But the 

 leaves of all trees open out every day towards the 

 sun, as if intending their under side to be warmed. 

 The uppcr side of all leaves has however small an 

 amount of down upon it, which in some countries 

 serves for wool. 



XXX\TI. We have said that in the east palm- Paim-ieoves 

 leaves are used for making strong ropes, and that-^^°^ 

 these are made specially serviceable for use in ^ii- so. 

 water. Indeed with us also the leiives are plucked 

 from the palms after harvest, the better ones being 

 those that have no divisions in them, and are put to 

 dry indoors for a period of four days and then spread 

 out in the sun, being left out at night as well, until 

 they dry a bright white colour, and afterwards they 

 are spht for use in manufacture. 



XXXVIII. The fig, vine and plane have very broad Tariaus 

 leaves and the myrtle,pomegranate and ohve narrow andSrange 

 ones ; those of the pine and cedar are hke hairs, those "^^* »/ 

 of the holly and one kind of holm-oak prickly — indeed 

 the juniper has a spine instead of a leaf. The leaves 

 of the cypress and tamarisk are fleshy, those of the 



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