BOOK XXV. xcix. 156-C1. 159 



gardens and crops of barley. Used as ointment for 

 the eyes it improves the vision and, like smoke, pro- 

 duces tears, and to this fact it owes its name." It 

 also prevents eyelashes that have been pulled out 

 from growing again. 



C. Acoron has the leaves of the iris, only narroM^er Acoronfor 

 and with a longer foot-stalk ; it has dark roots and "'* ''^^^' ^^'' 

 less veined, though in other respects these too are 

 Hke those of the iris, pungent to the taste, with a not 

 unpleasant smell, and carminative. The best come 

 from "f Daspetos f ^' in Galatia, then come Cretan roots, 

 but they are found most abundantly in Colchis near 

 the river Phasis and wherever there are watery 

 districts. Fresh roots have a stronger smell than 

 stale, and the Cretan are paler than those of Pontus. 

 They, hke the iris, are dried in the shade in sHces a 

 finger in length. There are to be found those who 

 give the name of acoron to the root of oxymyrsine, and 

 for this reason some prefer to call this plant acorion. 

 It has powerful properties as a calorific and discuti- 

 ent, is good for cataract and dimness of the eyes, 

 and its juice is taken internally for snake bites. 



CI. The cotyledon is a tiny plant on a tender Cutyiedonjo. 

 Httle stem, with a very small fleshy leaf, which is ^^^ ""^^' 

 concave Hke the hip joint. It grows in maritime and 

 rocky places, fresh green <^ in colour, and with a root 

 that is oval Hke an oHve. The juice is medicine 

 for the eyes. There is another kind of cotyledon 

 with dirty-green leaves, which are broader and closer 

 together than those of the other, spread round the 

 root as though it were an eye '^ ; the taste is very 



** Perhaps here a bud, with the sepals surrounding it. But 

 Littre has : " entouree comme roeil Test de rorbite." 



249 



