BOOK XXV. ci. 159-C111. 162 



harsh, the stem longer than that of the other kind 

 but very slender. It is used for the same purposes 

 as the iris. 



CII. Of the aizoiim there are two kinds, the Aizoumf< 

 larger of vvhich is planted in earthen pots, and is"*®*^^*' 

 sometimes called buphthalmos," zoophthalmos,* 

 stergethron '^ (because it is useful for love-philtres), j 



hypogeson '^ (for it generally grows under eaves), | 



although some prefer to call it ambrosia ^ or amerim- 

 non/; Italians call it great sedum, or eye, or Httle 

 finger. The other kind is rather small, and is called 

 erithales,? trithales ^* (because it flowers three times), 

 erysithales,* isoetes,^ sedum by Italians, and both are 

 called aizoiim,because they are always green, or sem- 

 pervivum.* The greater aizoiim grows to even more 

 than a cubit in height and is thicker than a thumb. At 

 the point the leaves are Hke a tongue, fleshy, rich with 

 copious juice, as broad as a thumb, some bent to the 

 ground and others upright, so that the circle of them 

 is Hke an eye in shape. The smaller aizotim grows 

 on walls, ruins, and roof-tiles ; it is bushy from the 

 root and leafy to the top, with nai-row, pointed and 

 juicy leaves, and a stem a span high. The root is 

 not used. 



CIII. ResembHng this is a plant that the Greeks AndraMi 

 call \vild andrachle, the ItaHans inlecebra. It has {^^"'^ '^' 

 very small leaves, but broader than those of 

 aizoiim, and the head is shorter It grows in rocky . 



districts and is gathered for food. All these have ] 



the same properties ; they are cooHng and astrin- 



" Luxuriant blossom. * Thrice-blossoming. j 



' Reddish blossom. 1 



•* Possibly " equal all the year." 

 * Ever-flourishing. 



