BOOK XXVI. XL. 67-xuv. 70 



honey wine or raisin wine, or with sesame. It 

 carries ofF phlegm and bile by stool. Sores in the 

 mouth it cures, but for corroding ulcers in the mouth 

 the leaf is eaten with honey. 



XLI. The third kind of tithymallus is called 

 parahus " or tithymalHs. It has a round leaf, a stem 

 a span high, reddish branches, and a white seed, 

 which is gathered when the grape begins to form, 

 and after being dried and pounded is taken in doses 

 of one acetabulum as a purgative. 



XLII. The fourth kind of tithymallus is called 

 hehoscopios.'' It has the leaves of purslane, and four 

 or five small branches standing out from the root, 

 which are reddish, half a foot high and full of juice. 

 This kind grows around towns, and has a white seed 

 of which pigeons are very fond. The name heUo- 

 scopios has been given to this plant because it moves 

 its heads round to follow the sun. Bile it carries 

 away by urine or stool when taken in doses of half 

 an acetabulum in oxymel. Its other uses are the 

 same as those of characias. 



XLIII. The fifth kind is called cyparittias, because 

 its leaves are hke those of cypress. It has a double 

 or triple stem, and grows in flat country. Its 

 properties are the same as those of hehoscopios or 

 characias. 



XLIV. The sixth kind is called by some platy- 

 phyllos, by others corymbites, and by others 

 amygdahtes from its hkeness to the almond tree. 

 Its leaves are broader than those of any other. It 

 kills fish. Root, leaves or juice are purgative if a 

 dose of four drachmae is taken in honey wine or 

 hydromel. It is specific <^ for carrying away morbid 

 fluids. 



315 



