BOOK XXVII. XI. 28-xiv. 31 



slender," about three spans high, with a root one span 

 less, and with leaves around the bottom of the stem 

 resembling those of rue. The seed is on the twigs, 

 hanging down in elusters, and has a vinous smell; 

 and so the plant is called botrys ^ by some, although 

 others call it artemisia. The Cappadocians use it for 

 chaplets. In medicine it is used as a discutient. 



XII. Anonis, which some prefer to call ononis, Anonis. 

 is branchy, and Hke fenugreek, except that it is 

 more bushy and more hairy. It has an agreeable 

 smell, and becomes prickly after spring. Preserved 



in bi-ine it is also used as food, while the fresh plant 

 cauterizes the edges of ulcers. The root is boiled 

 down in vinegar and water for tooth-ache, and taken 

 in drink with honey It also expels stone from the 

 bladder. For epilepsy it is given in oxymel boiled 

 down to one half. 



XIII. Anagyros, which some call acopon, is bushy, Anagyros. 

 with a strong smell and a flower Hke that of cabbage. 



The seed grows in Httle horn-Hke pods of some 

 length ; it is kidney-shaped and becomes hard 

 during the harvests. The leaves are placed on 

 gatherings, and tied as an amulet on women in 

 difficult labour, care being taken to remove them 

 immediately after deHvery. But if a dead foetus 

 does not come away, or if the after-birth or men- 

 struation is retarded, the leaves are taken in raisin- 

 wine, a dose being a drachma. Similar doses are 

 given for asthma, and in old wine the leaves are given 

 for the bites of poisonous spiders. The root is em- 

 ployed to disperse or mature boils ; the seed chewed 

 acts as an emetic. 



XIV. Anonymus has found a name by not finding Anonymus. 

 one. It is imported from Scythia. Hicesius, a 



407 



