BOOK XXVII. XVII. 34-xx. 37 



a fern's, whitish and hairy." There is no stem, flower 

 or seed. It grows on rocks and on shaded, damp walls, 

 the most approved kind in Crete. A decoction of 

 its leaves in vinegar, taken as a draught for thirty 

 days,* is said to reduce the spleen, the leaves being 

 also apphed locally. They relieve too hiccoughs. 

 This plant, as it causes barrenness, must not be given 

 to women. 



XVIII. Asclepias has leaves like those of ivy, long Asdepias. 

 branches, numerous roots that are slender and 

 scented, stinking flowers, and a hatchet-shaped seed. 



It grows on hills. The roots cure coHc and are 

 used for snake bite ; they are not only taken in drink 

 but also apphed locally. 



XIX. Aster is called by some bubonion, because Aster. 

 it is a sovereign remedy for affections of the groin.*^ 



Its stem has two or three oblong leaves, and on the 

 top are Uttle heads with rays Hke stars. In drink it is 

 also taken for snake bites. But as medicine for the 

 groin it is enjoined to be plucked with the left 

 hand, and to be tied as an amulet next the girdle. 

 As an amulet it is also good for sciatica. 



XX. Ascyron and ascyroides are Hke one another Ascywn. 

 and also Hke hypericon, but what is called ascyroides 



has larger branches, which are Hke fennel-giant, 

 red<^ . . . and with small yellow heads. The seed, in 

 Httle cups, is very small, black, and resinous. The 

 hairy tufts when crushed cause stains Hke blood, and 



androsaemon (III 156) he says : ne<f>oi.viyixevos to. papSia. So 

 possibly some word meaning " altogether " may be right. 

 Professor Andrews writes : " It looks as if he were being more 

 specific than Dioscorides, locahsing the staining substance in 

 the filament, the hair-hke part of the stamen that supports 

 the anther." 



411 



