BOOK XXVII. Lxxxix. II2-XCI. 114 



LXXXIX. Oxys has three leaves. It is given for a Oiys. 

 relaxed stomach, and is also eaten by sufFerers from 

 intestinal hernia. 



XC. Polyanthemum, called by some batrachion, Pohjanthe- 

 with its caustic property clears away scars and brings """"" 

 back a healthy colour.* It also eftaces psoriasis. 



XCI. Polvffonum is the name ffiven bv the Greeks Poiygomm, 



. fouT kiiids 



to the plant we Romans call sanguinaria. It does not 

 rise from the ground, has leaves Uke those of rue, 

 and resembles grass.* Its juice poured into the 

 nostrils checks epistaxis, and taken with wine stays 

 haemorrhage in any part of the body and the spitting 

 of blood. Those who hold that there are several 

 kinds of polygonum w ould have this to be considered 

 the male plant, and to be so named because of the 

 great number of its seeds,<^ or from its being a shrub 

 with close-packed branches. Some call it poiygona- 

 ton from its many joints, others thahxttias or carcino- 

 thron or clema, many myrtopetalum. There are 

 also to be found some who say that this kind is the 

 female, and that the male is larger, less dark, with 

 the joints closer together, and swelHng with seed 

 under all the leaves. However this may be, the pro- 

 perty of these plants is to be astringent '^ and to cool. 

 Their seed relaxes the bowels, and taken in larger 

 doses is diuretic ; it checks catarrhs, and if these 

 have not occui-red it is of no usc^ The leaves are 

 appHed to a heated stomach, and also used to make 

 Hniment for a painful bladder and for erysipelas. 

 The juice is also dropped into purulent ears and 

 painful eyes. It used also to be given by itself in 



' /.e., the seed checks catarrhs, but is not a preventive. 

 There is nothing of this in Dioscorides, who has merely: 

 apjxol^fi rols Kara. KOiXiav pey/naai. 



459 



