BOOK XXVII. xcii. 118-XCIV. 120 



boil it down until the water becomes sweet, pour 

 this ofF, pound the root, and work it into lozenges, 

 which they dry in the sun and use afterwards for sores 

 on the head and all other ailments that call for a deter- 

 gent. Moreover, they give in wine a three-finger 

 pinch for cough, and an electuary made of it for 

 pleurisy or pneumonia. They also give it to be taken 

 in wine for sciatica, for colic, and as an emmenagogue. 



XCIII. Peplis, called by some syce, by others PepHs. 

 meconion or mecon aphrodes, grows into a shrub 

 from one slender root, and has leaves Hke those of 

 rue but a Httle broader. Under the leaves is a round 

 seed, smaller than that of the white poppy. It is 

 generally gathered among vines at harvest time, and 

 is dried with its seed after a vessel has been placed 

 beneath to catch this. Taken in drink it relaxes the 

 bowels, bringing away bile and phlegm. A moderate 

 dose is an acetabuhim in three heminae of hydromel. 

 It is sprinkled over foods and rehshes to loosen the 

 bowels. 



XCIV. Periclymenon too is a plant which grows Periciy- 

 into a shrub, having after an interval two leaves '"*"""• 

 which are whitish and soft. And at the top among 

 the leaves is a seed which is hai*d, and difRcult to 

 pluck.* The plant grows in cultivated fields and in 

 hedges, cUmbing round supports of any kind. Its 

 seed is dried in the shade, pounded, and worked up 



this passage, it seems to me that Pliny in condensing probably 

 omitted a description of the flower-head after fruticat. There 

 is one odd feature of the genus Lonicera. Quite a few of the 

 species have a flower growing on an axillary bracted peduncle. 

 A httle below the flower-head {ex intervaUo) there are two pairs 

 of these bracts, so conjoined that each seems to be a single 

 leaf. This is a fairly distinctive feature, one hkely to be noted 

 for purposes of recognition." (A.C.A.) 



463 



