in.] OF THE ANCIENTS. 93 



a smaller one, found on walls and rocks, with 

 small round pointed leaves, and pale-green flowers ; 

 a third kind, the one called by some avSpdx^) 

 and by others TrjXtyiov, with small, thicker, and 

 rough leaves. 



Pliny m also describes two kinds of Aizoum. The 

 larger of these grows on the roofs of houses, exceeds 

 a cubit in height, and is somewhat thicker than the 

 thumb ; at the extremity bearing leaves which are 

 in shape like a tongue, fleshy, full of juice, and 

 about as broad as a person's thumb. Some are 

 bent downwards to the ground, whilst others stand 

 upright, in their outline resembling an eye in shape. 

 Hence the name J3uphthalmus sometimes applied to 

 it. The smaller kind grows upon walls, old rubbish, 

 and tiled roofs. Its leaves are narrow, pointed, 

 and juicy, the stem a palm in height. 



It is evident that Pliny and Dioscorides refer to 

 the same plant, and as the Sempervivum arboreum 

 does not exist in Italy, and is rare even in Greece, 

 the common Houseleek was the plant commonly in- 

 tended under the name 'Ae/^ooi/ TO fteya, although 

 it is quite possible that the former may have been 

 sometimes confounded with it. 



MYRTUS. 



The Myrtle, so luxuriant in Itaty, and capable of 

 cultivation even in our northern regions, seems to 

 have been known from the earliest times. In fact, 

 this plant, as well as the Pistachio-nut, have both 



- Lib. xxv. c. 102. 



