Chap. 36.] 
THE TEAGIOIT. 
201 
other respects, which is very similar to the partitions of the 
cells in the honeycomb, is much the same in all. Of those 
that have a kernel there are five kinds, the sweet, the acrid, 
the mixed, the acid, and the vinous: those of Samos and 
Egypt are distinguished into those with red, and those with 
white foliage.^^ The skin, while the fruit is yet sour, is held 
in high esteem for tanning leather. The flower of this tree is 
known by the name of balaustium," and is very useful for 
medicinal purposes ; also for dyeing cloths a colour which 
from it has derived its name.^° 
CHAP. 35. (20.) THE TREES OF ASIA AND GREECE ; THE EPIPACTIS, 
THE ERICA, THE CNIDIAN GRAIN OR THYMEL^A, PYROSACHNE, 
CNESTRON, OR CNEORON. 
In Asia and Greece are produced the following shrubs, the 
epipactis,^^ by some known as elleborine,'^ the leaves of 
which are of small size, and when taken in drink, are an 
antidote against poison ; just in the same way that those of 
the erica are a specific against the sting of the serpent. 
(21.) Here is also found another shrub, upon which grows 
the grain of Cnidos,^^ by some known as linum ; " the name 
of the shrub itself being thymelaea,^^ while others, again, call it^ 
chamelsea, others pyrosachne, others cnestron, and others 
cneorum ; it bears a strong resemblance to the wild olive, but 
has a narrow leaf, which has a gummy taste in the mouth. 
The shrub is of about the size of the myrtle ; its seed is of the 
same colour and appearance, but is solely used for medicinal 
purposes. 
CHAP. 36. THE TRAGION : TRAGACANTHE. 
The island of Crete is the only place that produces the 
82 See B. xxiii. c. 57. ^3 gee B. xxiii. c. 60. 
85 u Puniceus," namely, a kind of purple. 
^ See B. xxvii. c. 52. Sprengel thinks that tliis is the Neottia spiralis 
cf Schwartz ; but Fee is of opinion that it has not hitlierto been identified. 
Probably the Erica arborea of Linnaeus, or heath '* in its several 
varieties. 
^ Granum Cnidium. The shrub is the Daphne Cnidium of Linne^us. 
^3 The "thyme-olive." 
90 The ground olive,*' or small olive." Dioscorides makes a dis- 
tinction between these two last ; and Sprengel ha-s followed it, naming the 
^•ist Daphne Cnidium, and the first Daphne Cneorum. 
