Chap. 39.] 
THE TREE CALLED EOIS". 
203 
sembles the pear-tree in its leaves, which, however, are a little 
longer and thicker, with wrinkled indentations running down 
the whole length of the leaf. The seed of this tree resembles 
barley in form and colour. The wood is hard and solid ; it is 
said, that if it is introduced into a house, it is productive of 
painful deliveries and of shocking deaths. 
CHAP. 38. (22.) THE EXJONYMOS. 
There is no tree productive of a more auspicious presage 
than one which grows in the Isle of Lesbos, and is known by 
the name of euonymos.^ It bears some resemblance to the 
pomegranate tree, the leaf being in size between the leaf of 
that and the leaf of the laurel, while in shape and softness it 
resembles that of the pomegranate tree : it has a white blos- 
som,^ by which it immediately gives us notice of its dangerous 
properties.^ It bears a pod * very similar to that of sesame, 
within which there is a grain of quadrangular shape, of coarse 
make and poisonous to animals. The leaf, too, has the same 
noxious effects ; sometimes, however, a speedy alvine discharge 
is found to give relief on such occasions. 
CHAP. 39. THE TEEE CALLED EON. 
Alexander Cornelius has called a tree by the name of 
eon," ^ with the wood of which, he says, the ship Argo was 
built. This tree has on it a mistletoe similar to that of the 
oak, which is proof against all injury from either fire or water, 
1 Or the "luckily named." It grew on Mount Ordymnus in Lesbos. 
See Theophrastus, B. ii. c. 31. 
^ 2 The Evonymus Europseus, or else the Evonyinus latifolius of bota- 
nists, is probably intended to be indicated ; but it is a mistake to say that 
it is poisonous to animals. On the contrary, Fee says that sheep will 
fatten on its leaves very speedily. 
^ " Statim pestera denuntians." Pliny appears to be in error here. 
In copying from Theophrastus, he seems to have found the word <p6vog 
used, really in reference to a blood-red juice which distils from the plant; 
but as the same word also means slaughter, or death, he seems to have 
thought that it really bears reference to the noxious qualities of the plant. 
* Fee censures the use of the word siliqua," as inappropriate, al- 
though the seed does resemble that of sesamum, the Sesamum orientale 
of Linnaeus. 
5 Or eonis. Fee suggests that in this story, which probably belongs 
to the region of Fabk, some kind of oak may possibly be alluded to. 
