122 Pliny's natueal history. [Book XXV. 
that a circle must first be traced around it with iron ; after j 
which it must be taken up with the left hand, and raised aloft, j 
care being taken to dry the leaves, stem, and root, separately 
in the shade. To these statements they add, that if the ban- i 
queting couch is sprinkled with water in which it has been 
steeped, merriment and hilarity will be greatly promoted | 
thereby. J 
As a remedy for the stings of serpents, this plant is bruised ; 
in wine. 
CHAP. 60. — THE BLATTAHIA I OJTE EEMEDY. 
There is a plant very similar in appearance to verbascum,^^ 
so much so, indeed, as to be frequently gathered for it by mis- 
take. The leaves,^^ however, are not so white, the stems are 
more numerous, and the flower is of a yellow colour. Thrown 
upon the ground, this plant attracts black beetles^' to it, whence 
its Eoman appellation blattaria.'' 
CHAP. 61. LEMONIITM : ONE EEMEDY. 
Lemonium^^ furnishes a milky juice, which thickens like 
gum. It grows in moist, watery localities, and is generally 
administered, in doses of one denarius, in wine. 
CHAP. 62. — QUINQUEEOLIUM, KNOWN ALSO AS PENTAPETES, PEN- 
TAPHYLLON, OR CHAM^ZELON : THIRTY-THREE REMEDIES. 
There is no one to whom quinquefolium^^ is unknown, being 
recommended by a sort of strawberry^^ which it bears : The 
Greeks give it the name of pentapetes,^^ pentaphyllon,^^ and 
chamsezelon.^^ The root, when taken up, is red; but as it 
55 See c. 73 of this Book. 
56 Mostly identified with the third Phlomos, mentioned in c. 74 of 
this Book. Littre gives as its synonym the Phlomis fruticosa of Linnaeus, 
Jerusalem sage, or tree-sage. 57 a Blattae." 
58 Not the " Limonion" of B. xx. e. 28, as the Statice limonium emits 
no juice. Desfontaines identifies it with the Scolymos or Limonia of B. 
xxii. c. 43 ; but Fee is inclined to think that Pliny is speaking of the 
Atractylis gummifera, but has made a mistake in the name. 
59 Or five-leaved." Most probably the Potentiila reptans of Linnjeus, 
our Cinquefoil, or Five-leaved grass. Sprengel, however, identifies it with 
the Tormentilla reptans of Linnaeus, the Tormentil ; and other authorities 
with the Potentiila rupestris of Linnaeus. 
Its fruit is . dry, and bears no resemblance to the strawberry. 
61 '< Five-leaved." ^'^ " Creeping on the* ground." 
