Chap. 64.] 
THE DAUCUS. 
123 
dries it becomes black and angular. Its name is derived from 
the number of its leaves : it puts forth and withers with the 
leaves of the vine. This plant also is employed in the purifica- 
tion of houses. 
CHAP. 63. THE SPAEGANION : ONE EEMEDY. 
The root, too, of the plant known as the sparganion,^ is 
taken in white wine, as a remedy for the stings of serpents. 
CHAP. 64. EOUE VAKIETIES OE THE DAUCUS I EIGHTEEN 
REMEDIES. 
Petronius Diodotus has distinguished four kinds of daucus, 
which it would be useless here to describe, the varieties being 
in reality but two^* in number. The most esteemed kind is that 
of Crete, the next best being the produce of Achaia, and of 
all dry localities. It resembles fennel in appearance, only 
that its leaves are whiter, more diminutive, and hairy on the 
surface. The stem is upright, and a foot in length, and the root 
has a remarkably pleasant taste and smell. This kind grows 
in stony localities with a southern aspect. 
The inferior sorts are found growing everywhere, upon de- 
clivities for instance, and in the hedges of fields, but always in 
a rich soil. The leaves are like those of coriander,^^ the stem 
being a cubit in length, the heads round, often three or more in 
number, and the root ligneous, and good for nothing when 
dry. The seed of this kind is like that of cummin, while that 
of the first kind bears a resemblance to millet ; in all cases 
it is white, acrid, .hot, and odoriferous. The seed of the 
second kind has more active properties than that of the first ; 
for which reason it should be used more sparingly. 
If it is considered really desirable to recognize a third 
^3 Identified by Fee with the Sparganium ramosum of Linnaeus, or 
Branchy burr-reed. Littre gives the Butonus umbellatus of Linnaeus, the 
Flowering rush, or Water gladiole. 
Fee remarks, that the account given by Pliny has not the same pre- 
cision as that of Dioscorides, who describes three varieties of the Daucus. 
^ Fee is inclined to identify the Daucus of Crete and Achaia with the 
Daucus Creticus of Fuchsius, the Athamanta annua of Linnaeus. Des- 
fontaines identifies it with the Athamanta Cretensis of Linnaeus. 
This kind is identified by Fee with the Seseli ammoides of Linnaeus, 
and by Littre with the Ammi majus of Linnaeus, the Common or Greater 
bishop's weed. 
