230 
plikt's natural histoet. 
[Book XXVII. 
ascyroides"''^ has larger branches, ferulaceous, red all over, 
and bearing small yellow heads. The seed, enclosed in small 
calyces, is diminutive, black, and resinous. The tops of the 
branches, when bruised, stain like blood; for which reason 
some persons have given it the name of androsaemon.'*^^ The 
seed is used for the cure of sciatica, being taken in doses of 
two drachmae, in one sextarius of hydromel. It relaxes the 
bowels, and carries off bile : it is applied also to burns. 
CHAP. 21. THE APHACA: THREE REMEDIES. 
The aphaca'''^ has remarkably diminutive leaves, and is 
but little taller than the lentil. The pods are of a larger 
size, and enclose some three or four seeds, of a darker colour, 
moister, and more diminutive than those of the lentil : it grows 
in cultivated fields. It is naturally more astringent than the 
lentil, but in other respects is applied to much the same pur- 
poses. The seed, used in a decoction, arrests fluxes of the 
stomach and bowels. 
CHAP. 22. ALCIBIUM : OI^E REMEDY. 
I have not found it stated by authors what kind of plant 
alcibium"^^ is ; but the root, I find, and the leaves, are pounded 
and employed, both externally and internally, for injuries in- 
flicted by serpents. When the leaves are used, a handful of 
them is bruised in three cyathi of undiluted wine : the root 
is employed in the proportion of three drachmae to the same 
quantity of wine. 
CHAP. 23. ALECTOROSLOPHOS OR CRISTA : TWO REMEDIES. 
Alectoroslophos,'^^ or crista, as we call it, has numerous 
It is considered to be identical with the Ascyron. 
, " Man's blood." See c. 10 of this Book. 
Different probably from the plant of a similar name mentioned in B. xxi. 
cc. 52, 59. Fee identifies it with the Vetch, mentioned in B. xviii. c. 37. 
Littre gives as its synonym the Vicia cracca of Linnaeus, the Tufted vetch, 
and Desfontaines the Lathyrus aphaca, the Yellow vetchling, or bindweed. 
Fee considers it to be the same plant as the Anchusa or Archebion, 
mentioned in B. xxii. c. 25. Desfontaines identifies the Alcibium with 
the Echium rubrum of Linnseus. Holland observes here that Pliny 
" hath here forgotten himself." 
'^^ " Cock's comb." The Ehinanthus crista galli of Linnaeus, Yellow 
rattle, or cock's comb. *' Crest " or " Comb.'* 
