236 
PLINY' S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXVIL 
CHAP. 30. (8.) THE BALLOTES, MELAMPEASION, OR BLACK LEEK: 
THREE REMEDIES. 
The Greeks give to the ballotes* the other name of melam- 
prasion/' meaning black leek."^ It is a branchy plant, with 
black angular stems, covered with hairy leaves, larger and darker 
than those of the leek, ^and possessed of a powerful smell. The 
leaves, bruised and applied with salt, are highly efficacious for 
bites inflicted by dogs : cooked upon hot ashes and applied in 
a cabbage leaf, they are curative of condylomata. Mixed with 
honey, this plant acts as a detergent upon sordid ulcers. 
CHAP. 31. BOTRYS, AMBROSIA, OR ARTEMISIA : ONE REMEDY. 
Botrys^ is a shrublike plant, which has small yellow 
branches, with the seed growing all round them, and leaves 
resembling^ those of endive. It is found upon the banks of 
running streams, and is used for the cure of hardness of 
breathing. The people of Cappadocia call this plant am- 
brosia, others again, artemisia.'' 
CHAP. 32. THE BRABYLA : ONE REMEDY. 
The brabyla* is possessed of astringent properties like those 
of the quince, but beyond this, authors give no particulars 
relative to it. 
CHAP. 33. BR YON MARITIMUM .* FIVE REMEDIES. 
Sea bryon'^ is a plant, no doubt, with leaves like those of 
* The Eallota nigra of Linnaeus, the Fetid ballota, or Stinking black 
horehound; see B. xx. c. 89. 
^ He is in error here, as the word " melamprasion " means ^' black 
horehound.'* " Black leek would be melamprason." 
6 Horehound," properly. The Ballota is of a stimulating nature, and 
contains a considerable quantity of essential oil. 
The Chenopodium botrys of Linngeus, Cut-leaved goose foot, or oak 
of Jerusalem. See B. xxv. c. 36, and c. 11 of this Book. 
s There is no such resemblance. The name "botrys" was given to 
the plant from the little clusters formed by the blossoms. 
9 Identified by Fee with the Prunus domestica of Linnaeus, var. ^3, or 
Damascena, the Damascene plum or damson. Desfontaines considers it 
to be the Prunus instititia, the Bullace plum. Holland mentions in a Note, 
*' BuUois, skegs, or such like wild plums." 
10 The Ulva lactuca of Linnaeus, Lettuce laver ; see B. xiii. c. 49, B. 
xxiv. c. 17, and B. xxxii. c. 36. 
^1 He probably says this in reference to the opinion expressed by Theo- 
