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LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY

THEOPHRASTUSENQUIRY INTO PLANTS

BOOKS 1-5

Translated by

ARTHUR HORT

THLOPHRASTUS of Eresus in Lesbos,

horn about ^70 BC, is the author of the

most important botanic-al works that have

survived from classical antiquity.He was

in turn the student, collaborator, and suc-

1 1 ss< >r ol' Aristotle. Like his predecessor he

\\as interested in all aspects of human

knowledge and experience, especiallynatural science. His writings on plants

form a counterpart to Aristotle's zoologi-cal works.

In the En^um- into Plants Theophrastusclassifies and describes varieties covering

trees, plants of particular regions, shrubs,

herbaceous plants, and cereals; in the last

of the nine books he focuses on plant

juices and medicinal properties of herbs.

The Loeb edition is in two volumes; the

second contains two additional treatises:

On Odors and \\cathcr Signs.

In De Causis Plantarum Theophrastus turns

to plant physiology.Books One and Two

are concerned with generation, sprouting,llouerina and

fruiting,and the effects of

climate. In Books Three and Four Theo-

phrastus studies cultivation andagricul-

tural methods. In Books Live and Six he

discuses plant breeding; diseases and

other cause's ol death; and distinctive

flavors and odors.

Theophrastus' celebrated Characters, of a

(jiiitedifferent nature, is the earliest kno\\ n

character \\ritingand a

strikingreflection

>l c ontemporar\ lite.

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THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARYFOUNDED BY JAMES LOEB

EDITED BY

G. P. GOOLD

PREVIOUS EDITORS

T. E. PAGE E. CAPPS

W. H. D. ROUSE L. A. POST

E. H. WARMINGTON

THEOPHRASTUS

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS

I

LCL70

THEOPHRASTUSENQUIRY INTO PLANTS

BOOKS I-V

WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY

ARTHUR HORT

HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESSCAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

LONDON, ENGLAND

First published 1916

Reprinted 1948, 1961, 1968, 1990, 1999

LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY is a registered trademark

of the President and Fellows of Harvard College

ISBN 0-674-99077-3

Printed in Great Britain by St Edmundsbury Press Ltd,

Bun/ St Edmunds, Suffolk, on acid-free paper.Bound by Hunter <Lr Foulis Ltd, Edinburgh, Scotland.

CONTENTS

PREFACE IX

INTRODUCTION xiii

BOOK I

OF THE PARTS OF PLANTS AND THEIR COMPOSITION".OF CLASSIFICATION

Introductory : How plants are to be classified; difficulty

of defining what are the essential '

parts'

of a plant,

especially if plants are assumed to correspond toanimals 3

The essential parts of plants, and the materials of which

they are made 9

Definitions of the various classes into which plants maybe divided 23

Exact classification impracticable : other possible basesof classification 27

Differences as to appearance and habitat 29

Characteristic differences in the parts of plants, whether

general, special, or seen in qualities and properties 33

Differences as to qualities and properties 37

Further 'special' differences 39

Differences in root 41

Of trees (principally) and their characteristic specialdifferences : as to knots 5o

As to habit 61

As to shedding of leaves 63

Differences in leaves 69

Composition of the various parts of a plant 77

Differences in seeds 79

CONTENTSPAC.K

Differences in taste Sa

Differences in flowers 89

Differences in fruits 97

General differences (affecting the whole plant) .... 99

BOOK II

OF PROPAGATION, ESPECIALLY OF TRKE3

Of the ways in which trees and plants originate. In-stances of degeneration from seed 10")

10 Ifeets of situation, climate, tendance 115

Of spontaneous changes in the character of trees, andof certain marvels 119

Of spontaneous and other changes in other plants . . . 123

Of methods of propagation, with notes on cultivation . 127

Of the propagation of the date-palm ;of palms in

general 133

Farther notes on the propagation of trees 145

Of the cultivation of trees 145

Of remedies for the shedding of the fruit : caprification 151

BOOK III

OF WILD TREES

Of the ways in which wild trees originate 150

Of the differences between wild and cultivated trees . l(if

Of mountain trees : of the differences found in wild trees 171

Of the times of budding and fruiting of wild, as com-

pared with cultivated, trees 179

Of the seasons of budding 185

Of the comparative rate of growth in trees, and of the

length of their roots 191

Of the effects of cutting down the whole or part of a tree 197

Of other things borne by trees besides their leavesflowers and fruit 199

Of ' male' and ' female' in trees : the oak as an exampleof this and other differences 203

vi

CONTENTSPACK

Of the differences in firs 21 1

Of beech, yew, hop-hornbeam, lime 221

Of maple and ash 227

Of cornelian cherry, cornel,'

cedars,' medlar, thorns,sorb 233

Of bird-cherry, elder, willow . 243

Of elm, poplars, alder, [semyda. bladder-senna] .... 249

Of filbert, terebinth, box, krafaigos 253

Of certain other oaks, arbutus, andraclme, wig-tree . . 259

Of cork-oak, kolntea, kofoif.ia, and of certain othertrees peculiar to particular localities 265

Of the differences in various shrubs buckthorn, withy,Christ's thorn, bramble, sumach, ivy, smilax,

[spindle tree] 269

BOOK IV

OF TITK TREES ANT) PLANTS SPECIAL TO PARTICULARDISTRICTS AND POSITION'S

Of the importance of position and climate 287

Of the trees special to Egypt, and of the carob .... 291

Of tho trees and shrubs special to Libya 303

Of the trees and herbs special to Asia 309

Of the plants special to northern regions 323

Of tho aquatic plants of the Mediterranean 329

Of the aquatic plants of the 'outer sea' (i.e. Atlantic,

Persian Gulf, etc.) 337

Of the plants of rivers, marshes, and lakes, especiallyin Egypt 345

Of the plants peculiar to the lake of Orchomenos (Lake

Copals), especially its rccds, and of reeds in general 361

Of rushes 379

Of the length or shortness of the life of plants, and the

causes ...Of diseases and injuries done by weather conditions . . 391

Of the effects on trees of removing bark, head, heart-

wood, roots, etc. ;of various causes of death . . . 405

Vll

CONTENTS

BOOK V

OF THE TIMBER OF VARIOUS TREES AND ITS USESPAGE

Of the seasons of cutting 417

Of the wood of silver-fir and fir 421

Of the effects on timber of climate 427

Of knots and '

coiling'

in timber 429

Of differences in the texture of different woods .... 431

Of differences in timber as to hardness and heaviness . 439

Of differences in the keeping quality of timber .... 441

Which kinds of wood are easy and which hard to work.Of the core and its effects 445

Which woods can best support weight 451

Of the woods best suited for the carpenter's various

purposes 453

Of the woods used in ship-building 455

Of the woods used in house-building 459

Of the uses of the wood of particular trees 459

Of the localities in which the best timber grows . . . 463

Of the uses of various woods in making fire : charcoal,

fuel, fire-sticks 467

vin

PREFACE

THIS is, I believe, the first attempt at an Englishtranslation of the '

Enquiry into Plants.' That it

should be found entirely satisfactory is not to be

expected, since the translator is not, as he should be,

a botanist ; moreover, in the present state at least

of the text, the Greek of Theophrastus is sometimes

singularly elusive. I should never have undertaken

such a responsibility without the encouragement of

that veteran student of plant-lore the Rev. Canon

Ellacombe, who first suggested that I should makethe attempt and introduced me to the book. It is a

great grief that he did not live to see the completionof the work which he set me. If I had thoughtit essential that a translator of Theophrastus should

himself grapple with the difficulties of identifying

the plants which he mentions, I must have declined

a task which has otherwise proved quite onerous

enough. However the kindness and the expert

knowledge of Sir William Thiselton-Dyer came to

my rescue ; to him I not only owe gratitude for

constant help throughout ; the identifications in the

Index of Plants are entirely his work, comparedwith which the compilation of the Index itself was

PREFACE

but mechanical labour. And he has greatly increased

my debt and the reader's by reading the proofs of

my translation and of the Index. This is perhapsthe place to add a note on the translation of the

plant-names in the text : where possible, I have

given an English equivalent, though I am conscious

that such names as ( Christ's thorn,'' Michaelmas

daisy'

must read oddly in a translation of a work

written 300 years before Christ;to print Linnean

binary names would have been at least equally

incongruous. Where an English name was not

obvious, although the plant is British or known in

British gardens, I have usually consulted Britten

and Holland's Dictionary of Plant-names. Whereno English equivalent could be found, i.e. chiefly

where the plant is not either British or familiar in

this country, I have either transliterated the Greek

name (as arakhidna) or given a literal rendering of it

in inverted commas (as' foxbrush

'

for dAwTrocov/DOs) ;

but the derivation of Greek plant-names being often

obscure, I have not used this device unless the

meaning seemed to be beyond question. In some

cases it has been necessary to preserve the Greek

name and to give the English name after it in

brackets. This seemed desirable wherever the author

has apparently used more than one name for the

same plant, the explanation doubtless being that he

was drawing on different local authorities; thus Ke'pcuros

and Xaxdpij both probably represent 'bird-cherry,'

the latter being the Macedonian name for the tree.

PREFACE

Apart from this reason, in a few places (as 3.8.2 ;

3.10.3.) it seemed necessary to give both the Greekand the English name in order to bring out some

particular point. On the other hand one Greekname often covers several plants, e.g. Xwros ; in such

cases I hope that a reference to the Index will makeall clear. Inverted commas indicate that the render-

ing is a literal translation of the Greek word; the

identification of the plant will be found in the Index.

Thus faXXoSpvs is rendered (

cork-oak/ though' holm-

oak'

would be the correct rendering, cork-oak (quer-

cus Suiter") being what Theophrastus calls <eAA<k.

which is accordingly rendered cork-oak without

commas. As to the spelling of proper names, con-

sistency without pedantry seems unattainable. Onecannot write names such as Arcadia or Alexander

otherwise than as they are commonly written; but

I cannot bring myself to Latinise a Greek name if it

can be helped, wherefore I have simply transliterated

the less familiar names ; the line drawn must of

course be arbitrary.

The text printed is in the main that of Wimmer'ssecond edition (see Introd. p. xiv). The textual notes

are not intended as a complete apparatus criticus;

to provide a satisfactory apparatus it would probablybe necessary to collate the manuscripts afresh. I have

had to be content with giving Wimmer's statements

as to MS. authority ;this I have done wherever any

question of interpretation depended on the reading ;

but I have not thought it necessary to record mere

xi

PREFACE

variations of spelling. Where the textual notes go

beyond bare citation of the readings of the MSS., Aid.,

Gaza, and Pliny, it is usually because I have there

departed from Wimmer's text. The references to

Pliny will, I hope, be found fairly complete. I amindebted for most of them to Schneider, but I have

verified these and all other references.

I venture to hope that this translation, with its

references and Index of Plants, may assist some

competent scholar-botanist to produce an edition

worthy of the author.

Besides those already mentioned I have to thank

also my friends Professor D'Arcy Thompson, C.B.,

Litt.D. of Dundee, Mr. A. W. Hill of Kew, Mr. E. A.

Bowles for help of various kinds, and the Rev. F. W.

Galpin for his learned exposition of a passage which

otherwise would have been dark indeed to me the

description of the manufacture of the reed mouth-

pieces of wood-wind instruments in Book IV. Sir John

Sandys, Public Orator of Cambridge University, was

good enough to give me valuable help in matters of

bibliography.

xii

INTRODUCTION

I. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND ABBREVIATIONS USED

A. Textual Authorities

WIMMER divides the authorities on which the text

of the irepi (f>vro)v la-ropia is based into three classes:

First Class :

U. Codex Urbinas : in the Vatican. Collated byBekker and Amati; far the best extant

MS., but evidently founded on a much

corrupted copy. See note on 9. 8. 1.

P2

. Codex Parisiensis : at Paris. Contains con-

siderable excerpts ; evidently founded on a

good MS. ; considered by Wimmer second

only in authority to U.

(Of other collections of excerpts maybe mentioned one at Munich, called after

Pletho.)

Second Class :

M (Mp M2).

Codices Medicei : at Florence.

Agree so closely that they may be re-

garded as a single MS. ; considered byWimmer much inferior to U, but of higher

authority than Aid.

xiii

INTRODUCTION

P. Codex Parisiensis : at Paris. Considered byWinimer somewhat inferior to M and V,

and more on a level with Aid.

mP. Margin of the above. A note in the MS.

states that the marginal notes are not scholia,

but variae lecliones aid emendaliones.

V. Codex Vindobonensis : at Vienna. Contains

the first five books and two chapters of the

sixth ; closely resembles M in style and

readings.

Third Class :

Aid. Editio Aldina : the editio princeps, printed

at Venice 1195-8. Believed by Wimmerto be founded on a single MS., and that

an inferior one to those enumerated above,

and also to that used by Gaza. Its readings

seem often to show signs of a deliberate

attempt to produce a smooth text : hence

the value of this edition as witness to an

independent MS. authority is much im-

paired.

(Bas. Editio Basiliensis : printed at Bale, 1541.

A careful copy of Aid., in which a number

of printer's errors are corrected and a few

new ones introduced (Wimmer).Cam. Editio Camotiana (or Aldina minor, altera) :

printed at Venice, 1552. Also copied from

Aid., but less carefully corrected than Bas. ;

the editor Camotius, in a few passages,

xiv

INTRODUCTION

altered the text to accord with Gaza's

version.)

G. The Latin version of Theodore Gaza,1 the

Greek refugee : first printed at Treviso

(Tarvisium) in 1483. A wonderful work

for the time at which it appeared. Its

present value is due to the fact that the

translation was made from a different MS.to any now known. Unfortunately how-

ever this does not seem to have been a

better text than that on which the Aldine

edition was based. Moreover Gaza did not

stick to his authority, but adopted freely

Pliny's versions of Theophrastus, emendingwhere he could not follow Pliny. There

are several editions of Gaza's work : thus

G.Par.G.Bas. indicate respectively editions pub-lished at Paris in 1529 and at Bale in 1534

and 1550. Wimmer has no doubt that the

Tarvisian is the earliest edition, and he

gives its readings, whereas Schneider often

took those of G.Bas.

Vin.Vo.Cod.Cas. indicate readings which Schnei-

der believed to have MS. authority, but

which are really anonymous emendations

from the margins of MSS. used by his pre-

decessors, and all, in Wimmer's opinion

1 See Sandys, History of Classical Scholarship, ii. p. 62, etc.

XV

INTRODUCTION

traceable to Gaza's version. Schneider's

so-called Codex Casauboni he knew, ac-

cording to Wimmer, only from Hofmann'sedition.

B. Editions

H. Editio Heinsii, printed at Leyden, 1613 : founded

on Cam. and very carelessly printed, repeatingthe misprints of that edition and adding manyothers. In the preface Daniel Heins l

pretendsto have had access to a critical edition and to a

Heidelberg MS. ;this claim appears to be en-

tirely fictitious. The book indeed contains what

Wimmer calls afarrago emendationum; he remarks

that 'all the good things in it Heinsius owedto the wit of others, while all its faults and

follies we owe to Heinsius.' Schneider calls it

editio omnium pessima.

Hod. Editio Bodaei (viz. of Joannes Bodaeus a

Stapel), printed at Amsterdam, 1644. The text

of Heinsius is closely followed; the margin con-

tains a number of emendations taken from the

margin of Bas. and from Scaliger, Robertus Con-

stantinus, and Salmasius, with a few due to the

editor himself. The commentary, according to

Sir William Thiselton-Dyer, is 'botanicallymonumental and fundamental.'

1 See Sandys, op. cit. p. 313 eto.

xvi

INTRODUCTION

St. Stackhouse, Oxford, 1813: a prettily printededition with some illustrations: text founded on

Aid. The editor seems to have been a fair

botanist, but an indifferent scholar, though occa-

sionally he hits on a certain emendation. Thenotes are short and generally of slight value.

The book is however of interest, as being appa-

rently the only work on the '

Enquiry'

hitherto

published in England.Sch. J. G. Schneider (and Linck), Leipzig : vols.

i.-iv. published in 1818, vol. v. in 1821 ; contains

also the -n-epl amwv and the fragments, and a re-

print of Gaza's version (corrected). The fifth,

or supplementary, volume, written during the

author's last illness, takes account of the Codex

Urbinas, which, unfortunately for Schneider,

did not become known till his edition was

finished. It is remarkable in how many places

he anticipated by acute emendation the readingsof U. The fifth volume also gives an account of

criticisms of the earlier volumes by the eminent

Greek Adamantios Koraes l and Kurt Sprengel.This is a monumental edition, despite the ver-

bosity of the notes, somewhat careless references

and reproduction of the MSS. readings, and an

imperfect comprehension of the compressed

style of Theophrastus, which leads to a gooddeal of wild emendation or rewriting of the

text. For the first time we find an attempt at

1 See Sandys, op. cit. iii. pp. 361 folL

xvii

INTRODUCTION

providing a critical text, founded not on the

Aldine edition, but on comparison of the manu-

scripts then known ; the Medicean and Viennese

had been collated a few years before by J. Th.

Schneider. We find also full use made of the

ancient authors, Athenaeus, Plutarch, Pliny,

Dioscorides, Nicander, Galen, etc., who quoted or

adapted passages of Theophrastus, and copious

references, often illuminating, to those whoillustrate him, as Varro, Columella, Palladius,

Aelian, the Geoponica.

Spr. Kurt Sprengel, Halle, 1822. This is not an

edition of the text, but a copious commentarywith German translation. Sprengel was a better

botanist than scholar; Wimmer speaks dis-

paragingly of his knowledge of Greek and of

the translation. (See note prefixed to the

Index of Plants.)

VV Fr. Wimmer: (1) An edition with introduction,

analysis, critical notes, and Sprengel's identi-

fications of the plant-names ; Breslau, 1842.

(2) A further revised text with new Latin

translation, apparatus criticus, and full indices;

the Index Plantarum gives the identifications of

Sprengel and Fraas;Didot Library, Paris, n.d.

(3) A reprint of this text in Teubner's series,

1854.

These three books are an indispensable supplementto Schneider's great work. The notes in the edition of

xviii

INTRODUCTION

1842 are in the main critical, but the editor's remark-

on the interpretation of thorny passages are often

extremely acute, and always worth attention. Themass of material collected by Schneider is put into

an accessible form. Wimmer is far more conservative

in textual criticism than Schneider, and has a better

appreciation of Theophrastus' elliptical and some-

what peculiar idiom, though some of his emendations

appear to rest on little basis. A collation of the

Paris MSS. (P and P2)

was made for Wimmer; for

the readings of U and M he relied on Schneider,

who, in his fifth volume, had compared U with

Bodaeus' edition. A fresh collation of the rather

exiguous manuscript authorities is perhaps requiredbefore anything like a definitive text can be pro-vided. Wimmer's Latin translation is not very

helpful, since it slurs the difficulties : the Didot

edition, in which it appears, is disfigured with

numerous misprints.

(Sandys' History of Classical Scholarship (ii. p. 380)mentions translations into Lalin and Italian byBandini ; of this work I know nothing.)

C. Other Commentators

Seal. J. C. Scaliger : Commentarii et animadversiones on

the Trcpt <t>vra>v loropta posthumously published

by his son Sylvius at Leyden, 1584. (He also

wrote a commentary on the Trepi amon>, which

was edited by Robertus Gonstantinus and pub-

xix

INTRODUCTION

lished at Geneva in 1566.) The most accurate

and brilliant scholar who has contributed to the

elucidation of Theophrastus.R. Const. Robertus Constantinus (see above). Added

notes of his own, many of them valuable, which

are given with Scaliger's in Bodaeus' edition.

Salm. Salmasius (Claude de Saumaise). Made manyhappy corrections of Theophrastus' text in his

Exercitationes Plinianae.

Palm. Jacobus Palmerius (Jacques de Paulmier).

His Exercitaliones in oplimos auctores Graecos

(Leyden, 1668) contain a certain number of

acute emendations;Wimmer considers that he

had a good understanding of Theophrastus'

style.

Meurs. Johannes Meursius (Jan de Meurs). Author

of some critical notes on Theophrastus pub-lished at Leyden in 1640; also of a book on

Crete.

Dalec. Jean Jacques D'Ale*champs : the botanist.

Author of Histona plantarum universalis, Lyons,

1587, and editor of Pliny's Natural History.

Mold. J. J. P. Moldenhauer. Author of Tentamen

in Historiam plantarum Theophrasti, Hamburg,1791. This book, which I have not been able

to see and know only from Wimmer's citations,

contains, according to him, very valuable notes

on the extremely difficult Introduction to the' Historia

'

(Book I. chaps, i.-ii.).

xx

INTRODUCTION

II. THEOPHRASTUS' LIFE AND WORKS

Such information as we possess concerning the

life of Theophrastus comes mainly from DiogenesLaertius' Lives of the Philosophers, compiled at least

four hundred years after Theophrastus' death ; it is

given therefore here for what it may be worth;

there is no intrinsic improbability in most of what

Diogenes records.

He was born in 370 B.C. at Eresos in Lesbos ; at

an early age he went to Athens and there became a

pupil of Plato. It may be surmised that it was from

him that he first learnt the importance of that

principle of classification which runs through all his

extant works, including even the brochure known as

the ( Characters'

(if it is rightly ascribed to him),and which is ordinarily considered as characteristic

of the teaching of his second master Aristotle. But

in Plato's own later speculations classification had a

very important place, since it was by grouping thingsin their ' natural kinds

'

that, according to his later

metaphysic, men were to arrive at an adumbration

of the ' ideal forms'

of which these kinds are the

phenomenal counterpart, and which constitute the

world of reality. Whether Theophrastus gatheredthe principle of classification from Plato or from his

fellow-pupil Aristotle, it appears in his hands to

have been for the first time systematically appliedto the vegetable world. Throughout his botanical

xxi

INTRODUCTION

works the constant implied question is' What is its

Difference ? ',' What is its essential nature ? ', viz.

f Wliat

are the characteristic features in virtue of which a

plant may be distinguished from other plants, and

which make up its own ' nature'

or essential

character ?

Theophrastus appears to have been only Aristotle's

junior by fifteen years. On Plato's death he became

Aristotle's pupil, but, the difference in age not being

very great, he and his second master appear to have

been on practically equal terms. We are assured

that Aristotle was deeply attached to his friend;

while as earnest of an equally deep attachment on

the other side Theophrastus took Aristotle's son

under his particular care after his father's death.

Aristotle died at the age of sixty-three, leaving to

his favourite pupil his books, including the auto-

graphs of his own works, and his garden in the

grounds of the Lyceum. The first of these bequests,

if the information is correct, is of great historical

importance ;it may well be that we owe to

Theophrastus the publication of some at least of

his master's voluminous works. And as to the

garden it is evident that it was here that the first

systematic botanist made many of the observations

which are recorded in his botanical works. Diogeneshas preserved his will, and there is nothing in the

terms of this interesting document to suggest that

it is not authentic. Of special interest is the

provision made for the maintenance of the garden ;

xyii

INTRODUCTION

it is bequeathed to certain specified friends and to

those who will spend their time with them in learn-

ing and philosophy ; the testator is to be buried

in it without extravagant expense, a custodian is

appointed, and provision is made for the emancipa-tion of various gardeners, so soon as they have

earned their freedom by long enough service.

According to Diogenes Theophrastus died at the

age of eighty-five. He is made indeed to say in the

probably spurious Preface to the ' Characters'

that he

is writing in his ninety-ninth year; while St. Jerome's

Chronicle asserts that he lived to the age of 107.

Accepting Diogenes' date, we may take it that he

died about 285 B.C. ; it is said that he complainedthat " we die just when we are beginning to live."

His life must indeed have been a remarkably full

and interesting one, when we consider that he

enjoyed the personal friendship of two such men as

Plato and Aristotle, and that he had witnessed the

whole of the careers of Philip and Alexander of

Macedon. To Alexander indeed he was directly

indebted ;the great conqueror had not been for

nothing the pupil of the encyclopaedic Aristotle.

He took with him to the East scientifically trained

observers, the results of whose observations were at

Theophrastus' disposal. Hence it is that his de-

scriptions of plants are not limited to the flora of

Greece and the Levant; to the reports of Alexander's

followers he owed his accounts of such plants as the

cotton-plant, banyan, pepper, cinnamon, myrrh and

xxiii

INTRODUCTION

frankincense. It has been a subject of some con-

troversy whence he derived his accounts of plants

whose habitat was nearer home. Kirch ner, in an

able tract, combats the contention of Spreiigel that

his observations even of the Greek flora were not

made at first hand. Now at this period the Peri-

patetic School must have been a very importanteducational institution ; Diogenes says that under

Theophrastus it numbered two thousand pupils.

Moreover we may fairly assume that Alexander, from

his connexion with Aristotle, was interested in it,

while we are told that at a later time Demetrius

Phalereus assisted it financially. May we not hazard

a guess that a number of the students were ap-

propriately employed in the collection of facts and

observations ? The assumption that a number of1

travelling students' were so employed would at all

events explain certain references in Theophrastus'botanical works. He says constantly 'The Maced

onians say,'' The men of Mount Ida say

'

and so

forth. Now it seems hardly probable that he is

quoting from written treatises by Macedonian or

Idaean writers. It is at least a plausible suggestionthat in such references he is referring to reports of

the districts in question contributed by students

of the school. In that case ' The Macedonians say'

would mean ' This is what our representative was

told in Macedonia.' It is further noticeable that

the tense used is sometimes past, e.g.' The men of

Mount Ida said'

; an obvious explanation of this is

xxiv

INTRODUCTION

supplied by the above conjecture. It is even possible

that in one place (3. 12. 4.) the name of one of these

students has been preserved.

Theophrastus, like his master, was a very volu-

minous writer; Diogenes gives a list of 227 treatises

from his pen, covering most topics of human interest,

as Religion, Politics, Ethics, Education, Rhetoric,

Mathematics, Astronomy, Logic, Meteorology and

other natural sciences. His oratorical works enjoyed;i high reputation in antiquity. Diogenes attributes

to him ten works on Rhetoric, of which one On Style

was known to Cicero, who adopted from it the

classification of styles into the '

grand,' the '

plain,'

and the ' intermediate.' 1 Of one or two other lost

works we have some knowledge. Thus the substance

of an essay on Piety is preserved in Porphyry de

Abslinentia. 2 The principal works still extant are

the nine books of the Enquiry into Plants, and the

six books on the Causes of Plants ; these seem to be

complete. We have also considerable fragments of

treatises entitled : of Sense-perception and objects

of Sense, of Stones, of Fire, of Odours, of Winds, of

Weather-Signs, of Weariness, of Dizziness, of Sweat,

Metaphysics, besides a number of unassigned excerpts.

The style of these works, as of the botanical books,

suggests that, as in the case of Aristotle, what weOO *

possess consists of notes for lectures or notes taken

of lectures. There is no literary charm ; the sen-

1Sandys, i. p. 99.

2Bernays, Theophrastus, 1866.

XXV

INTRODUCTION

tences are mostly compressed and highly elliptical,

to the point sometimes of obscurity. It follows that

translation, as with Aristotle, must be to some extent

paraphrase. The thirty sketches of ' Characters'

ascribed to Theophrastus, which have found manyimitators, and which are well known in this country

through Sir R. Jebb's brilliant translation, stand on

a quite different footing ;the object of this curious

and amusing work is discussed in Sir R. Jebb's

Introduction and in the more recent edition of

Edmonds and Austen. Well may Aristotle, as weare assured, have commended his pupil's diligence.

It is said that, when he retired from the headship of

the school, he handed it over to Theophrastus. Weare further told that the latter was once prosecutedfor impiety, but the attack failed ; also that he was

once banished from Athens for a year, it does not

appear under what circumstances. He was con-

sidered an attractive and lively lecturer. Diogenes'sketch ends with the quotation of some sayingsattributed to him, of which the most noteworthyare (

Nothing costs us so dear as the waste of time,'' One had better trust an unbridled horse than

an undigested harangue.' He was followed to

his grave, which we may hope was, in accordance

with his own wish, in some peaceful corner of the

Lyceum garden, by a great assemblage of his fellow

townsmen.

xxvi

INTRODUCTION

The principal references in the notes are to the

following ancient authors :

Apollon.Arist.

Arr.

Athen.

Col.

Diod.

Diosc.

Apollonius, Historia Miraculorum.

Aristotle. Bekker, Berlin, 1831.

Arrian. Hercher (Teubner).Athenaeus. Dindorf, Leipzig, 1827.

Columolla, de re, rustica. Schneider, Leipzig, 1794.

Diodorus.

Pedanius Dioscurides, de materia medica. Well-

mann, Berlin, 1907.

Geop. Geoponica. Beckh (Teubner), 1895.

Nic. Nicander, Theriaca. Schneider, Leipzig, 1816.

Pall. Palladius, de re ruslica. Schneider, Leipzig, 1795.

Paus. Pausanias. Schubart (Teubner), Leipzig, 1881.

Plin. Plinius, Naturalis Historia. Mayhoff (Teubner),1887. (Reference by book and section.)

Plut. Plutarch. Hercher (Teubner), Leipzig, 1872.

Scyl. Scylax, Periplus. Vossius, Amsterdam 1639.

xxvn

THEOPHRASTUS

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS

BOOK I

9EO<I>PArrOY

TIEPI <&TTflN I2TOPIA2

I. Twv <j)vra)v rds &ia<f)Opas ical rrjv a\\t)i'

fyvcriv \rirrreov Kara re ra aeprj /cal ra rcdOrf /cat

ra? yV(Ti<; /cal rov? /Stow rjOr) yap fcal Trpd^ei*;

OVK e%ov(Tiv wcTTrep ra %wa. elcrl 8' al uev Kara

rrjv yevecriv Kal ra rcd6r) Kal rou? /Stoi'? evdeaypr)-

rorepat, Kal paovs, al Se Kara ra/jLeprj TrXetou?

rroiKi\ia<;. avro yap rovro rcpwrov

d<f)a)pi<Trai ra rrota 8et /^eptj /cal arj

Ka\eiv, dXX' e^et riva arropiav.rr\\\ ^ / tt > > P> / / *>>

2 lo JACK ovv uepos are K r/;? tota? (pv&ecos ov aei

So/eel Siaueveiv rj avrXw? rj orav yevqrai, KaOdrrep

V T0i9 faois ra varepov yevi](ro^va, rr\r)V ci n

1 ra ins. Sch., om. Alcl.H.3

irdOrj, a more general word than $vva./u.fis,' virtues

'

:

cf. 1. 5. 4 ; 8. 4. 2; it seems to mean here something like

'

behaviour,' in relation to environment. Instances of i

are given 4. 2. 11 ; 4. 14. 6.

3fxovffi conj. H.; cxovarai W. with Aid.

THEOPHRASTUSENQUIRY INTO PLANTS

BOOK I

Or THE PARTS OF PLANTS AND THEIR COMPOSITION.OF CLASSIFICATION.

Introductory: How plants are to be classified; difficulty

of defining what are the essential 'parts' of a plant,

especially if plants are assumed to correspond to animals.

I. IN considering the distinctive characters of

plants and their nature generally one must take

into account their 1parts, their qualities,

2 the

ways in which their life originates, and the course

which it follows in each case : (conduct and activities

we do not find in them, as we do in animals). Nowthe differences in the way in which their life origin-

ates, in their qualities and in their life-history are com-

paratively easy to observe and are simpler, while

those shewn 3 in their '

parts'

present more com-

plexity. Indeed it has not even been satisfactorily

determined what ought and what ought not to be

called 'parts,' and some difficulty is involved in

making the distinction.

Now it appears that by a '

part.' seeing that it is

something which belongs to the plant's characteristic

nature, we mean something which is permanent either

absolutely or when once it has appeared (like those

parts of animals which remain for a time undeveloped)

THEOPHRASTUS

voaov rj yripas rj Trrjpwcnv uTroftdXXerai. rwv

6* ev TO?9 (pvrols evia roiavr earlv war' eTrereiov

e'xeiv rrjv ovaiav, olov avdos fipvov <f>vX\ov

/capiros, aTrXco? oora irpo TWV Kapir&v f) a/jLa

yiverai ro?9 Kapirol^' ert Se avro? o /SXcKTTo?*

alel jap eirifyvaiv \ap,/3dvei ra BevSpa icai

eviavrov ofioicos ev re rot? avw /cal ev rot? Trepl

ra? picas' ware, el /J,ev T^? ravra 6r)<jei /jLprj, TO

re ?rX^O9 aopiarov ecrrai KOI ov&eTrore TO

rwv fjuopifov el 8* av fir] pepi], avjjiftrja'erai,

re\eta yiverai teal tfiaiverai, ravra f^rj elvai

/3\acrrdvovra yap /cal 6d\\ovra Kal tcapTrbv

e^pvra irdvra Ka\\iw /cal rekeiorepa /cal So/eel

teal e&riv. al /J,V ovv diroplai cr^eSov elaiv

avrai.

^a Se ov% O/AOLOX; diravra fyrrjreov ovre

ev T0t9 aXX,ot9 ov& 6<ra TT/OO? rrjv yevecriv,

avrd re ra jevi'oo/Jieva /^epj] Oereov olov rovs

Kap7rov<;. ov8e jap ra e/j-ftpva rwv tywv. el

8e ev rfj wpa o-fyev rovro ye Ka\kiarov,

1 i.e. the male inflorescence of some trees ; the term is

of course wirier than '

catkin.'1 '.. flower, catkin, leaf, fruit, shoot.

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. i. 2-^

permanent, that is, unless it be lost by disease, ageor mutilation. However some of the parts of plantsare such that their existence is limited to a year, for

instance, flower,'

catkin,'1

leaf, fruit, in fact all

those parts which are antecedent to the fruit or else

appear along with it. Also the new shoot itself mustbe included with these ; for trees always make fresh

growth every year alike in the parts above groundand in those which pertain to the roots. So that if

one sets these 2 down as '

parts,' the number of partswill be indeterminate and constantly changing ;

if on the other hand these are not to be called1

parts,' the result will be that things which are

essential if the plant is to reach its perfection, andwhich are its conspicuous features, are nevertheless

not '

parts'

;for any plant always appears to be, as

indeed it is, more comely and more perfect when it

makes new growth, blooms, and bears fruit. Such,we may say, are the difficulties involved in defininga 'part.'

But perhaps we should not expect to find in

plants a complete correspondence with animals

in regard to those things which concern repro-duction any more than in other respects ;

and so

we should reckon as (

parts'

even those thingsto which the plant gives birth, for instance their

fruits, although3 we do not so reckon the unborn

young of animals. (However, if such 4 a product seemsfairest to the eye, because the plant is then in its

prime, we can draw no inference from this in

3 ow5e yap : ov8e seems to mean no more than ov (cf. neque,enim= non enim) ; yap refers back to the beginning of the .

* tv TTJ &pa o\J/t rovr6 ye I conj.; rp &pa ovj/et r6 ye vulg.W. ; TOVTO, i.e. flower or fruit.

THEOPHRASTUS

ov&ev <r?7/jieiov , errel teal rwv fawv evOevel ra

Kvovra.

Se KOI rafjieprj

KCLT* eviavrbv CLTTO-

ftd\\i, KaOurcep o'i re eXatyoi ra Kepara KOL

ra (f)(i)\evovra ra rrrepa Kal rpl^a^ rerpdrroBa"war ov&ev arorrov a'A,Xo>9 re teal O/JLOIOV bv rw

<f)V\\o{3o\ll> TO TTa^O?.

'IlcrauTW? 5' ov$e ra rrpos rrjv yevecriv errel Kal

ev rot? ^woi? ra /JLCV avveKrLKrerat, ra S' drro-

KaOalperai tcaOdrrep d\\orpia TT}? ^ucreco?. eot/ce

Be rraparr\i]criw^ Kal ra rrepl rrjv fi

rj ydp roi /SXaerT^tri? ryevecrews

f/

OXco? Se KaOdrrep el'rro/jLev ovSe rrdvra

6/iotco? /cal errl rwv ^wwv \i]7rreov. &i o Kal 6

dopiaros" rravra^ij yapare Kai rravrayr] wv. ware ravra fj,ev OI/T&K

vrro\ri7rreov ov /novov et? ra vvv d\\a Kal row

^dpLV ocra yap /j^rjolov re dcfro-

rrepiepyov rb <y\i%ecr6ai rcavrw^, iva/u->)

Kal rr)V oiKeiav diro^dXKw^ev dewpiav. 77 ^e

laropia rwv (frvrwv eanv co? avrXw? elrrelv rj Kara

conj. Sch., evOerfl UMVAld. i.e. \ve do not

argue from the fact that animals are at their handsomestin the breeding season that the young is therefore '

part'

of

the animal.2 Lit. 'which are in holes,' in allusion to the well-known

belief that animals (especially birds) which are out of sightin the winter are hiding in holes

;the text is supported by

[Arist.] de plantis 1. 3, the author of which had evidentlyread this passage ; but possibly some such words as rds re

<poAi'5oj Kal have dropped out after

6

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. i. 3-4

support of our argument, since even among animals

those that are with young are at their best. 1)

Again many plants shed their parts every year,even as stags shed their horns, birds which hiber-

nate 2 their feathers, four-footed beasts their hair :

so that it is not strange that the parts of plantsshould not be permanent, especially as what thus

occurs in animals and the shedding of leaves in

plants are analogous processes.In like manner the parts concerned with repro-

duction are not permanent in plants ;for even

in animals there are things which are separatedfrom the parent when the young is born, andthere are other things

3 which are cleansed away,as though neither of these belonged to the animal's

essential nature. And so too it appears to be with

the growth of plants ;for of course growth leads up

to reproduction as the completion of the process.4

And in general, as we have said,we must not assumethat in all respects there is complete correspondencebetween plants and animals. And that is why the

number also of parts is indeterminate;for a plant has

the power of growth in all its parts, inasmuch as it

has life in all its parts. Wherefore we should assumethe truth to be as I have said, not only in regard to

the matters now before us, but in view also of those

which will come before us presently ;for it is waste

of time to take great pains to make comparisonswhere that is impossible, and in so doing we maylose sight also of our proper subject of enquiry.The enquiry into plants, to put it generally, may

3i.e. the embryo is not the only thing derived from the

parent animal which is not a '

part' of it ; there is also the

food-supply produced with the young, and the after-birth.

cf. C.P. 1. 11. 8.

7

THEOPHRASTUS

ra ej*o) fjiopia Kal rr)v 6\ijv fijLOp(f)r]v 77 Kara ra

eVro9, (OGTre errl rcov fawv ra eK rwv

6 Ar)rrreov S' ev avrols rroid re rraaiv virdp%i

ravra Kal rrota iBia Ka6* eKaarov yevos, en Be

ra)V avrwv rrota o/noia' \ey(i) B* oiov <ftv\\ov pi^a

(j)\ot,6s. ov Bel Be ovBe rovro \avddvew et ri Kar

wcrrrep errl

dva<f)Opav rroiov/jievovs $?)\ov on rrpos raC/JL-

fapecrrara KOI re\iorara. /cal avrXeo? Be ocra

rwv ev (frvrois afyopoiwrkov ry ev rot? ^"cooi?, cos

av Tt? ru> 7* dvaXoyov d^o^oiol. ravra JJLZV ovv

rov rporrov rovrov.

o At' Be rwv p,epwv Bca<f)opal a^eBov o>9

\aj3eiv elcriv ev rpicriv, r) rw ra /JLCV

ra Be/JLTJ, KaOdrrep (f)vX\a Kal Kaprrov, rj ra

o/JLOia jjitjBe 'i&a, TJ rpirov ru> /XT)

rovrwv Berj /Liev dvofJLOiorrjs opi^erai

Xpw/jiari rrvKvorrjri fiavor^n rpa^vrijri \ei6rr)rt

/cal rot? aXXoi? rrdOecnv, en Be ocrai Bia<f)opal

rwv %v\wv. TI Be dvia-orrjs vTrepo^fj /cal \,\etyei

Kara 77X^^09 rj fxeyeOo^. a>9 S' elrrelv rvrrw

1 A very obscure sentence ; so W. renders the MSS. text.* i.e. 'inequality' might include '

unlikeneaa.'

8

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. i. 4-6

either take account of the external parts and theform of the plant generally, or else of their internal

parts : the latter method corresponds to the study of

animals by dissection.

Further we must consider which parts belong to

all plants alike, which are peculiar to some one

kind, and which of those which belong to all alike

are themselves alike in all cases ; for instance, leaves

roots bark. And again, if in some cases analogyought to be considered (for instance, an analogypresented by animals), we must keep this also in

view ;and in that case we must of course make the

closest resemblances and the most perfectly de-

veloped examples our standard;

land, finally, the

ways in which the parts of plants are affected must be

compared to the corresponding effects in the case of

animals, so far as one can in any given case find an

analogy for comparison. So let these definitions

stand.

The. essential parts of plants, and the materials of which

they are made.

Now the differences in regard to parts, to takea general view, are of three kinds: either one plant

may possess them and another not (for instance,leaves and fruit), or in one plant they maybe unlike

in appearance or size to those of another, or, thirdly,

they may be differently arranged. Now the unlike-

ness between them is seen in form, colour, closeness of

arrangement or its opposite, roughness or its opposite,and the other qualities ;

and again there are thevarious differences of flavour. The inequality is seenin excess or defect as to number or size, or, to speakgenerally,

2 all the above-mentioned differences too

THEOPHRASTUS

K<\Kelva TTfivra xaff vTrepo^rjv real eXXer^rw TO

7 yap /jLaXXov KOI TJTTOV vTrepo^rj teal eXXet^s1 TO

Be /ir) 6yumo>9 TT; Secret Biatyepei,' \eya) 8* olov TO

TOU9 KapTTOVS TO, /jbV 7rdvCO TO, 6" VTTOKCLTW TOH'

(f)v\\wv %eiv KOL avTov Tov Bev&pov ra p,ev e^

atcpov TO, Se e/c TWV 7r\a<yia)V, evia Be KOI GK TOV

o-

reXe^oL'9, olovSj AlyvTrrua GVKa^ivos, KOI oaa Bl]

/col VTTO 7% c^e/oet rcapTrov, olov77Te apa^iBi'a fcal

TO V AlyVTTTO) KCL\OVfjiVOV OViyyOV, Kdl el TO, fJL.V

TO, & JLr. KOL 7Tt TWV

TCL pew yap Trepl avTov TOV fcaprrov TO, Be aXX&)9.

6'Xco? Se TO TT}? ^ecreco? ev TOVTOLS teal TO?? <^^XXot?

Kal ev Tot? /3XacTTOt? \riTTTeov.

Se evia /cal TTJ Ta^ei' Ta fjiev &)?

TMV Se /cal ol o^oi 8t' IVou T6 Kal

apiO/Jiov IO~OL, KaOaTcep TCOV Tpto^wv.

cTTe Ta9 fjiev $ia(f)opas eK TOVTCOV \tj7TTeov e

KOL1} oXry fiop(f>rj avvSrj'XovTai K

AVTO, 8e TO,fjieprj iapi6fJi

Trepl e/cdaTov \eyeiv. GCTTL Be TrpcoTa fJLev

aejLO~Ta Kal KOiva TWV TT\eio~TWv TtiSe,

Kav\os aKe/jLwv K\dBo^, 6/9 a oieXoiT* av

1cf. G.P. 5.1.9.

2cf. 1. 6. 11. T. extends the term Kapir6s so as to

include any succulent edible part of a plant.3 T. does not consider that Kapir6s was necessarily ante-

ceded by a flower.

IO

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. i. 6-9

are included under excess and defect: for the ' more'

and the ' less'

are the same thing as excess and

defect, whereas c

differently arranged'

implies a

difference of position ;for instance, the fruit may

be above or below the leaves,1and, as to position on

the tree itself, the fruit may grow on the apex of it

or on the side branches, and in some cases even onthe trunk, as in the sycamore ; while some plants

again even bear their fruit underground, for in-

stance arakhidna* and the plant called in Egyptningon ; again in some plants the fruit has a stalk, in

some it has none. There is a like difference in thefloral organs : in some cases they actually surroundthe fruit, in others they are differently placed

8: in

fact it is in regard to the fruit, the leaves, and the shoots

that the question of position has to be considered.

Or again there are differences as to symmetry4

:

in some cases the arrangement is irregular, while thebranches of the silver-fir are arranged opposite oneanother

;and in some cases the branches are at

equal distances apart, and correspond in number, as

where they are in three rows. 6

Wherefore the differences between plants mustbe observed in these particulars, since taken togetherthey shew forth the general character of each plant.

But, before we attempt to speak about each, wemust make a list of the parts themselves. Now the

primary and most important parts, which are also

common to most, are these root, stem, branch, twig ;

these are the parts into which we might divide the

plant, regarding them as members,6corresponding to

4 Plin. 16. 122. 5i.e. ternate.

8i.t. if we wished to make an anatomical division.

conj. Sch. cf. 1. 2. 7 ; ^p-n Aid.

II

THEOPHRASTUS

6t? /jLeXij, Kaddrcep errl TWV ^axov. e/cacrToi

re >ydp dvo/jioiov xal e diravTcov TOVTWV ra o\a.

"Ran Be pi^a /^ev Bi ov rrjv rpo<^r]v eTrdyerat,

Be els o (peperai. KO,V\OV Be \eyco TO v

7re(/>u/c;o9 e'(/)'ev rovro yap KOIVOTCLTOV oj

/ecu oviois, o eVl rwv

crreXe^o?* drcpe/JLova*; Be rou9 airo

rovrov <j^^oyu,ei/ou9, 01)9 evioi KaXovaiv o^ovs.

K\d8ov Be TO (3\daT'r)[jLa TO etc TOVTWVe(f> ev, olov

TO

Kat TavTa /J.6V olfcetoTepa TWV Bei>Bpwi>.

10 o Be /cav\6s, wcrTTep eLpriTat, KoivoTepos- e^et

Be ov iravra ovBe TOVTOV, olov evia TWV TTOLW-5> \o.iv \ > >^v>-v-vowv. TO, o e%ei /j,ev ov/c aei oe aA,\

teal ova xpoi'itoTepa rat9 pi^ais. 0X0)9

VV TO (f)VTOV KOI TCOIKI\OV Kdi

iv /ca06\ov ai]^iov Be TO fit]Bep elvat, KOIVOI>

\a(Beiv o Tracriv urrdp^ei, KaOaTrep TO 49 ^&>o/9

11 crTo/jia Kal K0i\ia. TCL Be dvaXoyia TCLVTO, TO, B*

d\\ov TpoTTOv. ovTe yap pi^av TCCLVT e%ei OVT tcav-

\ov OVT aKeiova OVTS KXdBov OVTC (vXXov ovTe

ovT6 KapTTOV ovT* av (f)\oiov TI jjLiJTpav r) 1va<$ ?}

olov fiv/cr)^ vBvov ev TOVTOIS Be rj ovaia

/cal ev TOt9 TOiOVTOLf d\\a d\iaTa Tavra

1 ".. before it begins to divide. 2 Or '

knots.'s

ld>* conj. W.; vcp' P2P3Ald.1

xpoviun-fpa. conj. Sch.; xP vl ^'TePov Ald.Hafa\oyia conj. Sch. ; ava\oyta UAld. H.ai

12

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, 1.1.9-11

the members of animals : for each of these is distinct

in character from the rest, and together they makeup the whole.

The root is that by which the plant draws its

nourishment, the stem that to which it is con-ducted. And by the ' stem

'

I mean that partwhich grows above ground and is single

l; for that

is the part which occurs most generally both in

annuals and in long-lived plants ; and in the caseof trees it is called the ' trunk.' By

' branches'I mean the parts which split off from the stem andare called by some 'boughs.'

2By

'

twig'

I meanthe growth which springs from the branch regardedas a single whole,

3 and especially such an annual

growth.Now these parts belong more particularly to

trees. The stem however, as has been said, is more

general, though not all plants possess even this,for instance, some herbaceous plants are stemless ;

others again have it, not permanently, but as anannual growth, including some whose roots live beyondthe year.

4 In fact your plant is a thing various and

manifold, and so it is difficult to describe in generalterms : in proof whereof we have the fact that wecannot here seize on any universal character whichis common to all, as a mouth and a stomach are com-mon to all animals

; whereas in plants some characters

are the same in all, merely in the sense that all

have analogous5characters, while others correspond

otherwise. For not all plants have root, stem, branch,

twig, leaf, flower or fruit, or again bark, core, fibres

or veins ; for instance, fungi and truffles ; and yetthese and such like characters belong to a plant'sessential nature. However, as has been said, these

THEOPHRASTUS

, KaOdirep el'prjrat,

6 yu-epicr/zo?- TT/JO? a KOI ITJV dva<popdi>

iwv d\\wv Troielcrdat SLKCIIOV.

12 S%ec)oi> oe Kal ra? aXXa?

lavra iacni/Jiaivei. ia<)6pov(Ti yaprovrwv real okiyoTrjri fcal irvKvoTrjn /cal fj.avo-

l 1W ()' 6V rj 69 7T\iO) O"L%(T0ai Kal

rot? aXXot? Tot? ofJLOiow. ecru & eKaarov iwv

oil. /c ra)v aviwv Jiev oiiovv

TT}? pt^/? Kal lov crreXe^ou?, aXX' ov

\eyeiai crreXe^o? TO \r)$9ev a\\a /uopiov, co?

e TOt? TWy c)0)V /JLe<7iV <TTIV. K 1WV CLV1WV

jap onovv T/}? Ki'j/j,')-)$ TI iov

& KaOdirep aap Kal OGIOVV, aXX'

ovoe Brj iwv a\\wv oi)Sez/o5 ocra IJLOVO-

i&v opryavLKwv* tnrdviwv yap iwv IOLOVIWV

oeia prj. iwv

KaOdtrep TroSo? ^eipo^ K(j)a\^, olov Sa

pis o(f)@a\/j,6s. Kal ia JJLZV jbLeyicrra f^e

lavid

II. "A\Xa Se e^ wv lavia

oaa %ei jjir^ipav. irdvia S'o/jLOLOfJiepri. KOI ia

iovid)v 5e GIL Trpoiepa Kal e cov lavia, vypov ts

1 There is no exact English equivalent for 6/jLoto/j.epfs,

which denotes a whole composed of parts, each of which is,

as it were, a miniature of the whole, cf. Arist. H.A. 1.1.2 i.e. any part taken of flesh or bone may be called

'

flesh' or 'bone.'3

e.g. bark; cf. 1. 2. 1.

*e.g. fruit.

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. i. n-n. i

characters belong especially to trees, and our

classification of characters belongs more particularlyto these ;

and it is right to make these the standard

in treating of the others.

Trees moreover shew forth fairly well the other

features also which distinguish plants; for they exhibit

differences in the number or fewness of these which

they possess, as to the closeness or openness of their

growth, as to their being single or divided, and in

other like respects. Moreover each of the characters

mentioned is not '

composed of like parts'

l; by

which I mean that though any given part of the root

or trunk is composed of the same elements as the

whole, yet the part so taken is not itself called'

trunk,' but ' a portion of a trunk.' The case is the

same with the members of an animal's bodv ; to/

wit, any part of the leg or arm is composed of the

same elements as the whole, yet it does not bear the

same name (as it does in the case of flesh or bone IJ

) ;

it has no special name. Nor again have subdivisions

of any of those other organic parts3 which are uniform

special names, subdivisions of all such being nameless.

But the subdivisions of those parts4 which are

compound have names, as have those of the foot,

hand, and head, for instance, toe, finger, nose or eye.Such then are the largest

6parts of the plant.

II. Again there are the things of which such partsare composed, namely bark, wood, and core (in the

case of those plants which have it 6),and these are

all'

composed of like parts.' Further there are

the things which are even prior to these, from which

8i.e. the '

compound'

parts.6 v\oi> /j.-()Tpa conj. W. from G. u-fjTpa v\ov MSS.

tiaa. conj. W. ; uAc, ^ '6tra Ald.H.

15

THEOPHRASTUS

<rdp' dp%al jap avrai' rr\i]v el ris \eyotrwv (Troi^eLoyv Bvvd/j,eis, avrai Be Koival rrdv-

rwv. T) [lev ovv ovaia /calrj O\TJ fyvcrLS ev rovrois.

"AXXa 8* earlv cocnrep errereca fiepr) ra

rrjv KapTTOTOKiav, olov ^>v\\ov avOos

TOUTO 8' early u> avi'^pr^raL TT/OO? TO <pvrov TO

(pv\\ov /cal 6 Kaprros' eri Be [eX-t^] (Bpvov, ot?

/cal errl rracn arrepixa ro rov Kaprrov'S* e<7Tt TO crvyKei/jievov crrrepfjLa /juera rov

TrepiKapTTLOV. Trapa Be ravra evi&v iBia arra,

KaOdrcep r) fcrj/cls Bpvb? /calf) e\i% a/A7reXou.

Kal TO?? jjiev BevBpe&iv ecrriv ovrws BiaXafteiv.

TO?? 8' eVeTetot? Bfj\ov a>? arravra errireia'

/*e%pi yap rwv Kaprcwv f) (pvcris. ocra Brj errereio-

Kaprra /cal oaa Bieri^ei, KaOdrcep aeXivov /cal a\\'

arra, /cal oaa Be rr\ei(o %povov e^ei, rovrois

arracn /cal 6 /cav\o<? d/coXov&tfcrei /card \6yovorav yap arrep/JLO^opelv aehXaxri,, rore Ktcav\ov-

<riv, a>5 eveica rov arrepi^aro^ ovrwv r&v Kav\wv.

Ta^Ta uev ovv ravrrj BirjprfcrOo), rwv Be dpnelprjuevwv uepwv -neipareov e/cacrrov elrrelv ri

earw co? ev rvrry \eyovras.To aev ovv vypbv (fravepov o Brj /caXoucrt rives

ev arrao~iv orrov, wcrrrep Kal Meveo-rcop, 01

conj. Sch. (but he retracted it) ; <rvvov<rta MSS. (?)

Aid.2 This definition is quoted by Hesych. s.v. /itVxos.*

1 om. ?Aif, which is mentioned below.4 rb <rvyKt:ip.fvov atrip^a, lit. 'the compound seed,' i.e. as

many seeds as are contained in one

16

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. 11. 1-3

they are derived sap, fibre, veins, flesh : for these

are elementary substances unless one should preferto call them the active principles of the elements

;

and they are common to all the parts of the plant.Thus the essence 1 and entire material of plantsconsist in these.

Again there are other as it were annual parts,which help towards the production of the fruit, as

leaf, flower, stalk (that is, the part by which the

leaf and the fruit are attached to the plant),2 and

again tendril,3 ' catkin

'

(in those plants that have

them). And in all cases there is the seed which

belongs to the fruit : by' fruit

'

is meant the seed

or seeds,4together with the seed-vessel. Besides

these there are in some cases peculiar parts, suchas the gall in the oak, or the tendril in the vine.

In the case of trees we may thus distinguish theannual parts, while it is plain that in annual plants all

the parts are annual : for the end of their being is

attained when the fruit is produced. And with

those plants which bear fruit annually, those whichtake two years (such as celery and certain others 6

)

and those which have fruit on them for a longer time-with all these the stem will correspond to the

plant's length of life : for plants develop a stem at

whatever time they are about to bear seed, seeingfhat the stem exists for the sake of the seed.

Let this suffice for the definition of these parts :

and now we must endeavour to say what each of the

parts just mentioned is, giving a general and typical

description.The sap is obvious : some call it simply in all cases

'

juice/ as does Menestor 6among others : others, in

8cf. 7. 1.2 and 3.

6 A Pythagorean philosopher of Sybaris.

17

THEOPHRASTUS

8' ev fiev rot? aXXot9 dvcovv/na)^ ev Se ncnv OTTOV

Kal ev a'XXoi9 Sd/cpvov. ives Se Kal 0Xeavra fiev dvcDMfia ry Be o/jLOiorrjri

vovat rwv ev rot? ax>9 fjiopiwv.

KOI aXXa? Bia<f)opas KCU ravra KCU oXa)? TO

(f)VTO)v 76^09* TroXv^ovv yap wcTTrep

ciXX' eVet Sta TWZ^ yvcopi/jLWTepcov /j,era$i(i)K6iv Sel

TO, dyvwpKTTa, yvaypi/jLWTepa $e ra fjiel^w KOL/JL-

(fiavr/ rfj alaO^crei, BrjXov on KaOdirep v<j>ijyr]Tat

4 TTCpl TOVTCOV \KTOV' eiTava^OpCLV japTWV d\\wv 7T/70? ravra i^e^pi TTOCTOV Kal

e/caara /xere^et rrjs o/jLoiorrjros. etX,rj/jLfj,VWV &e

rwv jjiepS)i> fjuera ravra \fj7rreov ra? rovrwv

biatyopdf OUTCO? yap dfjia Kalfj ov&ia fyavepd

Kal r; oXrj rwv yevwv 77/309 a\\i]\a Sidcrraffis.

'H fjiev ovv rwv /jueyiarcov <7%e8ov etprjTai

8' olov pi&s Kav\ov rwv d\\wv al japMV XaPiv eKaarov varepov prjOija-ovrai.

yap Kal ravra Kal ra d\\a

rreipareov elrrelv dpa[ievov$ drro rwv rrpwrwv.

Hyowra Se eari TO vypbv Kal Oep/j,6v arrav yap

fyvrov e'^et riva vyporrjra Kal Oepfjiorrfra crv/ji-

(frvrov Mcrrrep Kal wov, wv vTroXeurovrcov yuverai

yfjpas Kal fyOicris, re\eiw<$ Se vrrokirrovrwv Odva-

5 T09 Kal avavcris. ev fjiev ovv Tot9 7rXet(TTOi9 dva)-

Lit.' muscles and veins.'

2i.e. the analogy with animals is probably imperfect, but

is useful so far as it goes.1

1. 1. 10. 4e.g. the root, as such.

6e.g. the different forms which roots assume.

18

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. n. 3-5

the case of some plants give it no special name, while

in some they call it 'juice/ and in others 'gum.'Fibre and ' veins

'l have no special names in relation

to plants, but, because of the resemblance, borrowthe names of the corresponding parts of animals. 2 It

may be however that, not only these things, but the

world of plants generally, exhibits also other differ-

ences as compared with animals : for, as we have

said,3 the world of plants is manifold. However,

since it is by the help of the better known that wemust pursue the unknown, and better known are the

things which are larger and plainer to our senses,it is clear that it is right to speak of these things in

the way indicated : for then in dealing with the

less known things we shall be making these better

known things our standard, and shall ask how far andin what manner comparison is possible in each case.

And when we have taken the parts,4 we must next

take the differences which they exhibit,5 for thus

will their essential nature become plain, and at the

same time the general differences between one kindof plant and another.

Now the nature of the most important parts has

been indicated already, that is, such parts as the

root, the stem, and the rest : their functions and thereasons for which each of them exists will be set forth

presently. For we must endeavour to state of what

these, as well as the rest, are composed, starting fromtheir elementary constituents.

First come moisture and warmth : for every plant,like every animal, has a certain amount of moistureand warmth which essentially belong to it ; and, if

these fall short, age and decay, while, if they fail

altogether, death and withering ensue. Now in

19

THEOPHRASTUS

, ev eviois Be u>vo/j,acr/j,evr) KaQd-rrep

eiprjTai. TO avro Be real ejrl TWV fatov virdp^er

IJiOVf] yap i] T0)v evai/juov vypoTt]^ a>v6/jLao~Tai t Si

o KCLI Birjp^Tai Trpbs TOVTO arep^a-eL' TO, /nev yapra S' evai/^a \eyerai. ev ri /lev ovv TOVTO

TO fJLepOS KCLI TO TOVTW (TVVriOTl}^VOV

B* 'tjBij eTepa TWV eWo9, a /caO* eavTa>/ \ c- v \ ' ' /

ecrTiv avcovv/jia, oca oe Trjv ofJLOLOT^Ta aTcei/ca\

T0t9 TWV %(*)o)i> /jLOpLois. %ov(Ti yap waTrep lva$'

o laTi avve^e<i /cal <ryjL<iTov fcal emfJ/rjKes, aTrapd-

/3\acrTov Be /cal a/3\aaTov. eTi Be </>\e/3ct?. avTai

Be TO, fjiev a\\a elcrlv o^oiai Trj IvL, jjLel^ovs Be /cal

teal Trapaft\d(JTa<$ eyovcrai /cal vypo-W t- '^. \ / c- \ \ \ VTi %v\ov /cat, o~ap. Ta /j,ev yap ey^ei

crdp/ca TO, Be %v\ov. eaTi Be TO fiev %v\ov cr%io--

TOV, r)Be crap TrdvTtj BiaipelTai waTrep yrj /cal

ocra 77}?' fj.Tai;v Be yiverai tVo? /cal ^Xe^o?'% Be

r) (f)i>(ns aurT;? ev aX/\oi? re /cal ev rot?

TrepiKapTTLMV Bep/jLacrt. <f>\oib<? Be /cal /JLijrpa

jjiev \eyeTai, Bel Be avTa /cal TW \6yw

Biopicrai. ^>Xoto9 fJ<evovv eVrt TO ecr^aTov /cal

^wpicrTov TOV vTro/cei/jievov crw//,aT09. [Ji^Tpa Be

TO fjLCTa^V TOV %V\OV, TpiTOV UTTO TOV (f)\OiOV oloi'

ev T0t9 ocTTOi9 yiifeXo?. /ca\ovo~i, Be TLves TOVTO

1 TT\flarois conj. Mold.; irpxrois Ald.H. 21. 1. 3.

3a.irapa.$\affTov conj. R. Const. ; a.irapa.B\f}Tov UMVAld.

4 rn 8e conj. W. ; tx Aid. 6 Fibre.'

i.e. can be split in one direction.7

e.g. an unripe walnut.

20

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. n. 5-6

most lplants the moisture has no special name, but

in some it has such a name, as has been said 2: and

this also holds good of animals : for it is only the

moisture of those which have blood which has

received a name;wherefore we distinguish animals

by the presence or absence of blood, calling some' animals with blood/ others ' bloodless.' Moisture

then is one essential '

part/ and so is warmth, which

is closely connected with it.

There are also other internal characters, which in

themselves have no special name, but, because of

their resemblance, have names analogous to those of

the parts of animals. Thus plants have what

corresponds to muscle;and this quasi-muscle is

continuous, fissile, long : moreover no other growthstarts from it either branching from the side 3 or

in continuation of it. Again4

plants have veins :

these in other respects resemble the '

muscle/5 but

they are longer and thicker, and have side-growthsand contain moisture. Then there are wood and

flesh : for some plants have flesh, some wood. Woodis fissile,

6 while flesh can be broken up in anydirection, like earth and things made of earth : it is

intermediate between fibre and veins, its nature being

clearly seen especially in the outer covering7 of

seed-vessels. Bark and core are properly so called,8

yet they too must be defined. Bark then is the

outside, and is separable from the substance which it

covers. Core is that which forms the middle of the

wood, being third 9 in order from the bark, and

corresponding to the marrow in bones. Some call this

part the 'heart/ others call it

' heart-wood'

: some

8i.e. not by analogy with animals, like

'

muscle,''

veins/'

flesh.'9Reckoning inclusively.

21

THEOPHRASTUS

KapBiav, ol &' VTepia)vr]v' evioi Be TO eVro?

/jiyjTpas avrr}? KapBuav, ol Be /JLve\6v.

Ta fLev ovv /Aopia o~%eB6v ecrrt rocravra. crvy-

KiraL Be ra vffrepov etc TMV irpOTepwv v\ov

fjiev e iVo? KOI vypou, teal evia aapfcos' ^v\ovrat

yap crK\ripvvo/J.ev)], olov Iv rot? (f>OLVlf;lKal vdp-

KOI L TL a\\o K^u\ovrai, covTrep ai

v pi^ai- p-tjrpa Be e vypov Kal

6 /jiev T? K TTCLVTWV TWV TfilWV, OLOV O

S/3Lo? Kal alyeipov Kal UTTLOV 6 Be rfjs afJL-

TreXou et; vypov Kal tV6?' 6 Be rov </>eAAoO e/c

crapKos Kal vypov. TTU\IV Be eK TOVTWV crvvOera

ra f^eyicrra Kal Trpwra prjOevra KaOajrepavel

TT\I~IV OVK K TWV avTwv TTcivTa ovBe coaav-

d\\a Biafpopays.

iXrjfjLfjievwv Be irdvrwv rwv fiopiwv co? etTrelv

TOVTMV Biaffropas irapareov aTroBiBovai Ka\

a? o\wv TMV BevBpcov Kal (f)vra)i> oucrta?.

III. 'Evrel Be av^alv^i GafyecrTepav elvau TIJV

p,dui](iLv Biaipov/.iva)v Kara etSr;, /caXw? e'^a

TOVTO TroLelv(/)'

&v evBe^erai. Trpwra Be eari

Kal fjieyiara Kal (T^eBov v<j)wv irdvr rj ra

7r\lara Trepic^erai rdBe, BevBpov

yavov TToa.

AevBpov fj,ev ovv ecrn TO UTTO pt

1(pt\\ov conj. H. ; <f)v\\ov UVP2P3Ald. ; (f>v\\ov M.

2i.e. root, stem, branch, twig : cf. 1. 1. 9.

3

aaipsaTtpav conj. W. ; ffCKpeffTfpov Aid.4

elfSTj here^-yeVr;; rf. 6. 1. 2. n.5

TTCII/T' t] conj. Sch. after G ; wai/rrj UMVAld.

22

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. 11. 6-in. i

again call only the inner part ot the core itself

the 'heart,' while others distinguish this as the' marrow.'

Here then we have a fairly complete list of the'

parts/ and those last named are composed of the first

'

parts' ;wood is made of fibre and sap, and in some

cases of flesh also; for the flesh hardens and turns to

wood, for instance in palms ferula and in other

plants in which a turning to wood takes place, as in

the roots of radishes. Core is made of moisture andflesh : bark in some cases of all three constituents,as in the oak black poplar and pear ; while the

bark of the vine is made of sap and fibre, and that

of the cork-oak l of flesh and sap. Moreover out of

these constituents are made the most important

parts,2 those which I mentioned first, and which may

be called ' members'

: however not all of them are

made of the same constituents, nor in the same

proportion, but the constituents are combined in

various ways.

Having now, we may say, taken all the parts, wemust endeavour to give the differences between themand the essential characters of trees and plants taken

as wholes.

Definitions of the, various classes into ivhich plants may be

divided.

III. Now since our study becomes more illumin-

ating3 if we distinguish different kinds,

4it is well to

follow this plan where it is possible. The first andmost important classes, those which comprise all

or nearly all 5plants, are tree, shrub, under-shrub,

herb.

A tree is a thing which springs from the root with

2 3

THEOPHRASTUS

OVK Va7TO\VTOV, OLOV

crvKr) a/JL7re\os' Qduvo? Be TO a-Tro fci?9 TTO\V-

v, olov /3aT09 TraXtoupo?. fypvyavov Be TO

CL7TO pl&$ 7ToXfO-Tfc'Xe^69 KOL 7TO\VK\aBoV OLOV\ A ' Q V ' 'P>\\\f/t,

Kai uv/jippa Kai Tnjyavov. iroa oe TO a-Tro pify]S

(f)v\\o(f>6pov Trpo'iov ao~TeXe^9, ov o KOLV\O<; crTrep-

fjiO(j)6pos,olov 6 crtTO? KOL TO, \a~\ava.

t Aet Se TOU? o/?ou9 ovrws aTroSe^ecr^at /ecu \a^-ftdveiv &>9 TVTTM KCU 7ri TO irav Xeyo/j-evovs' evia

yap r<ra)9 eTraXX-drrctv S6^i } ra 8e real Trapa rr]i>

d\\oLorpa yiveedai KOL K/3aiVivolov zaXa?7 re et9

l aTroo'evSpov/jLevr)' Wfiftalvei yap TOVTO ical

OVK ev TroXXrT) %p6vw aXX' ev e^ rj 7rra fjir^alv,

ware firjfcos KCI\ 7ra^o9 Sopartatov yiveo~6ai, &C o

KOI /3aKTr)piai<? avTals xpcovrai, TrXeiovos 8e %po-vov yivonevov Kara \6yov 1} dTroSoo-w ofjboiws

Be Kal 7rl rwv TevT\u>v KOL yap ravra \au/3dvei

ueye0o$' TL Be ua\\ov ayVOL Kal 6 TraXiovposKal 6 /aTT09, &<?&' 6/jLO\oyov/jievcos ravra yiverai

3 BevBpa' Kai TOL OaavcoBrj ye ecmv. 6 Be uvppivos

/jiv dvaKaQaipo/jievos eK9a^Lvovrai KOI r) rjpaKXero-

TIKTJ Kapva. BOKEL Be avrij ye Kal TOV KapjrovKal TrXeto) <f>epeiv edv pdftBovs Tt9 ea

1

QO.JJ.VOS . . . Tr-rjyavov. W.'s text transposes, without

alteration, the definitions of 6d/.ivos and typvyavov as givenin U. (ppvyavov 6^ rb airb fr(t]S Ka\ iro\vcrre\fx S Ka ^ To\VK\a8ov

olov j8aros ira\loupos, Aid. So also M, but with a lacuna

marked before qpvyavov and a note that the definition of

6d/j.vos is wanting. typvyavov 8e rb airb pir)s Kal iro\vffTt\fX(sKal iro\vx\a1>ov olov Kal yd/j.Bptj Kal -ir-fjyavoi'. Salvos 5f airb t>((r)s

iro\vK\a5ov olov /Saros ira\iovpos U. So also very nearly PiP?.G gives to Qdnvos (fmtex) the definition assigned in U to

<f>pvyavov (sitffriitex) and the other definition is wanting.

24

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I in. 1-3

a single stem, having knots and several branches,and it cannot easily be uprooted ;

for instance, olive

fig vine. 1A shrub is a thing which rises from the

root with many branches ;for instance, bramble

Christ's thorn. An under-shrub is a thing whichrises from the root with many stems as well as manybranches

;for instance, savory

2 rue. A herb is a

thing which comes up from the root with its leaves

and has no main stem, and the seed is borne on the

stem ; for instance, corn and pot-herbs.These definitions however must be taken and

accepted as applying generally and on the whole. Forin the case of some plants it might seem that our de-

finitions overlap ;and some under cultivation appear

to become different and depart from their essential

nature, for instance, mallow 3 when it grows tall andbecomes tree-like. For this comes to pass in no longtime, not more than six or seven months, so that in

length and thickness the plant becomes as great as a

spear, and men accordingly use it as a walking-stick,and after a longer period the result of cultivation is

proportionately greater. So too is it with the beets;

they also increase in stature under cultivation, and so

still more do chaste-tree Christ's thorn ivy, so that,as is generally admitted, these become trees, and yet

they belong to the class of shrubs. On the other

hand the myrtle, unless it is pruned, turns into a

shrub, and so does filbert 4: indeed this last appears

to bear better and more abundant fruit, if one leaves

Note that W.'s transposition gives KO.\ . . . /col the properforce; 4 shews that the typical Qpvyavov in T.'s view was

2Bv/jL&pa con]. W.

; yduPp-n MSS. But the first /cal beingmeaningless, W. also suggests ffHTv/u&ptov for KO.\ yd^pt).

3cf. Plin. 19. 62. 4

c/. 3. 15. 1.

25

THEOPHRASTUS

ft>9 TJ}? (^ucreco? OafAVtoBovs oi/cr;;?.* $>

' - > > t ^ / > '

o av oo!~iev ouo77 aijXea ouo ?/

uS'77 drrtos eivai, ovS* oXco? ocra 7rapa(3\a-

a UTTO ra)i> pi,wv a\\a rfj afycoyf) roiavra

rwv a\\wv. evia 6e KOI ewcri

Sia Xerrrorrjra, /caOajrep poav

/jffj\eav ecocri Se /cal ra? e'Xaa? KOTrdSas KOL ra?

4 Ta^a S' civ TI<$ (frair) Kal oX&>? fjteyeOei Kal/JLL-

KpoTTjTi BiaipeTCov eivai, TO, Be lo")(yi Kal do~6eveia

Kal rro\v)(povi6Tr]TL Kal o\iyoxpoi>ioTr)Ti. TCOV TC

yap (bpvyavwowv Kai \ayavwoo3v evia uovo-

(7TeXe^ Kal olov BevBpov fyvcriv e^ovTa yiveTai,

KaOdirep pdfyavos mjyavov, o6ev Kal

Tives TO, ToiavTa $evBpo\d%ava, TCL re

rrdvTa rj TCL TrXetcrra OTav eyKaTaaeivrj

wcrTrep aKpe/jLovas Kal yiveTai TO o\ov ev

5 Ata 8^ TavTa werrrep \eyofjiev OVK at

reov rw opw aXXa TW TVTTW \r)7rTeov

diopterfjiovs' errel Kal ra? Siaipeo~eis o/iotco?, olor

fffieptov dypiwv, Kaprrotyopcov aKapTrwv, dvOo&opwvdvai'Owv, dei(f)v\\ci)v (j)v\\o/3o\cov. Ta ^v ydpdypia Kal i]iJ.epa irapa TifV dywy^v eivai BoKel-

rrdv ydp Kal dypiov Kal ^[Jiepov ^CTLV "\7nrwv

yivecrflat Tvy^dvov rj f^rj rvy%dvov

1i.e. so that the tree conies to look like a shrub from the

growth of fresh shoots after cutting, cf. 2. 6. 12 ; 2. 7. 2.2

fidtyavos conj. Bod. from G ; patyavls Aid.8

cf. 3. 2. 2. The Ionian philosopher. See Zeller, Pre-

Socrafir Philosophy (Eng. trans.), 1. 281 f.

4 K a\ add. W.; soG.B^ conj. Sch.; Ka \ UAld.Cam.Bas.H.

26

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. in. 3-5

a good many of its branches untouched, since it is bynature like a shrub. Again neither the apple nor the

pomegranate nor the pear would seem to be a tree of

a single stem, nor indeed any of the trees which haveside stems from the roots, but they acquire the char-

acter of a tree when the other stems are removed.However some trees men even leave with their

numerous stems because of their slenderness, for in-

stance, the pomegranate and the apple, and theyleave the steins of the olive and the fig cut short. 1

Exact classification impracticable: other 2}ossible bases oj

classification.

Indeed it might be suggested that we should

classify in some cases simply by size, and in somecases by comparative robustness or length of life.

For of under-shrubs and those of the pot-herbclass some have only one stem and come as it wereto have the character of a tree, such as cabbage

2

and rue : wherefore some call these '

tree-herbs'; andin fact all or most of the pot-herb class, when

they have been long in the ground, acquire a sort

of branches, and the whole plant comes to have a

tree-like shape, though it is shorter lived than a tree.

For these reasons then, as we are saying, onemust not make a too precise definition ; we should

make our definitions typical. For we must makeour distinctions too on the same principle, as

those between wild and cultivated plants, fruit-

bearing and fruitless, flowering and flowerless,

evergreen and deciduous. Thus the distinction

between wild and cultivated seems to be due

simply to cultivation, since, as Hippon3

remarks,

any plant may be either 4 wild or cultivated ac-

cording as it receives or 5 does not receive attention.

27

THEOPHRASTUS

afcapTra Be Kal Kapirifjia Kal dvdocfropa KOL

irapa rou? roTrof? KOI TOV depa TOV

rov avTOV Be TpoTrov real <f)v\Xo/36\a KOI dei-

<j)V\\a. Trepl yap ^JX-e^avrivr^v ovBe ra? a/XTreXou?

ovBe ra? o-f/ca? CL<JI c/jfXXo/SoXeu'.'AXX' oyua)? TOLCLVTO, BtaipeTeov e^a yap TI TT}?

KOIVOV 6JLoiw<? eV 8e^Soot? KOI avoi^ KOI

rot? pwyaviKos KOI Troicoecnv >7rep MV KCU ra?

orai/ Tt? XC^T; 7re/}IirdvTwv KOivfi &]Kov OTI

Be

teal raura? KOIVCLS elvcu Trdvrwv. a/jia & KOL

fyalverai Tiva e^etv ^VCTLK^V Biafiopav ev0v$ eV)

TWV aypicov real TWV rj/jiepwv, eiTrep evta firj Svva-

rai ,r)V wcnrep TCL yecopyovfjieva jj,r)B' oXw? Severala\\a %etp&> ylverai,, KaOaTrep e\drtj

Ki]\a(TTpov KOL a7T\ft)5 oaa i/rin^joL'? TOTTOU?

KOI %iova)Beis, axrauTco? Be /cat TWV typwyavi-KWV /cal TTOiwBwv, olov KaTnrapis fcal $6/3/^09.

rffjiepov Be KOI aypiov Bifcaiov icdXelv avatyepovra

TT/oo? re ravra Kal 6'Xco? TT/JO? TO rj/jiepcorarov [o

8' avOpwrros i] fiovov i] /jid\i(TTa rmepovJ]IV. <bavepal Be KOL rear aura? ra? yw,o/?(^a? a/

Bia<popal TWV o\o)v re /cal fiopiwv, olov Xeyro

Kal avavBri conj. Sch. from G ; Kapir6<popa &v6r]

P2Ald. 2

r/. 1. 9. 5 ; Plin. 16. 81.3 roiaCro 'COnj. W. ; SiaipeTfov conj. Sch.; rots OUTO?S

alpfTfov Aid. The sense seems to be : Though these'

secondary'

distinctions are not entirely satisfactory, yet(if \ve look to the causes of different characters), they are

indispensable, since they are due to causes which affect all

the four classes of our 'primary' distinction.4

i.e. we must take the extreme cases.8

i.e. plants which entirely refuse cultivation.

28

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. in. S-IY. i

Again the distinctions between fruitless and fruit-

bearing,1

flowering and flowerless, seem to be dueto position and the climate of the district. Andso too with the distinction between deciduous and

evergreen.2 Thus they say that in the district of

Elephantine neither vines nor figs lose their leaves.

Nevertheless we are bound to use such dis-

tinctions. 3 For there is a certain common character

alike in trees, shrubs, under-shrubs, and herbs.

Wherefore, when one mentions the causes also,

one must take account of all alike, not giving

separate definitions for each class, it being reasonable

to suppose that the causes too are common to all.

And in fact there seems to be some natural difference

from the first in the case of wild and cultivated,

seeing that some plants cannot live under the

conditions of those grown in cultivated ground,and do not submit to cultivation at all, but de-

teriorate under it;

for instance, silver-fir fir holly,and in general those which affect cold snowycountry ;

and the same is also true of some of the

under-shrubs and herbs, such as caper and lupin.Now in using the terms ' cultivated

'

and ' wild'

4 we must make these 5 on the one hand our standard,and on the other that which is in the truest sense fl

' cultivated.' 7 Now Man, if he is not the only

thing to which this name is strictly appropriate, is at

least that to which it most applies.

Differences as to appearance and habitat.

IV. Again the differences, both between the plantsas wholes and between their parts, may be seen in

6 SAws Trpbs rb. ? nobs rb '6\us conj. St.7 & 8' frvdpuiros . . . y\p.epov. I have bracketed this clause,

which seems to be an irrelevant gloss.

29

THEOPHRASTUS

s KOI {JiiKporris, cr/c\r)p6r>is

XetoT?;? rpa^vrr)?, (fiXoiov (frvXXwv rwv a\\wv,aTrXw? evfjiopfyia KOL Bvajj,op<f)La rt$, en Be KOI

Ka\\LKap7ria ical KaKOKaprrla. TrXeto) ^ev japBo/cel ra aypia (frepeiv, tocnrep d^pa? tconvos, /ca\-

\io) Be ra rj/jiepa KOL rou? %L'Xou? 8e aurou?

y\VKVTpOVS Kttl 7/SlOU? KOL TO 0\OV CO? L7TIV

2 AvTai re S?) fyvaiicaL rives wcrrrep el'pijrai Bia-

(f)opai, KOL en $ij fj.a\\ov rwv aKaprrwv KOL fcapjro-

<f)6pcov /cal (f)V\\o/36\MV teal dei(j)v\.\a)v teal ocra

aXXa roiavra. rravrwv Se \r)rrreov del KCU

Kara TOU? rorrovs' ov yap ov& olov re

aXXco?. at &e rotavrai So^aiev av yevLKov nvarroielv ^(Dpicr/jLov,

olov evvBpcov real 'xepcraiwv, waTrepenl rwv ^u>wv. ean yap evia rcov (pvrwv a ov

Svvarai fxrj ev vypCo "Cfiv $>njpr)Tai Be aXXo /car'

aXXo yevos row vypwv, ware ra /Jiev ev reK^acnra Be ev Xt/ii/ai? ra B* ev Trorayuot? ra Be /cal ev

avrfj rfj 6a\drrrj fyvecrOcii, ra p^ev e\drrw teal ev

rfj Trap' i]fjiivra Be fiei^co rrepl rrjv epvOpdv. evia

Be wcTTrepel KciOvypa Kal e\eia, Ka6drrep Irea Kal

irXdravo^t ra Be OVK ev vBari Bvvdfjieva %r)v ovB'

oXo)? aXXa Bta>KOvra TOL/9 ^rjpovs rorrovs' rcov B*

e\arrovcov ecrnv a /cal rovs alyia\ov$.

Ka1

/car' auras ras conj. Sch. ; /cat rd T' auras raj U ; Ka.ro

ravras ras MVAld.2 -ROLVTUV . . . rdirous, text perhaps defective.3

i.e. as to locality.4

cf. 4. 7. 1.

30

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. iv. 1-2

the appearance itself 1 of the plant. I mean differences

such as those in size, hardness, smoothness or their

opposites, as seen in bark, leaves, and the other

parts ; also, in general, differences as to comeliness

or its opposite and as to the production of good or ot

inferior fruit. For the wild kinds appear to bear

more fruit, for instance, the wild pear and wild olive,

but the cultivated plants better fruit, having even

flavours which are sweeter and pleasanter and in

general better blended, if one may so say.

These then as has been said, are differences of

natural character, as it were, and still more so are

those between fruitless and fruitful, deciduous and

evergreen plants, and the like. But with all the

differences in all these cases we must take into

account the locality,2 arid indeed it is hardly possible

to do otherwise. Such 3 differences would seem to

give us a kind of division into classes, for instance,

between that of aquatic plants and that of plants of

the dry land, corresponding to the division which wemake in the case of animals. For there are some

plants which cannot live except in wet;and again

these are distinguished from one another by their

fondness for different kinds of wetness ; so that some

grow in marshes, others in lakes, others in rivers,

others even in the sea, smaller ones in our own

sea, larger ones in the Red Sea. 4 Some again, one

may say, are lovers of very wet places,5 or plants

of the marshes, such as the willow and the plane.Others again cannot live at all 6 in water, but seek

out dry places ;and of the smaller sorts there are

some that prefer the shore.

5i.e. though not actually living in water.

6 ot5' '6\us conj. W.; iv -rAvrois Ald.H. Minime G.

3 1

THEOPHRASTUS

Ov firjv d\\d Kal rovrwv el ri<$ d/cpifto\o-

ai 6e\ov, ra pev av evpoi KOLVCU teal wcnrep

dfji<f)i/3ia, KaOdrrep avpiKrjv ireav K\7J0pav, ra Be

/cal rcov 6/jLo\oyov/ji6vct)v %pcraLa)v rre<$>i>Kora Trore

ev rfj 0a\a.TTr) (Biovv, fyoiviica aKi\\av avdepucoi'.

d\\a ra roiavra Kal 6\&)5 TO OUTCO GKOTrelv OVK

OLK6LO)<; ecrrt crK07rii>' ov& yap 01)8' 7/ $>v<ns ov-

TW? ot8' eV rot? TOIOVTOIS ^t, TO dvajKalov'. ra?

/JL6V ovv SiaipeGew Kal 6'Xa><? rrjv icrropiav TWV(frv-

rwv ovra) \rj7rreov. [aTravra'

ovv Kal ravra Kal

ra a\\a Sioiaei Kaddrrep eiprjrai rat? re rwv

o\wv fjiopfyals Kal rat? rwv uopicov Siacpopais, rj

>/ \r.\\v *-v/ ^ t*ra> eeiv ra be jir e eiv > T() w^i) ra o

rj rw vop.ow^ oaoi rporroi

4 rrpbrepov. olKelov Se Tcra)? Kal rovs TOTTOU? CTV/JL-

TTapa\a[j,l3dv6iv ev ot? eKaara rrefyvKev 17 yu?)

rce^VKe jLvecrOai. /j.e<yd\^ yap Kal avri] Sia<popd

Kal ov% iJKiara olxeia rwv (frvrwv Sid TO crvvyp-

rrjcrOat rfj yy Kal/JLTJ

drro\e\v<j6ai KaOdrcep\ ls~ ~[ra &>a.J

V. Yleipareov S' elrcelv Ta? Kara pepos Bta-

a>9 av Ka9o\ov \eyovras

1 6f\oi conj. Sch.; 8e\ft Ald.H.2

f'upoi conj. Sch.; evprj Aid.; fvpr) H.

!

1'resumably as being sometimes found on the shore below

high -water mark.4

a.-navra. . . . wo. This passage seems not to belonghere (W.).

8Tp6-rrt>t conj. Sch. ; TJTTOI UMVAld.

32

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. iv. 3-v. i

However, if one should wish l to be precise, onewould find 2 that even of these some are impartialand as it were amphibious, such as tamarisk willow

alder, and that others even of those which are

admitted to be plants of the dry land sometimes live

in the sea,3 as palm squill asphodel. But to con-

sider all these exceptions and, in general, to consider

in such a manner is not the right way to proceed.For in such matters too nature certainly does not

thus go by any hard and fast law. Our distinctions

therefore and the study of plants in general must be

understood accordingly.4 To return these plants

as well as all others will be found to differ, as has

been said, both in the shape of the whole andin the differences between the parts, either as to

having or not having certain parts, or as to havinga greater or less number of parts, or as to havingthem differently arranged, or because of other dif-

ferences 5 such as we have already mentioned. Andit is perhaps also proper to take into account the

situation in which each plant naturally grows or

does not grow. For this is an important distinc-

tion, and specially characteristic of plants, because

they are united to the ground and not free fromit like animals.

Characteristic differences in the parts of plants, ivhether

general, special, or seen in qualities and properties.

V. Next we must try to give the differences as

to particular parts, in the first instance speakingbroadly of those of a general character,

6 and then

8i.e. those which divide plants into large classes (e.y.

evergreen and deciduous).

33

THEOPHRASTUS

elra KaO' eKacrrov, varepov eVi TrXeiov

dvaBewpovvras.Be rd fiev opOofyvr) KCU

e\drr) TrevKij KVTrdpirros, ra Be CTKO-

\i(t)repa teal ^pa^vcrreXe^ olov Irea avKtj poid,Kal Kara Tra^o? Be Kal \7rror^ra o/moicos.

KOI TraXiv ra /Jiev fjLOvoareK-ej^t] ra Se TTO\V-

<TTeXe^>?- rovro $ ravro rpojrov riva Kal rw

Trapa(3\aarririKa 77 inrapafBXacrra eivai' Kal

7ro\vK\a&ri Kal o\iy6K\a$a KaOdrrep o(frolvij;,

Kal ev avrois rovrois en Kara Icr^vv r) vra^o? 7}

2 ra? rouavras BicKfiopds. Trd\iv ra fjiev Xeirro-

(f)\oia, KaOdrrep Sa</>^r; <fti\vpa, ra ^e 7raxv<j)\oia,

KaOdirep &/){)?. eri rd JJLCV \io(j)\ota, KaOdrrep

/j,7)\a crvKr), rd Be rpa%v(f)\oia, KaOdjrep dypi'a

Bpvs <^)eXXo? (froivij;.rcdvra Be vea /JLCV ovra

\iocj)\oi6rpa, d7royr]pda~Kovra Be rpa^vcfrXoio-

repa, evta Be Kal pr)i(f)\oia, KaOaTrep a/zTreXo?, rd

Be Kal a)? TrepLTr'nrreLV, olov dvBpd'xXtj /jLr)\ea

KOfJiapo^. can Be Kal rwv n*v arapxtoBtjc; 6 (f)\oios,

olov (f)e\\ov Bpvos aiyeipow rcov Be tVcoS?;? /cal

dcrapKos OUOLCOS BevBpcov Kal Odfivwv Kal eTrereiwv,

olov d/jLrreXov Ka\d/jiov 7rvpov. Kal rwv /jiev

TroXuXoTro?, olov (j)i\vpa<$ e'XttT?;? dfiTreXov \ivo-

crTrdprov Kpo/.iva)V, rwv Be fj.ovo\07ros, olov

1i.e. taking account of differences in qualities, etc. See

4, but the order in which the three kinds of' differences

'

are discussed is not that which is here given ; the second is

taken first and resumed at 6. 1, the third begins at 5. 4, the

first at 14. 4.

2 Taurb conj. Sell. ;aurb UMVPAld.

3rpaxv(p\oi6rfpa conj. H. from G ; TTOXU^). UMAld.

rf. Plin. 16. 126.

34

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. v. 1-2

of special differences between individual kinds; and

after that we must take a wider range, making as it

were a fresh survey.1

Some plants grow straight up and have tall stems,as silver-fir fir cypress ;

some are by comparisoncrooked and have short stems, as willow fig pome-granate ;

and there are like differences as to degreeof thickness. Again some have a single stem, others

many stems ;and this difference corresponds

2 moreor less to that between those which have side-

growths and those which have none, or that betweenthose which have many branches and those whichhave few, such as the date-palm. And in these

very instances we have also differences in strengththickness and the like. Again some have thin

bark, such as bay and lime;

others have a thick

bark, such as the oak. And again some havesmooth bark, as apple and fig ; others rough bark,as 'wild oak' (Valonia oak) cork-oak and date-palm.However all plants when young have smoother

bark, which gets rougher3 as they get older

; andsome have cracked bark,

4 as the vine; and in some

cases it readily drops off, as in andrachne apple5

and arbutus. And again of some the bark is fleshy,as in cork-oak oak poplar ;

while in others it is

fibrous and not fleshy ;and this applies alike to trees

shrubs and annual plants, for instance to vines

reeds and wheat. Again in some the bark has morethan one layer, as in lime silver-fir vine Spanishbroom 6 onions 7

; while in some it consists of only*

pr)i<p\oia conj. St.; pi(t(poia (?)U; p<t<pAoia P.; fii6-

(pXoia P2Ald. cf. 4. 15. 2, Plin. I.e.

6firj\ea conj. H. Steph., etc.; j/TjAe/a UMPAld.; i>i)\eiu

P2V. cf. Plin. I.e.

6 G appears to have read hlvov, atraprov.7

cf. 5. 1 6.

35

THEOPHRASTUS

/ca\dfjiov aipas. Kara ptv Brj TOL/? <p\oiov<; ev

Tourot? at BiatyopaL3 Twv Be uXo>z> avrwv /cal oXo>9 rwv Kav\wv ol

fj,ev elau crap/ccoBeis, olov Bpvos cru/o}?, KO\ rwv

e\arrovwv pd/jii>ov revr\ov Kwveiov ol Be daap/coi,

/ceBpov \wrov /cvTrapirrov. /cal ol

ra yap TT}? eXarr;? /cal rov (froiviteo

roiavra' ra Be alva, KaOdirep TT}? av/crjs. waav-

/cal TO, u-ez/ c)\3u>S ra

8e ra fypvyavixa /cal Qa/nvM&i] /cal oXw? ra v\ij-

/jiara /cal aXXa? r^9 av \dt3oi &La(f)opds' 6 fjiev

yap /cd\.a/nos yovarw&es, 6 5e fBdro^ /cal 6

TraTu'oupo? d/cavOaycjr). 1} e ru(f)rj /cal evia

rj \nivaiwv 6/zot&)? d&id(f)pa/CTa /cal 6/

-^olvo^. 6 8e TOV /cwireipov /cal ftovro-

IJLOV /cav\os o/xaXoT^ra iiva e%ei Trapa TOVTOV?'

ert Be [jioXXov t'<ra)? o TOV /jLv/cr)TO<>.

4 KvTai /jLev Bi] Bo^aiev av e wvrj crvvOecns. al

/cara ra rrddij /cal ra<; Bvvdjieis olov

<7rv/cvo-

/J,av6rrjs Kov^orr]^ fiapvnjs KOL\ ocra aXXaroiavra' rj fjiev yap Irea teal x\a)pov evtiv /coixfrov,

Marrep 6 ^eXXo?, j]Be rrv<~o<$ /cal rj eftevos ovBe

avavOevra. /cal ra jjuev a^i^eraL, fcaOdrrep ra

1ftd/ivov conj. W. ; Qdnvov P2 ; fta.\a.vov A1J.H.

2 KWfiov conj. Sell.; Kuviou Ald.U (corrected to

cf. 7. 6. 4.3 8 fiiVa conj. Sen from G. ;

8e ffiva U; 5e yuoi/a Aid. ;

6^ . . . va M.4

t\T)juaTct conj. Sch. (a general term including shrubs,

under-shrubs, etc. cf. 1. 6. 7 ; 1. 10. 6) ; KATj/mra, Aid.

36

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. v. 2-4

one coat, as in fig reed darnel. Such are the

respects in which bark differs.

Next of the woods themselves and of stems

generally some are fleshy, as in oak and fig, and,

among lesser plants, in buckthorn 1 beet hemlock 2;

\\ hile some are not fleshy, for instance, prickly cedar

nettle-tree cypress. Again some are fibrous, for of

this character is the wood of the silver-fir and the

date-palm ;while some are not fibrous,

3 as in the

fig.In like manner some are full of {

veins/ others

veinless. Further in shrubby plants and under-

shrubs and in woody plants4 in general one might

find other differences : thus the reed is jointed,while the bramble and Christ's thorn have thorns onthe wood. Bulrush and some of the marsh or pondplants are in like manner 5 without joints and smooth,like the rush ; and the stem of galingale and sedgehas a certain smoothness beyond those just men-tioned ;

and still more perhaps has that of the

mushroom.

Differences as to qualities and properties.

These then would seem to be the differences in

the parts which make up the plant. Those which

belong to the qualities6 and properties are such as

hardness or softness, toughness or brittleness, close-

ness or openness of texture, lightness or heaviness,and the like. For willow-wood is light from the

first, even when it is green, and so is that of the

cork-oak ; but box and ebony are not light evenwhen dried. Some woods again can be split,

7 such

5o/Moias, sense doubtful ; bp.<avvp.<av conj. W.irddrj, cf. 1. 1. 1 11.

7o"x^CeT * conj. W.; ffxiaQevra. UMVAld. ; ffxurrd H. ;

fisailes G.

37

THEOPHRASTUS

, ra Be evOpavcrra /naXXor, olov ra rf/s"

eXa9. Kal ra aev do^a, olov ra TT}? arervj^. ra Be

olov ra r>}9 Trevfcr)? Kal

5 Aet Be Kal ra? roiavras V7ro\an/3dveiv v?/9

<f>vcrea)<>. eva^icnov {lev jap rj e'Xar?; ru> evOv-

Tfopelv, evOpavarov Be rj e'Xaa Bta ro O~KO\LOV teal

o~K\r)pov. ev/ca/jLTrrov Bt 1} (friXupa teal 6o~a aXXaBta ro <y\icr'^pav e^eiv r^v vyporrjra. (3apv Be

i]

TTU^O? tealrj

e(/9e^09 on Trv/cvd, r) Be Bpvs on

Q> < / 5-\ ^^"A-V ' v

oes. coo~avra)<; oe Kai ra a\\a rravra TT/JO?

(f>vo~iv TTO)? dvdyerai.VI. &ia<pepovai, Be teal rat? fjirfrpaw rrp&rov

el evia e%ei rj prj e^ei, KaOdnep rives (frao'iv

a\Xa re /cal ri]v aKri]v erceira KOI ev avrols

To?9 e)^ovcn' rwv fjiev yap eari aapfcwBy]?

Be %v\ot)Bi]$ rcov Be vjuevooBrjs. Kal

olov d/JLTreXov CTVKI^ /x/yXe'a? poias d/crrp

KO$. %v\(0Brjs Be Trtruo? e\drr)s rcevKi^,

l fjidXiara avrrj Bia ro evBaBos elvai. rovrcov

B* en o~K\r)pbrepai, Kal rrvKvorepai Kpaveias

rrplvov Bpvbs tcvricrov o-VKa/j.ivov eftevov \wrov.

kiafyepovai, Be avral Kal roi? %/3<wpaaraeXaivai <ydp TT}? efievov Kal T% Bpvos, r)v Ka\ovai

ae\dvBpvov. arcaaai Be (TK\i]p6repai Kal Kpavpo-

1i.e. break across the grain. fv9pav<TTa mP ; &6pa.utna

UPA\d.; fragilisG. cf. 5. 5, Plin 16. 1S6.2 &oa conj. Palm, from G ;

Aoa UPAlil8

i.e. across the grain.4

cf. 5. 6. 2. 5cj. 5. 1.4.

6 T. appears uot to agree as to elder : see below.

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. v. 4-vi. 2

as that of the silver-fir, while others are rather break-

able,1 sucli as the wood of the olive. Again some

are without knots,2 as the stems of elder, others

have knots, as those of fir and silver-fir.

Now such differences also must be ascribed to the

essential character of the plant : for the reason whythe wood of silver-fir is easily split is that the

grain is straight, while the reason why olive-wood is

easily broken 3is that it is crooked and hard. Lime-

wood and some other woods on the other hand are

easily bent because their sap is viscid. 4 Boxwoodand ebony are heavy because the grain is close, andoak because it contains mineral matter. 5 In like

manner the other peculiarities too can in some waybe referred to the essential character.

Farther '

special'

differences.

VI. Again there are differences in the 'core' : in

the first place according as plants have any or have

none, as some say6 is the case with elder among other

things ;and in the second place there are differences

between those which have it, since in different plantsit is respectively fleshy, woody, or membranous

;

fleshy, as in vine fig apple pomegranate elder ferula;

woody, as in Aleppo pine silver-fir fir; in the last-

named 7especially so, because it is resinous. Harder

again and closer than these is the core of dog-woodkermes-oak oak laburnum mulberry ebony nettle-

tree.

The cores in themselves also differ in colour ;for

that of ebony and oak is black, and in fact in

the oak it is called 'oak-black'; and in all these the

core is harder and more brittle than the ordinary7

avr-n conj. Sch.; avrri UAld.; UUTT) MV ; OUTIJS P2.

39

THEOPHRASTUS

repai TWV %vXwv Si b KOI ov% v7To/j,ei>ov(Ti

KafJiTn]v. fjLaroTepai Be al [lev al 8' ov. vfjievw-

Beis 8' ev p.ev rot? BevBpois ovre elalv77 aTrdvioi,

ev Be rot? 0a/jLV(*)Beo-i real 6'A.&>? roi? v\i]^a<JLvolov reaXd/AM re /cal vdpOrjfci real TO?? TOIOVTOLS

elcrLV. e%ei Se rrjv /jLtJTpai' Td pev /uL6jd\rjv real

(fravepdv, &)? irplvo^ Bpvs real Ta\Xa Trpoeipi]-

peva, ra 5' afyavea'Tepai', olov e\da irvffos' ov

jap eGTLV d<pa>pi(TijLin]v ovrto \a{3eiv, d\\a rcai

(fraGi Tives ov Kara TO fizaov d\\d Kara TO rrdv

eyeiv wcrrefj,7)

elvai TOTTOV copLafJitvov &C o real/ > * *?

' f* "-V " 1 \ \evia ovo av co^eiev oA,&)? e^eiv evret KOLI TOV

fyoivLKOs ovefjiia (f>aiveTai Siacfropd KCLT ovbtv.

3 A/a^e'poucrt Se real rat? pi'^at?. ra fiev 'yap

7ro\vppi(i real fj.arep6ppta, KaOdirep avrerj BpvsTrXaTavo?' edv *yap e^waL TOTTOI', (f>

QGOVOVV

7rpoep%ovTai. TO, 8e 6\iy6ppia, readdrrep p

/z7;Xea* TO, Be povoppt^a, KaOaTrep eXaTt]

fjLOv6ppi,a Be oi/ro)?, ori piav /j-eydXijv TIJV

ySa^o? e^et /Airepds Be drro TavT^ Tr\eiovs. e%ovo~iBe Kal TWV uij novoppi^wv evia T^V ere TOV fjieaov

Heyio-Trjv real reara /Sa^ou?, cocrrrep d/j,vyBa\i}-

e\da Be fjiLKpav TavTrjv ra? Be aXXa? aei^ovs real

&)? reeKapKLVWfJLeva^. CTI Be TWV fxev Tra^elai

pa\\ov TWV Be dvco/jLoXeis, KaOaTrep Bdfpviys e\da<f4 TWV Be Trdaai \errTai, reaQdrrep d/jLTreXov. Bia-

<j)epovo~i Be real Xetorr^rt real Tpa^vT^Ti real TTVKVO-

i. TrdvTwv yap al pL^ai /j^avoTepat TWV dvw,

. . . oK : text can hardly be sound, but sense is

clear. 2i.e. homogeneous.

3 Plin. 16. 127.4 3. 6. 4 seems to give a different account.5

r/. C.P. 3. 23. 5, and KapKivuS-ns C.P. 1. 12. 3 ; 3. 21. 5.

40

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. vi. 2-4

wood ;and for this reason the core of these trees can

not be bent. Again the core differs in closeness

of texture. 1 A membranous core is not commonin trees, if indeed it is found at all

; but it is foundin shrubby plants and woody plants generally, as in

reed ferula and the Jike. Again in some the core is

large and conspicuous, as in kermes-oak oak andthe other trees mentioned above ; while in others it

is less conspicuous, as in olive and box. For in thesetrees one cannot find it isolated, but, as some say, it

is not found in the middle of the stem, being diffusedy Othroughout, so that it has no separate place ; and for

this reason some trees might be thought to have nocore at all ; in fact in the date-palm the wood is

alike throughout.2

Differences in root.

8Again plants differ in their roots, some having

many long roots, as fig oak plane ; for the roots of

these, if they have room, run to any length. Others

again have few roots, as pomegranate and apple,others a single root, as silver-fir and fir

; these havea single root in the sense that they have one longone 4 which runs deep, and a number of small ones

branching from this. Even in some of those whichhave more than a single root the middle root is the

largest and goes deep, for instance, in the almond;

in the olive this central root is small, while theothers are larger and, as it were, spread out crab-

wise. 6Again the roots of some are mostly stout, of

some of various degrees of stoutness, as those of

bay and olive ; and of some they are all slender,as those of the vine. Roots also differ in degreeoof smoothness and in density. For the roots of all

41

THEOPHRASTUS

TTVKvoTepat, Be aXXcu a\\wv KOI

KOI al fJLV lva>8eist &>? al TT}? eXar/;^, ai Be

XXov, wcnrep al rf/? Bpvos, al Be olov

Kal OuaavcoBeis, axnrep al rr}9 t'Xda?-

TOVTO Be oTi ra? XeTrra? Kal piKpas TroXXa?

cloven Kal a6p6a<$' eVel vracrat 76 rat raura?

a7TO(f)vovo-iv OLTTO rwv p,eiyd\wv aXX' oi/^ o/iotw?

/cal TroXXa?.

Se ^al ra /zev fiadvppL^a, KaOdirep Spvs,ra 5' e7ri7ro\ai6ppia, Kaddjrep eXaa pota fj,rj\ea

Kwrrdpi'T'Tos. ert 8e al fjiev evOelau Kal o/zaXet?,at' 5e GKokial Kal TrapaXhaTTOvaar TOVTO japov fjiovov trvfij3aiVi Bia TOU? TOTTOU? TW

ya?)

evoSeiv aXXa Kal TT}? (j)vaea)^ avTrjs earTiv, coarrepeVt TT}? 8d(f)vr)<; /cal T?}? e'Xa? m

?/ Se avfcrj Kal raToiavTa (TKO\iovTai Bia TO pr) evoSeiv.

5 "ATracrai, S'e/jL/jLijTpoi KaQdrrep Kal TO,

Kal ol di<peCoves' KCLI i>\oyov euro TT}?

elcrl Be Kal al [lev TrapafiXaaT^TiKal et? TO dvw,

KaOaTrep dfJLTre\ov poas, al Be aTrapaftXacrToi,

Kaddirep e'Xar??? KurrapiTTOv irevKr)^. al avTalBe Btaffropal Kal TWV (fipwyaviKwv Kal TMV TroiaiBwv

Kal TWV a'XXcoi/' TT\IJV el oXa>? eviafj,rj

KaOdirep vBvov {JLVK^S 7re't9 fcepavviov. TO,

TToXvppt^a KaOdjrep TTU/OO? TL^TI KptO^, jrav TO

TOLOVTO, KaOaTrep eiKa^ovaaL^' TO, 8' o\t,y6ppi%a6 Kaddrrep ra ^eBporrd. o"%e8bi> Be Kal TWVwBwi> TO, TrXetcrra /JLovoppi^a, olov

1irt(is Ktpavviov : TTV^OS ttpavtov UMVAld. ; treats conj. Sell.

from Athen. 2. 59 ; Kepavviov conj. W. cf. Plin. 3. 36 and 37,Juv. 5. 117.

'

2fiKa^ovffais : word corrupt; so UMVAld.

3 riin. 19. 98.

42

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. vi. 4-6

plants are less dense than the parts above ground,but the density varies in different kinds, as also does

the woodiness. Some are fibrous, as those of the

silver-fir, some fleshier, as those of the oak, some are

as it were branched and tassel-like, as those of theolive

;and this is because they have a large number

of fine small roots close together ; for all in fact pro-duce these from their large roots, but they are notso closely matted nor so numerous in some cases as

in others.

Again some plants are deep-rooting, as the oak,and some have surface roots, as olive pomegranateapple cypress. Again some roots are straight and

uniform, others crooked and crossing one another.

For this comes to pass not merely on account of thesituation because they cannot find a straight course

;

it may also belong to the natural character of the

plant, as in the bay and the olive ; while the fig andsuch like become crooked because they can not find

a straight course.

All roots have core, just as the stems and branches

do, which is to be expected, as all these parts are

made of the same materials. Some roots again have

side-growths shooting upwards, as those of the vine

and pomegranate, while some have no side-growth,as those of silver-fir cypress and fir. The samedifferences are found in under-shrubs and herbaceous

plants and the rest, except that some have no roots

at all, as truffle mushroom bullfist 1 'thunder-truffle.'

Others have numerous roots, as wheat one-seededwheat barley and all plants of like nature, for

instance,2 .... Some have few roots, as legu-

minous plants.3 And in general most of the pot-

herbs have single roots, as cabbage beet celery

43

THEOPHRASTUS

revT\ov aeXivov Xa-Tra^o?- TT\^V evia Kal CLTTO-

%et, ueyaXa? , olov TO o~e\ivov teal TO

real a>? av Kara \6yoi> ravTa /3a@vppi-orepa TWV BevBpwv. elal Be rcov aev aapKwBeis,

KaOaTrep patyaviBos 70771^X180? cipov KpuxovTWV <5e v\d)8ts, olov eu^oofjiov a)Ki/^ov teal

dypitov Be rwv 7T\Lcrra)v, o&uv yu?; evOvsfcal (T^L^ofJievaL, KaOaTrep jrvpov KpiOrjs KCU

Ka\ov/jLvr)S Troa?. avrrj jap ev Tot? eVeretof? KOI

ev TO?? TTOito&ecriv 1} Biatyopa TWV pu^wv cocrre ra?

evOvs a")(i^eo~6ai TrXetov? oucra? fcal 6/iaXet?,V Be a\\(t)v fjiiav rj Bvo ra? /^ejicrra^ Kal aXXa?

afro TOVTWV.

7f/

OXco? Be TrXetof? ai Bta(>opal TWV pi^wv ev

rot9 vXrjiJiaal KOI XaxavcoSeaw elal jap al fitv

uXa)Beis, Mcnrep al rov WKI/JLOV al Be (rap/ccoBeis,

wcnrep al rov revr\ov Kal en Br) /j,d\\ov TOV

dpov /cal da(j)oBe\ou Kal KpoKov at, Be wcnrepK <f)\oiov Kal aapKos, axTirep al TWV paffraviBwv Kal

al Be jovarcioBeis, wcrTrep al TWV Ka\d-Ka ypaxrrewv Ka ei TI Acaa/^coe?, Ka

Br) avrat,r) nd\i(j6^ ofjioiai rot? vTrep jfjs' axnrep

yap KaXafioi elcnv eppi^w^evoi rat9 XeTrrat?. al

Be \Trvpd)Bei<; 7} <Xoa>8e?, olov al re T^? o-/aXX>7<?

Kal rov /9oX/SoO Kal ere Kpo/jiuov Kal T&V TOVTOIS

ofjioiwv. alel yap ecm Trepiaipelv avrwv.

Hdvra Be rd roiavra Bo/cei Kaddjrep Bvo

Be Kal 6'X&>? ra

Kardppi^a Trdvra' rtjv re aapKutBrj

1 The s.ame term being applied to' herbaceous

'

plants in

general.2 Plin. 19. 98.

44

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. vi. 6-8

monk's rhubarb;but some have large side-roots, as

celery and beet, and in proportion to their size these

root deeper than trees. Again of some the roots are

fleshy, as in radish turnip cuckoo-pint crocus ;of

some they are woody, as in rocket and basil. Andso with most wild plants, except those whose roots

are to start with numerous and much divided, as

those of wheat barley and the plant speciallyl called

'

grass.' For in annual and herbaceous plants this is

the difference between the roots : Some are morenumerous and uniform and much divided to start

with, but the others have one or two specially largeroots and others springing from them.

To speak generally, the differences in roots are

more numerous in shrubby plants and pot-herbs ;

2 for some are woody, as those of basil, some fleshy, as

those of beet, and still more those of cuckoo-pint

asphodel and crocus;some again are made, as it

were, of bark and flesh, as those of radishes and

turnips ;some have joints, as those of reeds and

dog's tooth grass and of anything of a reedy charac-

ter ; and these roots alone, or more than any others,

resemble the parts above ground ; they are in fact

like 3 reeds fastened in the ground by their fine roots.

Some again have scales or a kind of bark, as those of

squill and purse-tassels, and also of onion and thingslike these. In all these it is possible to strip off

a coat.

Now all such plants, seem, as it were, to have twokinds of root ;

and so, in the opinion of some, this is

true generally of all plants which have a solid 'head' 4

and send out roots from it downwards. These have,

3i.e. the main root is a sort of repetition of the part

above ground.4

i.e. bulb, corm, rhizome, etc.

45

THEOPHRASTUS

teal <f)\oi(*)B)), KaOdrrep ?; cr/a'XXa, real ra? drro

TUVr>)9 u7TO7T(^vKVLa^' ov yap XeTrTOTTiTt Kal rra'^v-

rr)Ti Biaffrepovcri /JLOVOV, wajrep al rwv BevBpcov fcai

ra)V \a%dvoov, dXX' <\\\olov eleven TO yevos.

eK^avea-TUTrj B' IjBij 7;re rov dpov Kal rj rov KV-

rrelpov rj fjiV <yap rra^ela Kal Xaa Kal <rapKa)8i)<s,

f) Be \7rrr] Kal IvcoSv)?. StoTrep airopy]GeLv av

Tf? el pifas ra? rot-aura? Oereov rj fjLtv yap Kara

77)9 &6j;aiV av, y Se virevavriw*; e^ovcri Ta?9

XXai9 OVK av >6j;aiv. rj /j,ev <yap pl^a XeTrro-

repa 77/009 TO Trapped Kal ael avvo^vs' rj Be TWVaKi\\S)V Kal TWV /3oX/3w^ Kal TMV apa)v ava-

rra\tv.

9 "Ert S' at /JLV aXXat Kara TO TrXdyiov a<f>ia<Fi

pt^a9, al Be TWV O~KI\\WV Kal rwv /3o\/3wv OVK

d<f)i.daiv' ov&e TWV (TKopoBcov Kal TCOV tcpo/uvwv.

oX&)9 Be ye ev ravrais al Kara ^ecrov K T/^9

K$a\r)<; rjpr^/j-evai (fiaiVOVTat, pitai Kal rpe<pov-rai. TOVTO 8' coo~7Tp Kv/jLa ?} Kaprrbs, oOev Kal ot

eyyeoroKa \6yovT$ ov KaKw^' eirl Be TWV d\\a)v

TotovTO /jLevovBev ecrriv errel Be irkeiov

rj (friKTis

77 Kara piLav ravrr) drropiav e'xei. TO yap B>j

rfdv Xeyeiv TO Kara yr)<$ pi^av OVK opObv Kal yapav o Kav\os rov /3o\/3ov Kal 6 rov yy]6vov Kal

1 ras conj. Sell.; rrjs Ald.H.;2 a\\' a\\o~iov fx ovffi conj. St.; aAAa Xflov exovres PM\

Aid.; aAAoIW tx- mBas.mP from G; dAA' a\\o?ov

conj. Seal. 3</. 4. 10. 5.

4 Ka\ ael Aid. ; ae! Kal conj. W. 6 Plin. 19. 99.8

cf. the definition of '

root,' 1. 1. 9.

7tyyeoTOKa \eyov-res conj. W.

; cf. 77 rwv e

Tovraiv ytvns in Athenaeus' citation of this passage '2. 60) ;

46

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. vi. 8-9

that is to say, this fleshy or bark-like root, like squill,

as well as the l roots which grow from this. For

these roots not only differ in degree of stoutness,

like those of trees and pot-herbs ; they are of quitedistinct classes. 2 This is at once quite evident in

cuckoo-pint and galingale,3 the root being in the one

case thick smooth and fleshy, in the other thin andfibrous. Wherefore we might question if such roots

should be called ' roots' ;inasmuch as they are under

ground they would seem to be roots, but, inasmuchas they are of opposite character to other roots, theywould not. For your root gets slenderer as it gets

longer and tapers continuously4 to a point ; but the

so-called root of squill purse-tassels and cuckoo-pintdoes just the opposite.

Again, while the others send out roots at the

sides, this is not the case 5 with squill and purse-

tassels, nor yet with garlic and onion. In generalin these plants the roots which are attached to

the ' head'

in the middle appear to be real roots

and receive nourishment,6 and this ' head

'

is, as

it were, an embryo or fruit ; wherefore those whocall such plants

'

plants which reproduce them-selves underground

' 7give a fair account of them.

In other kinds of plants there is nothing of this

sort. 8 But a difficult question is raised, since here

the 'root' has a character which goes beyond whatone associates with roots. For it is not right to call

all that which is underground 'root,' since in that

case the stalk 9 of purse-tassels and that of longonion and in general any part which is under-

evreoff oi<ra\fyones U ; ti> re TO?S offrois a\jovrS MV (omit-

ting Tf) Aid. (omitting TO?J).8 roiovro /j.fv ouSeV conj. W.; rovro /u.cv MSS9

ILV it nav\6s conj. St. ; ava.Kav\os Aid.

47

THEOPHRASTUS

6X&>5 ocra Kara /3d0ov$ ecrrlv eltrjcrav avfcal TO vBvov Be Kal o Ka\ovcrl rives acryiov Kal

TO ovlyyov fcal el Ti a\\o vTroyeiov ecrTiv wvovBei> ecrTL pityd' Bvvd/j,ei yap Set cfrvaiKf) BiaipelvKttl 0V TOTTft).

10 Ta^a Be TOVTO fiev opO&s XeyeTai, pia Se

r)TTov e&Ttv a\\a Bia^opd TIS avTi] TCOV

wcrre TTJV /j,ev Tiva ToiavTrjv eivai T^V Be TQiav*n]vKal Tpecf)<T0at TTJV Tepav VTTO Trjs ere/^a?. KCLITOL

teal aural at a-aptcwSeis eoiKacnv e\tceiv. ras"

<yovv TWV apwv trpo TOV /B^aaTciveiv (TTpetyovaiteal yiyvovTai fjiei^ovs KwXvofJievaL Siafifjvai TT/OO?

(B\dcrTr)cnv. errel OTL ye iravTWV TWV TOLOV-

77 (frvais eVt TO KO.TW fj,a\\ov pejrei fyavepovol fJLev yap /cav\ol Kal 6'A,a>? ra avw /Spa^ea Ka\

acrOevr}, ra 8e KCLTM yueyaAa Kal TroXka

la"%vpa ov fJLOVOV eVt TWV eipriiJLevwv d\\a Kal

Ka\dp,ov Kal dypoocrTi&os Kal oXw? ocra

Kal TOVTOIS o/j,ota. Kal ocra Brj vapOrjKcoBri, Kal

TOVTWV pi^ai /jiyd\ai Kal aapKcoo'eis.11 IloXXa Be Kal TWV iroicoBcov e^ei TomuVa? pt^a?,

olov cnrdXat; KpoKos Kal TO TrepBiKiov Ka\ovfievovKal yap TOVTO Tra^eta? re Kal vrXetou? e^et ra?

TI cf)v\\a' Ka\eiTai Be Trep&iKiov Bid TO TOVS

eyKV\iecr0ai Kal opvTTeiv. O/JLOLWS Be

1 &d0ovs conj. Scb.; &d6os Aid.' al ft W. after U; Kal om. Aid.; G omits also rb before

otj'iyyoi>, making the three plants synonymous. The passageis cited by Athen. , I.e., with considerable variation.

3TomuTTji/ conj. St.; roaavrt]^ MSS.

4i.e. the fleshy root (tuber, etc.).

6i.e. the fibrous root (root proper).

48

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. vi. 9-11

ground1 would be a root, and so would the truffle,

the plant which 2 some call puff-ball, the uingon, andall other underground plants. Whereas none of these

is a root ;for we must base our definition on natural

function and not on position.However it may be that this is a true account and

yet that such things are roots no less ; but in that

case we distinguish two different kinds of root, one

being of this character 3 and the other of the other,and the one 4

getting its nourishment from the

other 5; though the fleshy roots too themselves seem

to draw nourishment. At all events men invert 6 the

roots of cuckoo-pint before it shoots, and so theybecome larger by being prevented from pushing

7

through to make a shoot. For it is evident that the

nature of all such plants is to turn downwards for

choice ;for the stems and the upper parts generally

are short and weak, while the underground partsare large numerous and strong, and that, not only in

the instances given, but in reeds dog's-tooth grassand in general in all plants of a reedy character andthose like them. Those too which resemble ferula s

have large fleshy roots.9Many herbaceous plants likewise have such roots,

as colchicum 10 crocus and the plant called '

par-

tridge-plant'

;for this too has thick roots which are

more numerous than its leaves. n(It is called the

'

partridge-plant'

because partridges roll in it and

grub it up.) So too with the plant called in Egypt

6ffTpeQovffi conj. Sch.; Tpf<pov<n. MVAld.; cf. 7. 12. 2.

7Sia&rjvai conj. W. ; SiaBelvai UMV.

8i.e. have a hollow stem (umbelliferous plants, more or

less).9 Plin. 19. 99.

10 erird\a UMV; affira\a mBas. : perhaps corrupt.11 Plin. 21. 102.

49

THEOPHRASTUS

l TO eV AlyvirTtp Ka\ov^evov ovlyyov rd

yap <f>v\\a fj.eyd\a KOI 6 /3\a<7TO? avrov

77 Be pityd /u.aKpd icai ecrrLv warrep 6

Bia<pep6i re KOI eadierai, Kal av\\eyovcri Be orav12 o Trorayuo? airoftfi GTpefyovres ra? /SaJXou?. tyave-

pctiTara Be Koi TfkeicrTrjv e^ovra TTyOo? ra a\\a

Bia<f>opav TO (ri\<piov KCLIrj Ka\oufJLevi^ fjiayvSapts'

d/A<f)OTepa)i> yap TOVTWV Kal airdvTWV TWV rotovruii'

ev Tat? pifais fj,d\\ov j) (pvcris. ravra /j,ev ovv

5>v fo" -\r '$- * >'

be TWV piC,wv TrXetw oo^aiev av e

Siatyopdv Trapd Ta? elprifiievas' olov ai re T/}? apa/cat TOU ofJLOiov rut dpaKW' fyepovcn yap

Kaprrov ovtc eXdrrco rov avw teal \iiav

fj,ev pl^av TO dpaKwBes rovro rra^elavKara ftdOovs, T? S' a'XXa?

e<$)wv o

\67rrorepas KOI eV aicpy [/cat] o-^t^b/xera? ?roX-

l Be dkiara wla rd\ov Be ovBerepov e^et rovrwv ovB* opoia

0uXXoi9, aXX' wcnrep d^LKaprra p.d\\ov ecrnv v

teal fyaiverai 0avp,d<JLOv. at uev ovv

Kal Bwd/jieis ro&avras e^ovai Sm^opa?.VII. AvfcdvecrdaL Be rrdvrwv BOKOVCTIV at pi

rrporepov rwv duw Kal yap (fiverai et?>5./\ /)/ -*f * <> ff'-v >

ovbefjua oe Kaurj/cei rr\eov 1} ocrov o ?)X<o? e

raf TO yap Oepuov TO yevvwv ov urjv d\\d

1

oti'iyyov mBas.H. ;oi/iroi/ MV; oi/i'Tor Aid.; cf. 1. 1. 7 :

IHin. 21. 8S (oe^im).a/i7cxAa: text doubtful (W.).

38ia<pepei : text doubtful (Sch.).

4arpe^ovres ray Qu>\ovs conj. Coraes ;

UMVAld. 6 ^ ina. Sch.

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. vi. n-vn. i

iimgonl

;for its leaves are large

2 and its shoots short,

while the root is long and is, as it were, the fruit.

It is an excellent thing3 and is eaten; men gather

it when the river goes down by turning the clods. 4

But the plants which afford the most conspicuousinstances and shew the greatest difference as com-

pared with others are silphium and the plant called

tnagydaris ; the character of both of these and of all

such plants is especially shewn in 5 their roots. Suchis the account to be given of these plants.

Again some roots would seem to shew a greaterdifference 6 than those mentioned, for instance, those

of arakhidna? and of a plant8 which resembles

arakos. For both of these bear a fruit undergroundwhich is as large as the fruit above ground, and this

arakos-like 9plant has one thick root, namely, the

one which runs deep, while the others which bear

the ' fruit'

are slenderer and branch 10 in manydirections at the tip. It is specially fond of sandy"round. Neither of these plants has a leaf norO *

anything resembling a leaf, but they bear, as it

were, two kinds of fruit instead, which seems sur-

prising. So many then are the differences shewnin the characters and functions of roots.

VII. The roots of all plants seem to grow earlier

than the parts above ground (for growth does take

place downwards n ).But no root goes down further

than the sun reaches, since it is the heat which

induces growth. Nevertheless the nature of the soil,

i.e. to be even more abnormal: Stcupopav conj. Sch.;

otafopa} Aid. 7 Plin. 21. 89.8 tine-tare. See Index, App. (1).9

apa-KuSes conj. Sch.; crap/c<i5es Ald.G.10 Kal before ax'C om - Sch. from G.11

cf. C.P. 1. 12. 7. (cited by Varro, 1. 45. 3); 3. 3. 1.

5*

THEOPHRASTUS

7aura /xe'yaXa o-iy^ySaXXeTat Trpos/cal

edv y Koixf))] /cal fjiavr) /cal evoioSos' eV yapTat? TOICLVTCLIS Troppwrepa) Kcii /zeioL>? at

creis. fyavepov Se eVl TWV t]p,ep(op.drwv'

yap v&wp OTTOVOVV Sieiaiv a>? eiTrelv, 7rei&av 6

ro7TO9 y /ce^o? teal /^ijBev TO avTiGiaTOvv. ijyovvev TO) AvKLO)

TI TrXararo? 77Kara rbv o^eriv eri

via ovcra eVt Tyoet? teal rpiaKovra

ej(ovaa TOTTOV re a^a KCLL rpoty/jv.

Ao^e/e Be 60? elirelv >; erf /cry

elvcu KOI oA,&>9 Se pd\\ov rd p,avd /cal evduppt^a.irdvra & rd veayrepa rwv 7ra\aiwv, edv eis CIK^Vr]K.wcnv, 778?; (BaOvppi^orepa /cal /jLa/cpoppt^oTepa.

ovai yap KOI at pi^au rw d\\u> cra>/j.aTi.

Se Ofioitos ol %^Xol rot? (f>vrols SeivoTepoi,

rot? 8e co? eTTLTrav St o real eviatv Trircpal &v ol

/capTTol y\v/cL<$' al Be /cal (j)ap/j.aKw8ei^' eviai S

co5et?, (ocrTrep al TT}? ipiftos.T 51 ' ^^''i* ' ^ ' f "lota oe ptp;? <pvais /cai owa/jus r) TT;?

UTTO yap rwv /3\aara)v d<f)irj(Ti, /^e^pL ov

dv cfwd-^TY) rfj yf) /cal pt^wOfj, /cal yiveraL Trepl TO

SevSpov KVK\(t> avre^e^ TO TWV pi^wv oi>x,

rov crTeXe'oi/? aXX'

1 raCra before fj.fja\a om. W.2

T)/t6pw,uaTo)v conj. Sch.; TUJ.fpura.Twv UP2Ald. : cf. C.P.5. 6. 8.

8 ^TrouoCi' MSS. ; oiroffovovv conj. W. from G, in quantumlibeat.

* eVeiSaf conj. Sch. ;ivfl Khv UMVPAld.

5 Quoted by Varro, 1. 37. 5.

6^ir) conj. Sch.; iropa P2 ; irfpi Aid.

7avp.fy8ivov<n : av^uivovtri conj. St.

52

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. vn. 1-3

if it is light open and porous, contributes greatlyl to

deep rooting, and still more to the formation of longroots ;

for in such soils growth goes further and is

more vigorous. This is evident in cultivated plants.2

For, provided that they have water, they run on, one

may say, wherever it may be,3 whenever 4 the ground

is unoccupied and there is no obstacle. 6 For instance

the plane-tree by the watercourse in the Lyceumwhen it was still young sent out its roots a distance

of 6thirty-three cubits, having both room and

nourishment.

The fig would seem, one may say, to have the

longest roots, and in general plants which have woodof loose texture and straight roots would seem to

have these longer. Also young plants, provided that

they have reached their prime, root deeper and have

longer roots than old ones ;for the roots decay along

with 7 the rest of the plant's body. And in all

cases alike the juices of plantss are more powerful in

the roots than in other parts, while in some cases

they are extremely powerful ; wherefore the roots

are bitter in some plants whose fruits are sweet;

some roots again are medicinal, and some are frag-

rant, as those of the iris.

The character and function of the roots of the

'Indian fig' (banyan) are peculiar, for this plant sends

out roots from the shoots till it has a hold on the

ground9 and roots again ;

and so there comes to be

a continuous circle of roots round the tree, not

connected with the main stem but at a distance

from it.

8 rot ? 4>tTo?s Aid. ; rots {>tais conj. W. from G : text pro-

bably defective.9

TTJ 77) conj. Seal, from G; ou/cfj U; rfj avnr\ P.2Ald.

53

THEOPHRASTUS

HapaTT\)]o~iov Be TOVTCI) fj,a\\ov Be rpojrov Tiva

0avfj.aaia)Tpov el' TI eV TWV (j)v\\o)v afarfffi pi^av,

olov (fca(TL rrepl 'O-TroiWa Troidpicv elvai, o /ecu

l eaTiv r)Bv. TO yap av TMV OepfjLw

TJTTOV, OIL av ev v\rj ftaOela <nrapy

Trjv pl^av vrpo? TTJV yfjv KOI fiXaardvei Sta

TJJV ivxyv. a\\a Srj ra? fjiev TWV pt^&v Bi

e/c TOVTWV

VIII. Twv owBpwi' ra? roiavras av TI<; \afioi^ i ' >' \ N ^'i*' \r>''ooia(popas. cart, yap ra f^ev o^cooij ra o avo^a

Kai <j)V(Tl KOi TO7T&) Kara TO /jia\\OV Kal ?]TTOV.

civo^a Be \eyw ov% wcrTe fir] e^eiv oXw? ovBer

yap TOIOUTO Bevbpov, a\X' e'iTcep, eVt TWV aX\a)i'

oluv a^ofc^o? Tixpij KVTreipos 6'Xw? eVi TWV \tfjLvco-

olov

)/ Sd(j)vy] CTVKI} oXw? mivTa TO, \eto(f)\oia

oaa Kol\a Kal pavd. o^wSe? Be e\da

TOVTG3V B TO, JLV V TfoXLCTKLOL^ KtU

Kal etyvBpois, TO, Be ev vi]\ioi<> Kal

Kal 7ri'evuaTw&(Ti KOL XeTrroi? Kal i^r/poi

Ta fjiev yap dvo^oTepa, TCL Be ofaBeaTepa

1 TI conj. W.; TIS MSS. 2 Plin. 21. 104.3

rf. 8. 11. 8 ; Plin. 18. 133 and 134.4

Sieipei conj. Sch. ; Sippet P,,Ald.; cf. C.P. 2. 17. 7.5 uos is the knot and the bough starting from it : cf.

Arist. de iuv. tt sen. 3.

6/art ruv conj. Coraiis ; r] rwv UM

; T)TTOV (erased) P (<'*

inarg. ) TJTTOV Aid.

54

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. vn. 3-vin. i

Something similar to this, but even more surprising,occurs in those plants which l emit roots from their

leaves, as they say does a certain herb 2 which growsabout Opus, which is also sweet to taste. The

peculiarity again of lupins3 is less surprising, namely

that, if the seed is dropped where the ground is

thickly overgrown, it pushes4 its root through to the

earth and germinates because of its vigour. But

we have said enough for study of the differences

between roots.

Of trees (principally) and their characteristic special differences:as to knots.

VIII. One may take it that the following are

the differences between trees : Some have knots,5

more or less, others are more or less without them,whether from their natural character or because of

their position. But, when I say' without knots,' I

do not mean that they have no knots at all (there is

no tree like that, but, if it is true of any plants, it is

only of 6 other kinds, such as rush bulrush 7galingale

and plants of the lake side 8generally) but that they

have few knots. Now this is the natural character

of elder bay fig and all smooth-barked trees, and

in general of those whose wood is hollow or of a

loose texture. Olive fir and wild olive have knots;

and some of these grow in thickly shaded windless

and wet places, some in sunny positions exposed to

storms and winds,9 where the soil is light and dry ;

for the number of knots varies between trees of the

7rixj>r) conj. Bod.

; T^TJ UAld.H. ; cf. 1. 5. 3.

8 M TWV conj. W. ; ef TI CTT) TUV Aid.9

Trvev/.taTuSfO'i conj. Seal.; 7rimaTu>5f<n U; trvy/j.aTu>5(ffi

MVAl.l.

55

THEOPHRASTUS

o\o>9 Be ofaBearepa rd opeivd TWI>

TreBetvwv KOL rd ^jpd rwv e\elwv.

"Ert Be Kara rrjv fyvreiav ra fiev rrvKvd dvo^a

Kal opOd, ra Be fiavd o^ayBearepa Kal GKO\i<arepa'

<rv/jL/3aivi yap wcrre ra p.ev eV TraXiatciw elvai ra

Be ev evrjXiw. ical ra appeva Be rwv 6^\eiS)v

o^ayBearepa ev ol? ecrnv d^a), olov tcvrrdpirros

\drrj ocrrpvl's /cpaveia' Ka\oixn yap yevos ri

0rf\VKpaveiav KOL ra aypia Be rwv iifjLepwv, teal

/cal ra VTTO ravro 761/09, olov Korivos

icai epiveos crvK^ KCU d%pd<; drrLov. rrdvra

yap ravra 6a>Becrrepa' real co? eVt TO TTO\V

rrdvra ra rrvttva rwv p,ava)V Kal yap ra dppeva

rfVKVorepa Kal ra dypia' 7T\rjv et ri Bia TTVKVO-

rrjra Trai^reXw? dvo^ov rj o\iyoov, olov

\60T09.

EtVt Be rwv [lev araicroi Kal co? erv^ev 01 o

rwv Be reray/jievoi Kal ra> BiacrrijfjLari Kal

7r\tj0i KaOdrrep eiprjraf Bi o Kal ra^io^cora

ravra KaXoixriv. rwv /lev yap olov Bi laov rwv

Be /juel^ov alel TO Trpo? TO) rrd^ei. Kal rovro Kara

\6yov. orrep fidXicrra evSrjXov Kal ev TOA? Kori-

vois Kal ev Tot? /^aXayuoi?' TO ydp yovv KaOdrcep

0^09. Kal ol fiev Kar* d\\ij\ov<;, cocnrep ol

Piin. 16. 125. 21. 8. 1.

*Ta^JO^wTa conj. W. ; a^io\oyu>Tara Aid.; c/. Tat<f>v\\of,

1. 10. 8.4 Plin. 16. 122.

56

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. vm. 1-3

same kind. And in general mountain trees havemore knots than those of the plain, and those that

grow in dry spots than those that grow in marshes.

Again the way in which they are planted makes a

difference in this respect ;those trees that grow close

together are knotless and erect, those that grow far

apart have more knots and a more crooked growth ;

for it happens that the one class are in shade, the

others in full sun. Again the ' male'

trees havemore knots than the ' female

'

in those trees in whichboth forms are found, as cypress silver-fir hop-horn-beam cornelian cherry for there is a kind called' female cornelian cherry

'

(cornel) and wild trees

have more knots than trees in cultivation : this is

true both in general and when we compare those of

the same kind, as the wild and cultivated forms of

olive fig and pear. All these have more knots in the

wild state ;and in general those of closer growth

have this character more than those of open growth ;

for in fact the f male' plants are of closer growth,and so are the wild ones

; except that in some cases,

as in box and nettle-tree, owing to the closer growththere are no knots at all, or only a few.

1

Again the knots of some trees are irregular andset at haphazard, while those of others are regular,alike in their distance apart and in their number, as

has been said 2;wherefore also they are called ' trees

with regular knots.' 3 4 For of some the knots are,

as it were, at even distances, while in others the

distance between them is greater at the thick end of

the stem. And this proportion holds throughout.This is especially evident in the wild olive and in

reeds in which the joint corresponds to the knot in

trees. Again some knots are opposite one another,

57

THEOPHRASTUS

KO1LVWV, Ol 8' O>9 TV)(V. <TTl $6 TCL fJi.V BlO^d, T(\

Be Tpio^a, TCL Be TrXetof? eyovTd' CVLCL Be Trevrao^a> \ \?A / ' ZJ V \ ' Vlf \ '

O~Tl. KCLl T?7? fJLV eAaT??? OptfOl KCll Ol O^OL KCLi 01

4 K\dBot axTTrep e/jiTreTrrjyoTes, TMV Be a\\a>v ov. BSo KOI Icr^vpov 77 e\drrj. IBiwraToi Be ol TT}?

OfjiOiot, yap Oripiwv TrpocrCOTTON, el? [lev 6

a'AAot 5e7r6y3i avrov fjiiKpol

Se rcot' o^a)^ Oi /^e^ rv<p\oi, oi Be

Se TV(f)\ov^ d(f) wv /zr/Set? /^Xacrro?. OVTOI

Be Kal (fivaei KOI TrrjpMcrei yivovrai, orav rj fjirj\ ' /D / 1 * \ > v f

KOLI KpiarjTat rj KCLI aTTOKOTrrj /cat, oiov

Trtjpcodfj" yivovraL Be /j.a\\ov ev rot?

rwv aKpefJiovwv, eviwv Be Kal ev rot?

oXro? Be Kal TOV (TreXe^ou? Kal TOVN '$ /i' .\ * 'i ,\ > / wo

K\aoov Kau o av eiriKo^rrj r) eTmef^rj ns, otfos'

yuveraL Kadanepavel Biaipwv TO ev Kal TTOIWV

eTepav dp%rjv, ei're Bia TTJV Tri]pcdo~iv eiTe Bi a\\rivaiTiav ov yap Brj KaTa (frvcnv TO VTTO TT}<?

Alel Be ev CLTTCKJIV ol K\dBot, fyalvovTai TTO\VO-

Bia TO /H^TTO) TtlVa /J,(TOV

Kal TT}? <rvtci]<; ol veo/3\ao-TOiKal TT)? d/jiTreXov Ta aKpa TWV K\rj/j,dT(0v.

to? yap 6'o? ev rot? aXXot? OVTW Kal o<j)0a\aos

1

cf. 4. 4. 12. 2 Plin. 16. 122.3

i.e. primary and secondary branches.4

c/. 5. 2. 2. 6 Plin. 16. 124.8

c/. Arist. c?e iuv. tt sen. 3 ; Plin. 16. 125.7 #TOV . . . TrripuOf) conj. W. ; ^ STOJ/ ^ /? A.U0J? KO) ii<IBia.r)Tat

Kot f) airoKOirri Kal U ; orav ^ yu)j \u0jj al $K@id-rjTai ^ diroKOTr?)

P ; ^ ^rav At07j /cal (Kfiidfarai ^ aTro/coTTTj K<X! ot ou P2 ; orav J)

^IT? Xu0?7 -al tK0idrjTai Kal 1) aTroKOTTj] /cal Ald.H. ; G differs

widely.

58

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. vui 3-5

as those of the wild olive, while others are set at

random. Again some trees have double knots, some

treble,1 some more at the same point ; some have as

many as five. 2 In the silver-fir both the knots andthe smaller branches 3 are set at right angles, as if

they were stuck in, but in other trees they are notso. And that is why the silver-fir is such a strongtree. 4 Most peculiar

5 are the knots of the apple, for

they are like the faces of wild animals; there is one

large knot, and a number of small ones round it.

Again some knots are blind,6 others productive ; by

1 blind'

I mean those from which there is no growth.These come to be so either by nature or by mutilation,

according as either the knot 7 is not free and so the

shoot does not make its way out, or, a bough havingbeen cut off, the place is mutilated, for example byburning. Such knots occur more commonly in the

thicker boughs, and in some cases in the stem also.

And in general, wherever one chops or cuts part of

the stem or bough, a knot is formed, as though one

thing were made thereby into two and a fresh

growing point produced, the cause being the mutila-

tion or some other such reason;for the effect of such

a blow cannot of course be ascribed to nature.

Again in all trees the branches always seem to

have more knots, because the intermediate parts8

have not yet developed, just as the newly formedbranches of the fig are the roughest,

9 and in the

vine the highest10 shoots. n

(For to the knot in other

8i.e. the internodes ; till the branch is fully grown its

knots are closer together, and so seem more numerous : ^TJTTW

rava /jLeffov Trpoo"r]vri(rdai COllj. Sch.; /j.riTrca TO.VCL fj.f<rov irpoffKV-

(,"f;0oi U ; /ta)T> BI/O fj.fffov trpoffKv^e'iffQa.i MAld. ; JUTJTTOT' avafjt,rov

P2 .9

i.e. have most knots.10

i.e. youngest. Plin. 16. 125.

59

THEOPHRASTUS

ev ayLtvreXft) /cai, ev /ozXa/iw <yovv . . . evt'ois Be

/cal olov xpdBai yivovTai, /caddrrep TrreXea /cal

Bpvi /cal fj,d\i(TTa ev wXaravft)' edv Be ev Tpa^eai/cal dvvBpois Kal Trvev/AaToyBea'i Kal 7ra^TeXco9.

Be 7rpo9 Trj ryf)Kal olov TTJ K<pa\f) TOV

dTro ryripao~KovT(i)v TO TtdOos TOVTO

yiveTai.6 "Rvia Be Kal tercet, TOL/9 Ka\ovjj.evovs vrro TIVCOV

r} 7077/001*9 rj TO dvaXoyov, olovf)

e'Xaa,'

TaTOV yap eVt TavTijs TOVTO Tovvo/jia Kal

BOKCL /Jid\LaTa TO eiprj/jLevov Ka\ovari B'

TOVTO Trpe/Jivov ol Be KpoTayvrjv ol Be aXXoTOt9 Be evOecn Kal fiovoppi^ois Kal dTrapa{B\d<7TOf9 ov yiveTai TOV& oX&)9 r) fyrrov [(froivij; Be

Trapa/3\ao~Tr)TiK6v] rj Be e\da Kal 6

Kal Ta9 ovXoTTjTa*; IBias e^ovcn Ta? eV

IX. "Eo"T4 fJ,V OVV Trt /JLV

Ti/ca adXio-T* rj fiovov, olov e\aTrj (f)oii>tKVTTU-

/cal 6a7ro\vppi%a /jLrjBe 7ro\vfc\aBa' <i] Be

(froii'ij; drrapa-

/3\aaT?iTi/cov> TO, Be ofiola Toirroi? dva \6yov/cal e/9 3a$o9. evia B' ev9vs o-ieTai, olov /

1 The opening of the description of the diseases of trees

seems to have been lost. aKpaSai ; cf. C.P. 5. 1.3.

3 Tra^Tcos . . . yiveTai COnj. W.; irdfrus 5e 6 irpbs rfj yy Ka\

olov T. K. ffT. airoyripdffKoiv rwv iraxvTfpuv yCverat Aid.; SO U

except TraxvTepov, and M except Traxvrfpos.4irtyypovs : cf. Hesych., s.vv. yoyypos, xpoTuvrt.

B The word is otherwise unknown.6T]rrov T) 6e tActa conj. W.

; JITTOV 77 8e (polvi^ irdpa.$\a.cr-

rirtKov r) Sf t\da U }so Aid. except irapa.^\a.ariK6v. The

60

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. vin. s-ix. i

trees correspond the '

eye'

in the vine, the joint in

the reed).....1 In some trees again there occurs,

as it were, a diseased formation of small shoots,- as

in elm oak and especially in the plane ; and this is

universal if they grow in rough waterless or windyspots. Apart from any such cause 3 this affection

occurs near the ground in what one may call the' head

'

of the trunk, when the tree is getting old.

Some trees again have what are called by some' excrescences

' 4(or something corresponding), as the

olive ; for this name belongs most properly to that

tree, and it seems most liable to the affection; and

some call it'

stump,' some krotonef others have a

different name for it. It does not occur, or onlyoccurs to a less extent, in straight young trees, whichhave a single root and no side-growths. To the

olive 6also, both wild and cultivated, are peculiar

certain thickenings7 in the stem.

As to habit.

IX. 8 Now those trees which grow chiefly or only9

in the direction of their height are such as silver-fir

date-palm cypress, and in general those which havea single stem and not many roots or branches (the

date-palm, it may be added, has no side-growths at

all 10).And trees like 11 these have also similar growth

downwards. Some however divide from the first,

note about the palm (<poZVi 8e Trapa^Xacrr-nriK^v) I have omittedas untrue as well as irrelevant

; possibly with airapa&a. for

ira.pa.8a. it belongs to the next section.7ouXSrriras conj. W.; Koi\6rr]ra.s MSS. (?) Aid.

8 Plin. 16. 125.9

/j.d\iffrt

% novov conj. W. ; /j.d\iffTa /j.ava Ald.H.10 See 3. 8. 6. n.11

8/uoia conj. Sch. ; tuoiws MSS. Sense hardly satisfactory.

61

THEOPHRASTUS

TCL $ 7TO\V/C\a&a Kal /jLi(i) TOV OyKOl'TOV dvo), Ka&drrep poa' ov uijv dXX' ovv

d ye cruu/3d\\Tat rrpo<; GKCHTTOV rj dycoyjjKttl 6 TO7TO? Kttl

1] TpO(j)1], CnjfJ,LOV 8' OTL TdVTCl

TTVKvd fiev ovTa fJiaKpd Kal XeTTra yiveTai, fjiavd

&e Tra-^vTepa Kal /Bpa^vrepa' Kal edv /JLCV

T? d(f)ifj TOU9 6'bL"? {Spa^ca, eav $e d

fiaKpd, KaOdjrep 1} a/iTreXo?.2 'Ixavov Be Kaicelvo TT/JO? TTICTTIV OTL Kal

> evia \a/j,/3dvei BevBpov\ >. ' \ v ~ >. r/

TJ-JV /jiaXa^jv /cat TO TCVT\OV' ajravTa

ev To?9 oi/cetot? TOTTO^? evav^ij . . . Kal TO avToejrel Kal TOH>

TO, V TOt? OIK6LOIS, OlOV

\drr] i] ^la.Ke$oviKr) TT}? HapvaaLas Kal TWV a\-

\wv. aTravra Se ravra Kal 6'Xw? t] v\t] rj dypiaKa\\iu>v Kal 7r\eicov TOV opovs ei> rot?

ev rot? TT/JO? /J.ecri]/j,{3piav.

&CTTL oe TCL aev deid>v\\a TO,

/36\a. TWV fj.ev rj/jbepajv deicfrvXXa e\da

$d<pvr) /jLVppivos Treu/o;? TI 76^0? KvrcdpLTTOS' TWI>

S' dypiwv eXdrr/ TrevKrj dpKevOos /u\o? dvia Kal

dypia ^vpiKT) TTV^OS Trplvos KrjXacrTpov

o^vaKavOos d^idpKi], TavTa &e (frveTai

irepl TOV "QXvp.Trov, a^SpavX?^ Ko^apos Tepp,Lv6o<s

marked as doubtful in U. a1. 3. 2.

3 KCU rb avrb KaXXtcrrov. The first part of the sentence to

which these words belong is apparently lost (W.).4 i.e. the fir and other trees mentioned in the lost words.6 Plin. 16. 80.6

/ufXos conj. Sch.; r/j.l\at P2Ald.; c/. 3. 3. 3.

62

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. ix. 1-3

such as apple ;some have many branches, and theii

greater mass of growth high up, as the pomegranate :

however 1training position and cultivation chiefly

contribute to all of these characters. In proof of

which we have the fact that the same trees which,when growing close together, are tall and slender,when grown farther apart become stouter andshorter ;

and if we from the first let the branches

grow freely, the tree becomes short, whereas, if we

prune them, it becomes tall, for instance, the vine.

This too is enough for proof that even some pot-herbs acquire the form of a tree, as we said 2 of

mallow and beet. Indeed all things grow well in

congenial places. . . .3 For even among those of the

same kind those which grow in congenial places haveless knots, and are taller and more comely : thus the

silver-fir in Macedon is superior to other silver-firs,

such as that of Parnassus. Not only is this true of

all these,4 but in general the wild woodland is more

beautiful and vigorous on the north side of the

mountain than on the south.

As to shedding of leaves.

Again some 5 trees are evergreen, some deciduous.

Of cultivated trees, olive date-palm bay myrtle a

kind of fir and cypress are evergreen, and amongwild trees silver-fir fir Phoenician cedar yew 6 odorous

cedar the tree which the Arcadians call ' cork-oak'

(holm-oak) mock-privet prickly cedar ' wild 7pine

'

tamarisk box kermes-oak holly alaternus cotoneaster

hybrid arbutus 8(all of which grow about Olympus)

7aypia after irlrvs conj. Sch.; after itpivos UPAld.: cf.

3. 3. 3.8

i<6/j.apos conj. Bod.; trivapos UMV; olvapos Aid.; vvvapos P2 .

63

THEOPHRASTUS

dypia Bdtyvrj. BOKCL B*77 dvBpd^Xrj Kal 6

TCL fiev Karw (pvXXofioXelv ra Be ecr^ara

dei<fiv\\a e^eiv, Tri<f>viv Be del

Taj*; fjiev ovv BevBpcov ravra. T&V 8e

KITTOS /3aTO? pdfjivos KaXa/jiOS

yap TI fiifcpov o ou SevBpovrai. TMV ^e

Kal 7roia)8tov Tnjyavov pd<f>avos poSajvia Iwvla

dftporovov dfjidpaicov epTTfXXo? opiyavov ae\ivoi

LiJKwv Kal TWV dyplwv eiSrj

Be Kal TOVTWV evia rot? atcpoLS ra

aXX,a aTro/SaXXei olov opiyarov ae\ivov . . . e

Kal TO Ttriyavov Kaicovrai Kal aXXarrerat.

5 Hdvra Be Kal TWV aXXwv TCL aa</>uXXa cnevo-

cf)u\\6repa Kal eyovTa nva XiTrapor^Ta Kal

evcoBiav. evia B OVK ovra rfj (frvcrei Trapa "rov

TOTTOV ecrrlv deifyvXKa, KaOdirep eKe^dr] irep\ TWV

eV 'EXe^jaj'TU'T; Kal Me/A^ei" Karwrepa) B* ev TMAeXra ftiKpov Trdvv ^povov ^taXetVet roO

/j,rjdet

{3\aaTdi>eiv. ev Kprjrrj Be \eyerat 7T\drav6i'

elvai ev rfj Topruvaia TT/^O? ^"nyfj TLVL rj ov

fjLV0o\oyovcri Be co? VTTO rav-nj

rfj EU/OCOTTT; o Zew?' ra? Be TrX^ata? Trdaa^

ev Be ^vftdpei, Bpvs <TTLV ev-

e/f T^? TroXew? r) ov <f>v\Xo/3o\el' <f>acri

1 Plin. 16. 80.3 Some words probably missing (W.) which would explain

the next two clauses. 3 Plin. 16. 82. *1. 3. 5.

5 Plin. 12. 11 ; Varro, 1. 7.

64

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. ix. 3-5

andrachrie arbutus terebinth 'wild bay' (oleander).Andrachne and arbutus seem to cast their lower

leaves, but to keep those at the end of the twigs

perennially, and to be always adding leafy twigs.These are the trees which are evergreen.

1 Of shrubby plants these are evergreen : ivybramble buckthorn reed kcdris (juniper) for there

is a small kind of kedros so called which does not

grow into a tree. Among under-shrubs and herba-

ceous plants there are rue cabbage rose gilliflowersouthernwood sweet marjoram tufted thyme mar-

joram celery alexanders poppy, and a good manymore kinds of wild plants However some of these

too, while evergreen as to their top growths, shed

their other leaves, as marjoram and celery2

for rue too is injuriously affected and changes its

character.3 And all the evergreen plants in the other classes

too have narrower leaves and a certain glossiness and

fragrance. Some moreover which are not evergreen

by nature become so because of their position, as

was said 4 about the plants at Elephantine and

Memphis, while lower down the Nile in the Delta

there is but a very short period in which they are not

making new leaves. It is said that in Crete 5 in the

district of Gortyna there is a plane near a certain

spring6 which does not lose its leaves

; (indeed the

story is that it was under 7 this tree that Zeus laywith Europa), while all the other plants in the

neighbourhood shed their leaves. 8 At Sybaris there

is an oak within sight of the city which does not shed

6TTTjyfj conj. H. from G

; aitTivy UMVAld. ; /CTJVT) P2 ; Kprj^iinBas.

7 uirb conj. Hemsterhuis ; eVl Aid. 8 Plin. 16. 81.

65

THEOPHRASTUS

Be ov (3\acrTdveiv avrrjv a/na rat? aXXat? d\\a

fjiTa Kvva. \eyTai Be teal ev Kinrpo) vrXarai/os'

elvai

<J>uXXo/9oA.et Be irdvTa TOV p.6TO7ra)pov KOI pera

TO fjLT07r(i)pOV, 7T\yV TO fAV OciTTOV TO $6 /3pa&l>-

repov axTTe /cat TOV ^e^coz'O? 67ri\.a/jL/3di'iv. OVK

dvd\o<yoi 8e at <fXAoj3o\iai rat? /3

ware TO, TrpoTepov fiXao-TtjcravTa irpoTepov

\o(3o\iv, dXX' evict 7rpa)i/3\aa'Ti p,ev ovbev $e

TWV a\\(0v, aXXa TIVWV Kai vcrTepei,

77 dpwySaX.'r].m\ ov *

r /o-\ " v ' v S'V'7 la oe oyipA,a<7Tet yLtez^

ovbev oe a>9

vaTepei rwv a\\u>v, &(nrep i) (JVKLL^IVQ^. So/eel

real > wa avji^aXkeadai teal o TOTTO? o

TO &ia[JLeveiv. TO, <yap ev Tot? ^yoot? :al

oX.a>? \e7TToy6LOLS TrpoTepa (f>v\\ol3o\e2 KOI TO,

TrpecrftvTepa Be TWV vewv. ei'ia Be KOL Trpu TOV

7T7ravai TOV Kapirov diro(3d\\eL TO, <f)v\\a, KaOd-

Trep at o^riai crvKoi Kal aftpaSes.

Twv S1

dei$>v\\wv 7; a7ro/3oX,77 Kal7; avavais

/caTa /j,epos' ov yap Brj TavTa alel Bta/jbevei, d\\d

TO, nev eTcift\acrTdvei TO, B* dfyavaiveTai. TOVTO

Be Trepl TpoTrds /j,d\i(TTa <ylveTau Qepwds. el Be

TIVWV Kal /JLT* *A.pKTovpov TJKal KaT* a\\r)v wpav

7ria-K7TTeov. Kal TO, ^ev Trepl T^V (j)v\\o-

/3o\iav

1 Plin. 16. 82 and 83.

66

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. ix. 5-7

its leaves, and they say that it does not come inlo

leaf along with the others, but only after the risingof the dog-star. It is said that in Cyprus too thereis a plane which has the same peculiarity.

1 The fall of the leaves in all cases takes place in

autumn or later, but it occurs later in some trees

than in others, and even extends into the winter.

However the fall of the leaf does not correspond to

the growth of new leaves (in which case those that

come into leaf earlier would lose their leaves earlier),but some (such as the almond) which are early in

coming into leaf are not earlier than the rest in

losing their leaves, but are even comparativelylate. 2

3 Others again, such as the mulberry, come into

leaf late, but are hardly at all later than the others

in shedding their leaves. It appears also that positionand a moist situation conduce to keeping the leaves

late;for those which grow in dry places, and in

general where the soil is light, shed their leaves

earlier, and the older trees earlier than young ones.

Some even cast their leaves before the fruit is ripe,as the late kinds of fig and pear.

In those which are evergreen the shedding and

withering of leaves take place by degrees ;for it is

not the same 4 leaves which always persist, but fresh

ones are growing while the old ones wither away.This happens chiefly about the summer solstice.

Whether in some cases it occurs even after the risingof Arcturus or at a quite different season is matter for

enquiry. So much for the shedding of leaves.

avffTfpet con]. H.; vtrrepov UMVPAld.

3 Plin. 16. 84.4 raura oonj. Sch.

;TO.VTU Aid.

THEOPHRASTUS

X. Ta Be (f>v\\a rwv /ne^ aXXwv bevSpajv o/

irdvrwv avra eafrot?, TT}? Be \evfcrjs KOI rov

Kirrov Kal rov Ka\ovfjLevov Kporwvos dvofJiOLa teal

erepoa^tj/jLova" rd p,ev ydp via rrepi^eprj TO, Be

7ra\aiorepa ycovoeiBfj, Kal et? rovro 7;

TrdvTwv. rov Be KLTTOU avdira\iv veov

<y>ya)Vi(t)Tpa TrpecrftvTepov Be 7repi<f)pe(TTepa' yu-era-

/3d\\ei <ydp KOL ovros. L^LOV Be Kal TO rfj e\da Kal

T-f) <pi\vpa Kal rfj vrreXea real rfj\evKr} avf-ifBalvov

crTpecfyeii' yap BOKOVGIV ra vTrria /iera rpovra? Qepi-

vd<$, Kal Touro) <yvu>pi^ovcriv OTfyeyev^vraL TpoTrai.2 Trdvra Be ra (f)V\\a Biafiepei Kara ra VTrrta Kal ra

irpavrf. Kal TWV /uei> d\\wv ra VTTTIU TroLwBea-repaKal \ei6repa' ra? yap iva$ Kal ra? (/>Xe/5a? ev

rot? TrpavecrLV eyovcriv, wcnrep i] %et/3 <ra dp9pa>-

T?}? B* e'Xaa? \evKorepa Kal fjrrov \ia eviore

Kal rd V7ma. Trdvra Br; TJrd ye TrXetcrra

e/C(f>av7]

Xei T<* vTTTia Kal ravra ylverai iw ?}Xt&) fyavepd.Kal arpe^erai rd TroXXa TT/OO? TOV rfKLOv Bi o Kal

ov pdBiov eiirelv OTrorepov Trpo? rw K\MVI fiaXkbv

7; fjiev yap uTTT^orr;? /zaXXoz' BoKel Troielv TO

es, rjBe (frvcris ov% f)7~rov fiovXeraL TO VTTTIOV,

aXX&)9 T Kali) dvaK\a(jLs Bid TOV i'\iov iBoi B'

1 Plin. 16. 85.2 Kal rov KITTOV Kal TOV MSS. cf. Plin. I.e. Diosc. 4. 164.

Kal TOV Ktxtov TOV Kal conj. W. ; Galen, Lex. Hipp., givesK(KIOV as a name for the root of Kporwv. cf. C.P. 2. 16. 4.

3 i.e. not 'entire.''

Young leaves ' = leaves of the young tree.4 This seems to contradict what has just been said.8 ra apdpa add. Sch. from Plin. 16. 88, incisuras. cf. Arist.

H.A. 1. 15, where Plin. (11. 274) renders apdpa incisuras.

68

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. x. 1-2

Differences in leaves.

X. ] Now, while the leaves of all other trees are

all alike in each tree, those of the abele ivy 2 andof the plant called kroton (castor-oil plant) are

unlike one another and of different forms. The

young leaves in these are round, the old ones

angular,3 and eventually all the leaves assume that

form. On the other hand 4 in the ivy, when it is

young, the leaves are somewhat angular, but whenit is older, they become rounder : for in this planttoo a change of form takes place. There is a

peculiarity special to the olive lime elm and abele :

their leaves appear to invert the upper surface after

the summer solstice, and by this men know that the

solstice is past. Now all leaves differ as to their

upper and under surfaces ; and in most trees the

upper surfaces are greener and smoother, as theyhave the fibres and veins in the under surfaces, even

as the human hand has its'

lines/5 but even the upper

surface of the leaf of the olive is sometimes whiter

and less smooth. 6 So all or most leaves displaytheir upper surfaces, and it is these surfaces whichare exposed to the light.

7Again most leaves turn

towards the sun ;wherefore also it is not easy to say

which surface is next to the twig8

; for, while the

way in which the upper surface is presented seemsrather to make the under surface closer to it, yetnature desires equally that the upper surface should

be the nearer, and this is specially seen in the

turning back 9 of the leaf towards the sun. One

6 fviore Kal TO. virria conj. W.;

A.eta 5e Kal ra rov KITTOV

MSS. A makeshift correction of an obscure passage.7

cf. Plin. I.e.8

i.e. is the under one.9 Whereby the under surface is exposed to it : see above.

69

THEOPHRASTUS

av T/? 6o~a rrvKva Kal /car' aXX?/Xa, KaOdrcep ra

ron>

Oiovrai &e rives KOI rrjv rpo^r/v rro vrrrlw

rov rrpavovs elvai, Si a rb CVIK/AOV del rovro

^i/owSe? elvai, ov tfaXw? \eyovres. dXXa rovro

liev Tcrco? av/Jiftaii'ei %&)/ot? rfjs ISias ^ucreco? KOLp.\\ \r / r'v'< /3 f ^ v JL x 51 ^

ota TO /AT; oyLtotw^ i]A,iovcruai, 77oe Tpcxpr) oia

(f)\e(3Mv rj ivwv OJJLOLW^ d/x(f)OTpOLS' e/c Oarepov6t? d('nepov OVK eu\oyov yet?) eyovcnfttWos 81 ov f d\\a Trepl /nev T/JO^T)? Sia rivwv

erepo^ \6yos.

&ia(j)pov(Ti Se Kal ra (f)V\\a 7r\eiocri &ia-

<fcopals' TCI IJLCV yap eari 7r\aru(f)u\\a, fca0(i7rep

a/zTreXo? crvKi} TrXaTai^o?, ra &e &revo$>v\\a,

KaOdrcep e\da poa /jivppivos- ra S' wcnrep a.Kat'06-

(f)V\\a, tcaOdrrep TrevKtj TTITU? A-e'8/30?' ra 6' oloi'

aapK6(pv\\a' rovro & on cra/j/ccoSe? e^ovai ro

(frv\\ov, olov fcvrrdpirros /nvpiKrj /jLrfkea, rtov Se

(ppvyavixwv Kvewpos crTOljSr) /cal rroiw&wv dei^wovTroKiov \rovro Se Kal 77/009 TOU? cr?}Ta? TOL? ev

TO?? i/nariots dyaOov] ra yap av rcov revr\id)v

rj pafydvwv a\\ov rporrov crapKcoSij Kal ra rwv

Trrjyavicov KaXov/Aevwv' ev rr\arei yap Kal OVK ti>

(rrpoyyv\orr)ri ro (rapKW&es. Kal rwv @a/j.v(i)&a)i'

3e jj /jivpLKr) aapKwBes TO (f)i>\\ov e^ei. evia Be

1c/. 1. 8. 3; 1. 10. 8; Plin. 16. 92.

ae/c Oarepov 5* ei conj. Sch. from G ; 5e ^/c Barfpov els with

stop at iVwv Aid. 3 8i' oS I conj. ;8t' wi/ U.

4a.Kavd6<f)v\Xa conj. W. ; ffirav6(pv\\a UMAlcl. ; ai'i^uAAa

P2 ; c/. 3. 9. 5, whence Sch. conj. rpixo<pv\\a : Plin. /.c. has

capillata pino cedro.3

jUTjXe'a probably corrupt ; omitted by Plin. I.e.

70

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. x. 2-5

may observe this in trees whose leaves are crowdedand opposite,

1 such as those of myrtle.Some think that the nourishment too is conveyed to

the upper surface through the under surface, because

this surface always contains moisture and is downy,but they are mistaken. It may be that this is not

due to the trees' special character, but to their not

getting an equal amount of sunshine, though the

nourishment conveyed through the veins or fibres

is the same in both cases. That it should be con-

veyed from one side to the other 2 is improbable,when there are no passages for it nor thickness for it

to pass through.3 However it belongs to another

part of the enquiry to discuss the means by whichnourishment is conveyed.

Again there are various other differences betweenleaves ; some trees are broad-leaved, as vine fig and

plane, some narrow-leaved, as olive pomegranatemyrtle. Some have, as it were, spinous

4leaves,

as fir Aleppo pine prickly cedar; some, as it were,

fleshy leaves ; and this is because their leaves are of

fleshy substance, as cypress tamarisk apple,5among

under-shrubs kncoroa and stoibe, and among herba-

ceous plants house-leek and hulwort. 6 This plantis good against moth in clothes. For the leaves of

beet and cabbage are fleshy in another way, as are

those of the various plants called rue;for their fleshy

character is seen in the flat instead of in the round. 7

Among shrubby plants the tamarisk 8 has fleshy8Probably a gloss.

7 Or '

solid,' such leaves being regarded as having, so to

speak, three, and not two dimensions. arp6yyv\os = ' thick-

set' in Arist. H.A. 9. 44.8

/jLupiK-n probably corrupt ; /u. was mentioned just above,

among frees ; fpelKtj conj. Dalec.

71

THEOPHRASTUS

Kal Ka\afJLO(^v\\a, KaOdrrep o (polvi^ teal 6

real ocra roiavra' ravra Be w? Ka6^ o\ov elrrelv

<ya)vi6<J)v\\a' real jap o tfd\a/jLOS Kal 6 KvrreiposKal O ftovrOfJiOS Kal TttXXa Be rO)V \l/jLV(i)Ba)l'

roiavra' rrdvra Be wcrrrep etc Bvoiv avvQera Kal

TO fjL(Tov olov rpoTTis, ov v rot? rtXXo/?

7TO/90? o /Ltecro?. Bta^epovai e Kal rot?

TCL /j,v jap vrepKJtepf], KaOdjrep ra T?}? CITTLOV, raSe TTpo/Aij/ceo'Tepa, tcaOcnrep ra TT}? AtiyXea?' raet? ou TrpoijKovra Kal 7rapaKav@ioi>Ta,a TOV /jLL\aKo<$. Kal TavTa /jiev aayjLVTa' <ra t

Kal olov TrpiovwSrj, KaOdirep ra TT)?

Kal ra rrj<; Trrepibos' rporcov oe riva

a%icrra Kal ra TT}? dyu/TreXof, Kal ra TT}?

6 Be cocrrrep av elrroL Tt? Kopa)i>OTro8(x)Srj. evia

Kal eVro/ia? e^ovra, KaOdrrep ra TT}? TrreXea?

ra TT}? 'HyoaArXewTf/cr)? Kal ra TT}? Spvos. ra Se

Kal rrapaKavOi^ovra Kal eV rod aKpov Kal CK rcov

rr\ayiU)v, olov ra TT}? rrpivov Kal ra TT}? SpvosKal /jLL\aKos Kal ftdrov Kal rra\iovpov Kal ra rwva\\(t)i>. dKav6&>$es Be K rwv aKpwv Kal TO T?}?

rrevKi^ Kal rrirvos Kal eXdrvjS en Be Ke'Bpov KCU

KeopiBos. (f)v\\aKai'0ov Be 6'Xco? ev n-ev rols

Bei'Bpots OVK earns ovBev wv 7;yU6i? I'cr/jLev, ev Be

TO?? aXXot? v\rjfJLaffLv eariv, olov ij re aKopva Kal

77 Bpvrrls Kal 6 CLKCLVOS Kal o"%eSbv arrav TO rwvaKavcdBwv yevos' wcnrep jap (frv\\ov ecrrlv

i]

d/cavOa rraa-iv el Be /Ar) <^uXXa Tt? ravra 6i]<TeL,

1 Plin. I.e. and 13. 30. 2 o5 eV conj. W.; Mev Aid. H.3

irapaKavOifrvTa conj. Sell.; 7ra/>a7a>j'fo'Ta UMVAld.4 ra 8* (Txiffra add. W.

7 2

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. x. 5-6

leaves. Some again have reedy leaves, as date-palm

doum-palm and such like. But, generally speaking.,the leaves of these end in a point ;

for reeds galin-

gale sedge and the leaves of other marsh plants are

of this character. l The leaves of all these are com-

pounded of two parts, and the middle is like a keel,

placed where in 2 other leaves is a large passage

dividing the two halves. Leaves differ also in their

shapes ;some are round, as those of peai-, some

rather oblong, as those of the apple ; some come to a

sharp point and have spinous projections3 at the

side, as those of smilax. So far I have spoken ot

undivided leaves ;but some are divided 4 and like

a saw, as those of silver-fir and of fern. To a

certain extent those of the vine are also divided,

while those of the fig one might compare to a crow's

foot. 5 6 Some leaves again have notches, as those of

elm filbert and oak, others have spinous projectionsboth at the tip and at the edges, as those of kermes-oak oak smilax bramble Christ's thorn and others.

The leaf of fir Aleppo pine silver-fir and also of pricklycedar and kedris (juniper)

7 has a spinous point at

the tip. Among other trees there is none that weknow which has spines for leaves altogether, but it

is so with other woody plants, as akorna drypis pine-thistle and almost all the plants which belong to

that class. 8 For in all these spines, as it were, take

the place of leaves, and, if one is not to reckon these

5KopuvoTro$<*>8r) conj. Gesner. The fig-leaf is compared to a

crow's foot, Plut. de defect, orac. 3 ; ffKoXoir&tiri Aid., which

word is applied to thorns by Diosc. 6 Plin. 16. 90.7

KfSpiSos conj. Dalec. ; KeSpias MSS. cf. Plin. I.e., whoseems to have read aypias.

8 a/fofwSwv conj. W., cf. 1. 13. 3; a.KO.vGwwv MSS.; Q.KOLV-

73

P2 .

THEOPHRASTUS

av o\a)<} d<j>v\\a ivai,, eviots Be dtcavdav

elvai <pu\\ov Be 0X0)5 OVK e^eiv, /caOdrrep a

Hd\iv B1

OTL ra fxev d/juo~%a, /caOdrrep ra TT}V

(T/aXX?;? Kal TOV /3o\/~jov, ra B' e^ovra yLicryov.

KOI ra /jLev fjicucpov, olovi] a[A7T\o<; /cal 6 KITTOS,

ra Be (Bpa~%vv /cal olov e/nrreipuKora, KaOdjrep e\dareal ov% wcnrep ejrl T^? Tr\ardvov /cal d/jL7re\ov

7rpoa">]pTi]/jtevov. Siatpopa Be /cal TO/j,rj

e/c TMVavrwv eivai T^V Trpoa-fyvcrLV, d\\a rots" /J>ev

e/c TWV ic\d$(ov rot? Be /cal e/c rwv

, T/}? &pvbs Be /cal e/c rou crreXe

Be \a^avwBh)v rot? vroXXot? ev0v$ etc

, olov KpO/jLVOV CT/COpSoV Kl^OpLOV, Tl Be

dcr(j)oBe\ou o~/ci\\r)s /SoX/9oO aiavpiy^LOu /cal

oXw? TO)v /9oX/9ft>Sw^' /cal rovrutv Be ov% rj

fiovov e/c^i/crt? aXXa /cal 0X0? o /cav\b<?

eviwv 8' orav yevijrai, <f>v\\a el/cos, olov

WKLUOV <re\lvov /cal TWV o-iTtjptov o

8* evia TOVTWV /cal rov /cav\bv elr d/cavOi^ovra,

a)? 7; OpiBa/civr) /cal rd <f)v\\d/cav0a Trdvra /cal

0a/AV(0Ba)V Be /cal en yuaXXoy, olov

1)Be Bta(j)opd Trdvrajv 6/1.0/609 BevBpcov /cai

a\\u>v OTL ra [lev TroXu^uXXa ra 8' 0X^70-

(f>v\\a. co? B' 7rl TO rrdv TO, TrXaru^uXXa Tal-

<f)v\\a, Kafldrrep [j,vppivo<?, TO, B' aTa/CTa /cal <i?

, KaOdirep a^eBbv TCL TrXetcrra TWV dXXcov

1 Plin. 16. 91. 2 ^) conj. W. ; r, Ald.H.3 (v'iuv . . . fltcts. So Sch. explains : text probably de-

fective.

74

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. x. 6-8

as leaves, they would be entirely leafless, and somewould have spines but no leaves at all, as asparagus.

1

Again there is the difference that some leaves

have no leaf-stalk, as those of squill and purse-

tassels, while others have a leaf-stalk. And someof the latter have a long leaf-stalk, as vine

and ivy, some, as olive, a short one which grows, as

it were, into the stem and is not simply attached to

it, as it is in 2plane and vine. Another difference is

that the leaves do not in all cases grow from the

same part, but, whereas in most trees they grow fromthe branches, in some they grow also from the twigs,and in the oak from the stem as well

;in most

pot-herbs they grow directly from the root, as in

onion garlic chicory, and also in asphodel squill

purse-tassels Barbary-nut, and generally in plantsof the same class as purse-tassels ;

and in these

not merely the original growth but the wholestalk is leafless. In some, when the stalk is pro-

duced, the leaves may be expected to grow,3 as in

lettuce basil celery, and in like manner in cereals.

In some of these the stalk presently becomes spinous,as in lettuce and the whole class of plants with

spinous leaves, and still more in shrubby plants, as

bramble and Christ's thorn.4 Another difference which is found in all trees

alike and in other plants as well is that some have

many, some few leaves. And in general those that

have flat leaves 5 have them in a regular series, as

myrtle, while in other instances the leaves are in no

particular order, but set at random, as in most other

4 Plin. 16. 92.5

ir\a.Ti>(f)v\\a UVP ; iro\v(pv\\a conj. W. ; but irAaruTTjj is

one of the ' differences'

given in the 'summary below.

75

THEOPHRASTUS

\r)v~\.iBiov Be eVt TWV \a)ai>c0Btov, olov

, TO KOL\6(j)V\\OV.'

al Siarfropal TWV (f)v\\u>v ?/

17

rj Tpa%vTr)Ti rj \eioTi)TL Kal T(O Trap-r

Oi^eiv ?; /xr;.er^ Se Kara rtjv

* ^ ' f ^ r'/3 ' N f/ ^ * -\'?)

Ot ov TO fj,ev ouev, UTTO pi^rj^ r; K\abov

rj /cav\ov ?} aKpefjibvos' TO &e Si ov, i]Sia [iicryov

rj Si avTOv Kal el ST; 7ro\\a ex TOV avTov. Kal

evia Kaprro(f)6pa, fJLCTa^u TrepieL\i~i^)OTa TOV Kapirov,

At /J,ev ovv Siacfropal TWV <pvX\.a)v

rracrai el'prjvTai Kal a^e^ov elaiv ev TOVTOIS.

Be TCL i^ev e iVo? Kal (f>\oiov

OS, olov TCL TT)? cru/cr}? Kal TTJS a^Tre\ov, Ta St

wcnrep et; ivo$ JJLOVOV, olov TOV Ka\dp,ov Kal (TLTOV.

9 TO 3e vypov tiTrdvTwv KOLVOV airtHTi yap evv-

7rdp%ei Kal TOVTOIS Kal rot? aXXoi? rot? eVeretofs

[yuicr^o? civOos KapTros el TL a\Xo]* JJLCL\\OV Be Kal

rot? /AT) eVeretoi?' ovBev yap avev TOVTOV. BOKCL

Be Kal TWV /nia^wv TO, aev e^ ivwv aovov o-vjKel-

aOai, Kaddrrep Ta TOV CTLTOV /cat TOV Ka\dp.ov, TCI

8' ex TWV avTwv, wGTrep oi Kav\oi.

&\\ct,<v ?iv MSS. ;rajf -noiaiSui' conj. W. ^^, at all

events, cannot be right.2 Plin. 19. 100.

3?; CTT6I/(^T7JTt $1 KOl\6T7]Tl I SO G J T) /CO/AoT7JTt ^ ffT6)'^T7JT(

MSS. 4 ^e. petiolate.B

{.?. sessile.

6 i.e. compound : ei 5i; conj. W. ; erSr, UMVAkl.7 The passage from here to the end of the chapter is a

digression.

7 6

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. x. 8-9

plants.1 2 It is peculiar to pot-herbs to have hollow

leaves, as in onion and horn-onion.To sum up, the differences between leaves are

shewn in size, number, shape, hollowness, in breadth,3

roughness and their opposites, and in the presence orabsence of spinous projections ; also as to their

attachment, according to the part from which theyspring or the means by which they are attached

;

the part from which they spring being the root or a

branch or the stalk or a twig, while the means bywhich they are attached may be a leaf-stalk,

4 or they

may be attached directly ;5 and there may be 6

several leaves attached by the same leaf-stalk.

Further some leaves are fruit-bearing, enclosing thefruit between them, as the Alexandrian laurel, whichhas its fruit attached to the leaves.

These are all the differences in leaves stated some-what generally, and this is a fairly complete list of

examples.

Composition of the various parts of a plant.

1(Leaves are composed some of fibre bark and flesh,

as those of the fig and vine, some, as it were, offibre alone, as those of reeds and corn. But moistureis common to all, for it is found both in leaves and in

the other annual parts,8leaf-stalk, flower, fruit and so

forth but more especially in the parts which arenot annual 9

;in fact no part is without it. Again it

appears that some leaf-stalks are composed only of

fibre, as those of corn and reeds, some of the samematerials as the stalks.

8/j.lffxos . . . &\\o has no construction ; probably a (correct)

gloss, taken from 1, 2, 1.

i.e. while these are young, W.9

77

THEOPHRASTUS

10 Twv 8' dvdwv TCL fjLev CK (f)\oiov KOI

crap/cos, <TCL B* K cra/3/ro?> /novov, olov ra ev

TWV apwv.WS B KOI Trl TWV KapTTWV OL LLeV jap K

os Kai Ivus, ol Be eV crap/cos LLOVOV, oi Be Ka\

K SepfAcnos av^KZivTai' TO Be vypov afco\ov0el

Kai Touroi?. etc crap/to? ^e^ Kai tVo? o TWI>

KOKKV/jii]\a)V Kai criKvcov, e tVo? Be Kai Bep/uaro^6 rwv (rvKafJiLvaiv Kai r?}? poa?. CI\\OL Be Kai"

d\\ov Tporrov ^e/jiepio'fjLevot. TTCLVTWV Be &)>\ \ >/. J-x \ \<M5 \ \C-r.\

TO fiev e!~w q>\oio<; TO o ez^ro? crap!~ TWV ot

X.I. "Ei(T%aTov B' ev ajracn TO (rrrepf^a. TOVTO

Be e%ov ev eavTU) ai>[ji(^VTov i><ypov Kai Oep/nov,eK\iTrovTwv ciyova, KaOdjrep TO, u>d. Kai TCOV

fjie

evdv TO aTrepfJia fMTa TO Trepie^ov, oiov

Kapvov d/jLvyBciX-rfs, Tr\eiw Be TOVTWV TCL e

e^ovTa, a)? ra TOV ^OIVLKOS. TWV Be fieT

Kai rrupjjv, &o~Trep e'Xaa? Kai KOKKVfj,7j\ea<}' t v 5>\ >-v/Q's v ^'' f/ N

6Tepo)V. evia oe Kai ev A,opw, ra o ev v/^evi, ra

8' ev dyyeiM, TCL Be Kai yvfjLvocrTreppa reXetw?.

'Ey \o/3w fJLev ov fjiovov TCL 7TeTia, Kaddrrep TO.

^eBporra Kai erepa Tr\eiw TWV dypiwv, d\\a Ka\

TWV BevBpwv evia, KaOdrrep i] re Kepwvia, TJV Tives

Ka\ovGi avKi]v AlyvTTTiav, Kai 7] Kepi<ls Kaiij

KO\oLTia rrepl Ai-rrdpav ev vpevi S' evia TWV

1 ra U ; rb Aid.a ra 5' tie aapKbs preserved only in mBas.

;om. UMVPo.

Sch. reads T^>.

3&pwv conj. W.; alpoav MSS.

4i.e. rind.

3 Plin. 18. 53. 6 ov conj. Sch.; olv Ald.H.

78

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. x. IO-XL 2

Of flowers some 1 are composed of bark veins and

Hesh, some of flesh only,2 as those in the middle of

cuckoo-pint.3

So too with fruits ; some are made of flesh and

fibre, some of flesh alone, and some of skin 4 also.

And moisture is necessarily found in these also.

The fruit of plums and cucumbers is made of flesh

and fibre,, that of mulberries and pomegranates of

fibre and skin. The materials are differently distri-

buted in different fruits, but of nearly all the outside

is bark, the inside flesh, and this in some cases

includes a stone.)

Differences in seeds.

XI. Last in all plants comes the seed. This possessesin itself natural moisture and warmth, and, if these

fail, the seeds are sterile, like eggs in the like case.

In some plants the seed comes immediately inside

the envelope, as in date filbert almond (however, as

in the case of the date, there may be more than one

covering). In some cases again there is flesh and a

stone between the envelope and the seed, as in olive

plum and other fruits. Some seeds again are enclosed

in a pod, some in a husk, some in a vessel, and someare completely naked.

5 Enclosed in a pod are not 6only the seeds ot

annual plants, as leguminous plants, and of con-

siderable numbers of wild plants, but also those of

certain trees, as the carob-tree (which some 7 call

the '

Egyptian fig '), Judas-tree,8 and the koloitia 9

of the Liparae islands. In a husk are enclosed the

7TIV rives conj. St. from G

; ^vriva. Ald.H.8Clearly not the Kep/c/s (aspen) described 3. 14. 2.

" KoXoiria MSS.; KoXovrea. conj. .St., cf. 3. 17. 2 n.

79

THEOPHRASTUS

wcnrep o TTfyOo? Kai o Key^pos'Be Kal evayyeiocnrepfjiaTa Kal yv/jLvoo~TrepuaTa.

ivayyeioa'Trepf.iaTa fiev olov ij re ^KWV Kal ocra

TO yap a/j&a/jiov IBiWTepwsBe T&V re \a^dvwv vroXXa,

avt~iOov Kopiavvov avvrfffov KV^IVOV pdpaOov Kal

3 Tepa 7T\ia). TOW Be BevBpwv ouSev yv/AvocrTrep/jLOv

C7} o~apl Trepie^o/jievoi' ?} Ke\vcf)e(rtv, Ta

fiei'

!, wcTTrep r; ySaXa^o? Kal TO QvftoiKor,

Ta Be ^u\ojBecrii>, ojaTrep r/ a/nvyBaXtj Kal TO

Kapvov. ovBev Be evayyeiocrTrep/Aov, el /JMJ Ti? TOV

KMVOV dyyetov Orjcrei, BLCL TO %wpl^e(

Kapjrwv.A'NC'VV ' " v 'Z) v

AvTa oe Ta crTrep/jiaTa TWV JJLZV evuv

KaOaTcep oo~a Kapvrjpa Kal /3a\avrjpd- TWV Be ev

Trvprjvi TO crapKOjBes e%eTai, KaOaTcep eXaa? Kal

Kal d\\(DV. TMV 8' u,7rvpr>va IJLOVOV ri

7rvprjva>o''Tj ye /cat wcrTrep ^pd, KaOaTrep TO,

KOI Key^pa/jLiScoBT) Kal 7ro\\d TWV

e/jL(f)avcrTaTa Be ra TOV (froivifcos'

ovSe yap KOi\oTrjTa %ei TOVTO ouBe/jiiav dX)C

o\ov %r)p6v ov/JLj-fV

dXX' vypoTrjs B)j Ti? Kal

VTrdp^ei BrfXov OTL Kal TOVTM, Kaddjrep

a . . . rb yap conj. W. from G ; yUTJ/caw Kara, yapUMVAld.

2Kop'iavvov 6.vvt]ffov conj. Sch.; Kopidvvri<rov UMAld. ; KO-

pavv-nffov V ; c/. Plin. 19. 119.8^ Kf\v<t>ffiv conj. Sch., c/. C. P. 4. 1. 2 ; 7) 5f Ki>na(nv U;

Plin. 15. 112, crusta teguntur glandes.* Plin. 15. 113.

80

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. xi. 2-3

seeds of some annuals, as wheat and millet ;and

in like manner some plants have their seeds in a

vessel, some have them naked. In a vessel are

those of the poppy and plants of the poppy kind ;

l

(the case of sesame however is somewhat peculiar),while many pot-herbs have their seeds naked, as

dill coriander 2 anise cummin fennel and manyothers. No tree has naked seeds, but either theyare enclosed in flesh or in shells,

3 which are some-times ..of leathery nature, as the acorn and the sweet

chestnut, sometimes woody, as almond and nut.

Moreover no tree has its seeds in a vessel, unless onereckons a cone as a vessel, because it can be separatedfrom the fruits.

The actual seeds are in some cases fleshy in them-

selves, as all those which resemble nuts or acorns;

4 in some cases the fleshy part is contained in a stone,as in olive bay and others. The seeds in some

plants again merely consist of a stone,5 or at least

are of stone-like character, and are, as it were,6dry ;

for instance those of plants like safflower millet and

many pot-herbs. Most obviously of this character

are those of the date,7 for they contain no cavity,

but are throughout dry8

;not but what there must

be even in them some moisture and warmth, as wehave said. 9

5

(jLirvp-i}va [ILOVOV r\ TrvpTfjvwSr} conj. Sell. ; iv -nvprivi pAvov t)

Tfup^vcaSei Aid. (P has TTvprjvuibr)).6

i.e. no seed can really be without moisture; cf. 1. 11. 1.

7cf. C.P. 5. 18. 4.

8-npbv I conj. ,

as required by the next clause ; f^opdov PAld. ;

f^oppov W. from Sch. conj. The germ in the date-stone is so

small as to be undiscoverable, whence the stone seems to be

homogeneous throughout, with no cavity for the germ.9

1. 10. 9.

81

THEOPHRASTUS

&ia(f)epovcn Be KOI ry ra fjiev ddpoa /j,er

a\.\i)\a>i> elvai, ra Be Biecrrwra KOI crroi^Bov,

cocnrep ra T>}? KO\OKVVTT]S KOL criKvas Kal rcov

BevBpwv, o>? YlepaiK^ /z?;Xea9. Kal rwv dOpowvra /j,ev evl TLVL Trepie^eorOaiy KadciTrep TO, TT}? poa?KOI T^? UTTLOV KOI yLt^Xea? KOl T/)<? tt/iTTeXoU KOL

ra &e /xer' a\X?;Xa)i/ fj,ei> elvai,

i, Beu(/)' evos, wcrjrep TCI a-ra-^urjpa

7T6TL(i)i>, elfJLr) Ti? 06irj Tov oiayvv o>?

ovrw S' carat teal 6 fiorpvs KCU ra\\a ra

/3orpva>$T] real ocra Si] fyepei &i evfioaiav icai

aperrjv aOpoovs TOU? Kaprrovs, (ocrrrep ev

^vpia <paal Kal d\\o0t ra? e'

o 'AXXa Kal avrrf So/eel Ti? elvai Siatyopa ro ra

fjiev a<j> e^o? fjbLO"%ov teal /-ua?

adpoa ryivecrOai, KaOdrrep erri re rwv

Kal ara^vrjpcov eiprjTdl firj rrepLe^o^eva KOLVW

nvi rylvecrdai' ra Be aij ^iveaQai. errel

eKacrrov ye \auj3dvovri, rwv arrepf^drwv TJ

rrepie'^ovTwv i&Lav ap^rjv e^ei T?)?

olov TIre pa Kal

r) poa Kal rrd\iv 6 rrvpos Kali]

KpiQij. jjKKrra 5' av Bo^eiev ra rwv fjLi']\a)V Kal

ra TMV arflwvy ort crvfji-^raveL re Kal rrepiei\r)rrrai

Katfdrcep vuevi nvl SepfjiartKU) Trepl ov ro rrepi-

6 Kapmov aXX oyLta)? /cat rovrwv eKacrrov tSiav

dp")(r]v e^eu Kal fyvcriv <pai>epcorara Be ru>

1ffToix^Av conj. W.; <rxe5iv Aid.

2 tvi TIVI conj. Sch.; V TIVI Aid. 3cf. Plin. 15. 15.

4OUT?; conj. Sch.; adr?? Aid. 5 ri conj. W.; T<j5 Aid.

82

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. xi. 4-6

Further seeds differ in that in some cases they are

massed together, in others they are separated and

arranged in rows/ as those of the gourd and

bottle-gourd, and of some trees, such as the citron.

Again of those that are massed together some differ

in being contained in a single2

case, as those of

pomegranate pear apple vine and fig ; others in

being closely associated together, yet not containedin a single case, as, among annuals, those which are

in an ear unless one regards the ear as a case. In

that case the grape-cluster and other clustering fruits

will come under the description, as well as all those

plants which on account of good feeding or excellenceof soil bear their fruits massed together,

8 as theysay the olive does in Syria and elsewhere.

But this 4 too seems to be a point of difference,that 5 some grow massed together from a singlestalk and a single attachment, as has been said in

the case of plants with clusters or ears whose seeds

do not grow contained in one common case ; whileothers grow otherwise. For in these instances, if

one takes each seed or case separately, it has its ownspecial point of attachment, for instance each grapeor pomegranate,*

3 or again each grain of wheat or

barley. This would seem to be least of all the case

with the seeds of apples and pears, since 7 thesetouch one another 8 and are enclosed in a sort of

skin-like membrane, outside which is the fruit-case.'1

However each of these too has its own peculiar

point of attachment and character;

this is most

6TJ re . . . {>6a. : text pei-haps defective ; 7} re paf ftirpvas

Kal TTJS poas 6 irvp-hv conj. Bod.7 tri conj. Seh.; fat U; foot PMAld.8

cf, 8. 5. 2. 9i.e. pulp.

83

THEOPHRASTUS

K"Xju>pio~6ai TCL TT}? pow o jap Trvprjv e

7rpoo~7re(j)VKev, ov% wcTTrep TCOV avtcwv aBij\a Bid

Trjv vjpoTrjTa. KOI jap TOVTW e^ovai Bia<f)0pdv

Kaijrep dfji^oTepa Trepte^ofj.ei'a o-apKwBei Tivl Kal ro

TOVTO 7repiei\r)<f)oTi /jLera rwv a\\a)v ra jj,ev jap

Trepl e/caarov e%ei rrvpy}va TO (raprcwSes TOVTO TO

vjpov, al Be Kej^pap-l^e^ cocnrep KOLVOV TL Trdcrai,

KaOaTrep KOI TO jijapTOv Kal ocra TOV ai)Tov e^e/

TpoTrov. a\\a ra? fjiev TOiavra? &ia(j)opas TCL\

Tt? \df3oi 7T\6LOV^' 0)V &l Ttt9

T/}<? c^ucreo)? /JLTJ ajvoelv.

XII. At Be KaTa TOU9 xuXou? Kal TCL

6'Xa? fjiopfyas o~%eBov tpavepal

i \6jov TT\^I> TOCTOVTOV 7'

ovBev TrepLKapTTiov ev0vjpa/j./.iov ovBe

TWV Be %v\a)V ol jjiev elcnv oiVcoSei?, wairep a/j,-

7T\ov GVKafJiivov [LvpTOV OL 8' \aa>Beis, w

e'Xaa? Bdcfivris Kapvas d/jLVj8a\))<;

eXar^?' ol Be /zeXircoSef?, olov avKou<j>oivttco<;

Biocr(3a\dvov ol Be Bpi/jLels, olov opijdvov

KapBd/iov vaTrvos' ol Be iriKpol, tocnrep

xevTavpiov. Biatpepovcri Be Kal rat?

olov dvvrjGOV KeBpiBos' eviwv Be vBapeis av Bo^aiev,

olov ol TWV KOKKV/jLTjXecov ol Be o^et?, wcnrep powv

1i.e. of the pulp.

a TOVTUI conj. Sell.; TOVTO Aid.1 T~bv om. St.: i.e. the seeds are arranged in compartments

of the pulp.

84

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. xi. 6-xn. i

obvious in the separation of the pomegranate seeds,for the stone is attached to each, and the connexionis not, as in figs, obscured by the moisture. 1 Forhere 2 too there is a difference, although in bothcases the seeds are enclosed in a sort of fleshv

substance, as well as in the case which encloses this

and the other parts of the fruit. For in the pome-granate the stones have this moist fleshy substance

enclosing each 3separate stone ; but in the case of

fig-seeds, as well as in that of grape-stones and other

plants which have the same arrangement, the same

pulp is common to all. 4 However one might find

more such differences, and one should not ignore the

most important of them, namely those which specially

belong to the plant's natural character.

Differences in taste.

XII. The differences in taste, shape, and form as

a whole are tolerably evident to all, so that they donot need explanation ; except that it should be

stated that 5 the case containing the fruit is never

right-lined in shape and never has angles.6 Of

tastes some are like wine, as those of vine mul-

berry arid myrtle ;some are like olive-oil, as, besides

olive itself, bay hazel almond fir Aleppo pine silver-

fir; some like honey, as fig date chestnut

; some are

pungent, as marjoram savory cress mustard; some

are bitter, as wormwood centaury. Some also are

remarkably fragrant, as anise and juniper7

; of

some the smell would seem to be insipid,8 as in

plums ; of others sharp, as in pomegranates and

4i.e. the fruit is not divided into compartments.

5Tt\rji> fj Toffovrov conj. W.; tr\T]v TOCTOVTOV f) UMAld.

6 Plin. 19. 186;

15. 109. 7cf. 1. 9. 4. 8 Lit. watery.

85

THEOPHRASTUS

KOI evifjov fjii]\wv. drrdvrwv Be otVcoSet? Kal TOI)?

ev TOVTW TO) yevei Oereov a\\oi Be ev a\\ois

vrrep wv drravrwv aKpi/Secrrepov ev rot?

pijreov, avrd<; re rd$ i&eas

orcoaai teal ra? TT/^O? d\\ij\ovs

teal Tt? 97 efcdcrTOV (Averts /cal

2 et Se KOI 1 TWV 8ev$a)V avrcoi>

wcTTrep eKe^Orj, Sidcfropa eiSrj' rj fiev <ydp

rj TT}? crvKr)<$ Kal TT}?

, olov e'Xar?;? TrevKrjs rwv

S' vSapijs, oiov dfjirreXov UTTLOV ^u,7;Xea?,

TWV Xa^avwowi' Se, olov GLKVOV KO\OKVI>TT]<; OpiSa-

Kivt]^' at Se [^17] Bpt/jLvnjTa riva e^owi, KaOdrrep

T)rou Ovfjiov Kal Ov/.if3pa^' al $e Kal evw

wcTTrep al rov 0e\ivov dvi']6ov /jbapdOov Kal

TOLOvrwv. &)? 8' avrXw? elireiv aTracrai Kara

l&iav (frvaiv eKaarou SevBpov Kal w? KaO* o\ov

elrreiv fyvrov' rrav yap e'^et Kpdcriv riva Kal

ISiav, rjTrep oiKeia SfjXov ori rvy^dvei rot? vrro-

Ki/Jivois Kaprrols' MV roZ? TrXetcrroi?

rai T9 6iOfOT?? OVK

ev Tot? TrepiKaprriois' &io fj,d\\ov

\a/jL/3dvei, Kal Tre^nv KaOapav Kal ei\iKpiv?) rj rov

1</ C. P. 6. 6. 4.

2 T. is said to have written a treatise irep*

o-rrwSTjs. OTTO'S is used specially of the juice of the fig

itself.4

/tT)Ko>j'os probably corrupt : it should be a tree.

86

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. xir. 1-2

some kinds of apples.1 But the smells even oi'

those in this class must in all cases be called wine-

like, though they differ in different kinds, on which

matter we must speak more precisely, when we cometo speak of flavours,

2reckoning up the different

kinds themselves, and stating what differences

there are between them, and what is the natural

character and property of each.

Now the sap of the trees themselves assumesdifferent kinds of tastes as was said

;sometimes it

is milky,3 as that of the fig and poppy,

4 some-

times like pitch, as in silver-fir fir and the conifers ;

sometimes it is insipid, as in vine pear and apple,as well as such pot-herbs as cucumber gourdlettuce

;while others 5

again have a certain pungency,such as the juice of thyme and savory; others havea fragrance, such as the juices of celery dill fennel

and the like. To speak generally, all saps corre-

spond to the special character of the several trees,

one might almost add, to that of each plant. For

every plant has a certain temperament and com-

position of its own, which 6plainly belongs in a

special sense to the fruits of each. And in most of

these is seen a sort of correspondence with the

character of the plant as a whole, which is not

however exact nor obvious ; it is chiefly7 in the fruit-

cases 8 that it is seen, and that is why it is the

character of the flavour which becomes more com-

plete and matures into something separate and

5 I have bracketed ^5?j : ? a dittography of at 8e.6

%TTfp mBas.H ; ttirep MAld.7 a\\' eV . . . tM\\ov MSS. (?) Alcl.H j 7 ctp for 5ib conj. W.,

omitting stop before it.

8 '.. the pulp : so G. cf. 1. 11. 6.

87

THEOPHRASTUS

Bel jap warrep TO /j.ev vXrfv vrro-

\a/3elv ro Be elBos KOI nopfy^v.

"E^et Be avrd TO, cnrep/jLara real ol greaves oi

rrepl avrd Biaffropdv rwv yv\Mv. &)? 8'

elrcelv dnavra ra aopia rwv BevBpcov Kal

olov pu^a /eauXo? aKpe^wv <J>v\\ov Kapiros,TWO, oiKeiOTrjTa irpos TTJV b\r)v (JJVCTLV, et

TrapaX-Xdrrei Kara re ra? ooyia9 real TOU?

ra p,ev evoa-^a KOI evcoBij ra B' aoa/^azlvai rwv rov avrov

4 'JEwa>i> jap evoa^a ra dvOrj /j.d\\ov ?; rd

(f)i>\\a, rwv Be dvdrra\iv rd <pv\\a p.d\\ov Kal

oi K\wves, wcrrrep rwv are^avwf^ariKwv rwv Be oi

Kaprroi' rwv'

ovBerepov eviwv S* at pi^ar rwvBe n fiepos. ojJLOiw^ Be Kal Kara rou9 %uXoi;9

< rd

[lev jdp /3pwrd rd 8' dftpwra rvj^dvei Kal ev

(frvXXois Kal rrepiitaprriois. IBiwrarov Be ro eVt

T?/9 <j)i\vpa^' ravrrjs jdp rd /JLev <f)v\\a j\VKeaKal TroXXa rwv ^wwv ecrOlei, 6 Be Kaprros ovBevl

jSpwrbs' errel ro je dvdrra\iv ovBev Oavaaarov,ware rd ^ev c^uXXa fjirj

iaQizaQai 701/9 Be Kaprrovsov aovov vfi rmwv aXXa Kal VTTO rwv dXXwv

^wwv. d\\d Kal rrepl rovrou Kal rwvrwv roiovrwv varepov rreipareov Oewpeiv

XIII. Nvv Be roffovrov ecrrco Bfj\ov, on, Kararrdvra rd pepr] r:\eiov? elal Biatyopal

1 i.e. the pulp.2

z.e. the flavour.3 Sense : Every tree has a characteristic juice of its own,

which is however specially recognisable in its fruit;in the

tree as a whole its character is not always apparent. Hencethe importance of the flavour (which is seen in the fruit-

pulp), since it is this which determines the specific character,

88

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. xn. 2-xm. i

distinct; in fact we must consider the one 1 as'

matter/ the other 2 as ' form'

or specific character. 8

Again the seeds themselves and the coats con-

taining them have different flavours. And, to speak

generally, all parts of trees and plants, as root stembranch leaf fruit, have a certain relationship to the

character of the whole, even if 4 there is variation in

scents and tastes, so that of the parts of the same

plant some are fragrant and sweet to the taste,

while others are entirely scentless and tasteless.

For in some plants the flowers are more fragrantthan the leaves, in others on the contrary it is

rather the leaves and twigs which are fragrant, as in

those used for garlands. In others again it is the

fruits ;in others it is neither 5 of these parts, but, in

some few cases, the root or some part of it. Andso too with the flavours. Some leaves and some

fruit-pulps are, and some are not good for food.6 Most peculiar is the case of the lime : the leaves

of this are sweet, and many animals eat them, but

the fruit no creature eats, (for, as to the contrary

case, it would not be at all surprising that the leaves

should not be eaten, while the fruits were eaten not

only by us but by other animals). But concerningthis and other such matters we must endeavour to

consider the causes on some other occasion.

Differences in flowers.

XIII. For the present let so much be clear, that

in all the parts of plants there are numerous differ-

the pulp of fruit in general being, in Aristotelian language,the 'matter,' while the flavour is 'form.' <*/*. G. P. 6. 6. 6.

4i /coi conj. Sch. ; r) 5e U ;

el 8e MVAld.*

ovSfrepov seems inaccurately used, as four parts have beenmentioned. 6

c/. 3, 10. 5 ;Plin 16. 65.

89

THEOPHRASTUS

l TCOV llvOfj)V TCL /J.CV (TTL %l'0(t)$JJ, Ka0a7TpTO T?}? d/jL7T\OV Kai (TVKafJLlVOV Kal TOV KLTTOlf

TCL Se (t>XXct>8?7, KaOciTrepCLTTLOV KO icKVfJLT[\ea^ . Kal TCI fjLev /jieyedos

TO Se T/}? e'Xaa? <iA,Xw<5e? bv

Se real eV Tot? eVeTeto^? /cal TroitoSeo-i raTCL Se %voa)Bi]. TrdvTwv $ TCL fj.ev Biypoa

TO, 8e /jLovo^poa. TCL [jLev JMV Bev&pcov TO, yeTroXXa fj,ovo%poa Kal \6Vfcavdrj' ^uvov yapelirelv TO

TIVWV VTrepvOpov a\\ov 5e ouSe^o? TWV ^/jie

OUTG av6a)$e<$ ovT Sfypovv, a\)C el TWOS Ta)i>

dypicov, olov TO T/}? eXaT?;?' KpoKivov yap TO

civOos' KCU ocra $/] (fracriv ev Trj e^co Oa\-

rj poScov e^etv rrjv %poav.'E^ Se TO?? 7rTiot<? a"%e$QV TCI ye

TOiavTa Kal Sfypoa Kal $iav0f). \eyco Be

OTI GTepov av6o<$ ev TW avOet, e%L KaTa

coarirep TO poSov KCU TO Kpivov Kal TO t'ov TO /JLe\av.

evia Be Kal fj.ovocf)V\\a (frverat Siaypacfrrjv 6%ovra[AOVOV TWV Tr\LOVCt)V, MCTTTep TO T?}? laCTUOV^' OV

yap Ke^copicrTat TavT^s ev TW av6ei, TO <$>v\\ovov$e S/) TOU \eipiov TO KCLTCO uepos, aXXa

l TO T/}? e'Xaa? TOIOVTOV ecrTiv.

3 kiafyepei &e Kal KaTa rrjv K(f)Vcriv Kal Oecni'

TCL fiV yap e^et rrepl avTOv TOV Kapirov, olov

1i.e. petaloid.

2aypiuv Aid. ; alriuv U ;

O.VTIUV MV; irovrtuv conj. W.

5i.e. corolla and stamens, etc.

4i.e. are garnopetalous (or gamosepalous).

9

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. xni. 1-3

ences shewn in a variety of ways. Thus of flowers

some are downy, as that of the vine mulberry and

ivy, some are '

leafy,'l as in almond apple pear

plum. Again some of these flowers are conspicuous,while that of the olive, though it is

'

leafy,' is incon-

spicuous. Again it is in annual and herbaceous

plants alike that we find some leafy, some downy.All plants again have flowers either of two colours or

of one ; most of the flowers of trees are of one colour

and white, that of the pomegranate being almost the

only one which is red, while that of some almonds is.

*

reddish. The flower of no other cultivated trees is

gay nor of two colours, though it may be so withsome uncultivated 2

trees, as with the flower of silver-

fir, for its flower is of saffron colour;and so with

the flowers of those trees by the ocean which have,

they say, the colour of roses.

However, among annuals, most are of this charac-

ter their flowers are two-coloured and twofold. 3 I

mean by' twofold

'

that the plant has anotherflower inside the flower, in the middle, as with rose

lily violet. Some flowers again consist of a single'

leaf,'4having merely an indication of more, as that

of bindweed. 5 For in the flower of this the separate' leaves

'

are not distinct ;nor is it so in the lower

part of the narcissus,6 but there are angular projec-

tions 7 from the edges. And the flower of the olive

is nearly of the same character.

But there are also differences in the way of growthand the position of the flower

;some plants have it

5cf. C.P. 2. 18. 2 and 3 ; Plin. 21. 65.

6\eiplou conj. Sch., i.e. narcissus, cf. 6. 6. 9 ; x flp( v MSS.

7 i.e. something resembling separate 'leaves' (petals or

sepals).

91

THEOPHRASTUS

TreXo? e\da' rjs Kal drrorrirrrovra

Kal rovro a^^elov \a[i/3dvovcriv i

dm'jvOrjKev edv jap crvrytcavfff] ?}

(Tvvarro[3d\\et rov Kaprrov KOI ov

yiyverai' a^eBbv Be real ra TroXXa rcov <di>0cov>

V /jLeCTM TO TTeptKapTTlOV %l, TU^a Se KOi

avrov rov TrepiKapTriov, icaOd-irep poaKOKKVjjufkea /jLvpptvos, teal TMV ye (fipvyaviKwi'

poBcovia fcal ra 7ro\\a ra)i> crTe^avwrLKwv Kara)

yap VTTO TO av9o<i X L Ta "7r^/Li^Ta* (bavepa)-5> \ > \ r /

5. <s\ v >/ >r . v

rarov O CTTL rov pooov cia TOV oyicov. evia Of

KOL eV avTwv rcov a7T6p/J,dra)v, Mcrrrep 6 afcavosKOL 6 KinjKOs Kal Trdi Ta ra aKavctiSrj" Kaff e/caa-

rov yap %6i TO dvOos. o/u-otw? Be Kal r&vrroiwcwv evia, KaOdrrep TO dvde/JLOV ev Se rois

o re CTLKVOS Kalij KoXoKvvrrj Kal

i/

rcvra yap et rwi> Kaprrwv e^et, Kal

ra dvOr rro\vv

"AXXa Be lSia)repa)s, olov o Kirros Kal 1}

fj,ev yap e%ei Tot? ot? rrepi-ov /JL^V ovre eV a/coi? OUT' eV/

7Tpiet\i](f)6(Ti. Kaff1

tKaarov, aXV ev TO?? dva

/j,ecrov elyu-r) apa ov a~vvBr)\a Bia TO ^^owSe?.

"Eo-T Be Kal dyova r)i> avfl&v evia, KaOdrcepeirl r&v CTIKIHDV a etc rcov aKpwv (frverai rov K\JJ-

1

cf. 3. 16. 4. 2 Lacuna in text; avQuv I conj.

3Ta.xa Aid.

; TWO. W. after Sch. conj.4 ^7T(os conj. Bod.; ^7^05 Aid. H.5

i.e. composites.5

cnrep/uaTu-v conj. Dalec. from G ; ffro/j-druv Aid.7

/fai'oj conj. W.; &icapos UV.8

a/cai/^57) conj. W. ; a^Srj Ald.H. r/. 1. 10. 6; 6. 4. 4.

92

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. xm. 3-4

close above the fruit, as vine and olive; in the latter,

when the flowers drop off, they are seen to have a

hole through them, 1 and this men take for a signwhether the tree has blossomed well

; for if theflower is burnt up or sodden, it sheds the fruit alongwith itself, and so there is no hole through it. Themajority of flowers 2 have the fruit-case in the middleof them, or, it may be,

3 the flower is on the top of

the fruit-case, as in pomegranate apple pear4plum

and myrtle, and among under-shrubs, in the rose

and in many of the coronary plants. For these havetheir seeds below, beneath the flower, and this is

most obvious in the rose because of the size of theseed-vessel. In some cases 5

again the flower is on

top of the actual seeds,6 as in pine-thistle

7 safflower

and all thistle-like 8plants ; for these have a flower

attached to each seed. So too with some herba-ceous plants, as anlhemon, and among pot-herbs, withcucumber 9

gourd and bottle-gourd; all these havetheir flowers attached on top of the fruits,

10 and theflowers persist for a long time while the fruits are

developing.In some other plants the attachment is peculiar,

MS in ivy and mulberry ;in these the flower is closely

attached to the whole n fruit-case;

it is not howeverset above it, nor in a seed-vessel that envelops each 1 -

separately, but it occurs in the middle part of thestructure except that in some cases it is not easily

recognised because it is downy.13Again some flowers are sterile, as in cucumbers

those which grow at the ends of the shoot, and that9

'6 Tf alxvos conj. W. ; oirep aixvos UM ; 6 Trepcriicuos Aid.10

KapTruv conj. Sch.; frKpooi' Alcl.H.11

i.e. compound.12 O#T' eirl I conj. for cure.

13cf. Arist. ProU. 20. 3.

93

THEOPHRASTUS

o KCL\ dtyaipova-iv avTci' K(o\vi, jap Ti]v

TOV (Titcvov j3\d(TTrj(7ii>. (fraal Be KOI TT}? fj.r)\eas

Mr?>//c>}? oaa fjitv t'%etTWV arOwv waTrep

rii'a 7re<pv/cviav etc fjLeaov TCLVT elvai

oaa Be /XT) e^et raOr' ayova. el Be K.CLI

ciXXov Tfi>o? ravra av^aiveL rwv avOo

coare ci<yovov avdo? <pveiv eire Ke^wpKjjjLevov etre

;,crK7rreor. eVet yevr) ye evia KCLI d/jL7re\ov ica\

rov

rj <yeve(Ti$.

Be KOL TO <ye rr}? poas avQos TTO\V /ca\

TTVKVOV Kal oXa)? 6 oyKos TrXaru? wcnrep 6 TWI*

KarwOev & ereOLOS- olo? S/WTO?

KTeTpa/ji/j.evo<; 6 KVTIVOS e^wv TCI

^

l Be Tives /ecu TWV 6/jioyeva)v TCL fjieva

TO, &* ou, Ka9aTrep TWI> fyoivitcwv TOV /j.ev appevaav9elv TOV Be drfkvv OVK avQeiv aXA,' evdv irpo-

OV

Ta /j,evovv TM <yevei Tavra TOiavTjjv Trjv Bia-

1i.e. the pistil.

2i.e. as seen from above: KO.\ o\wv . . . bo5d>t> describes the

corolla, Ka.To>6ev . . . ,uuxw5rj the undeveloped ovary, includingthe adherent calyx.

3poSwj/ conj. Bod. ; frouv Aid.

4 Kar&dev . . . fj.vx^'S'n I conj. ;8' ertpoi Si' S)V is uwpbr

Zcrirfp fKT(Tpa/j./j.fvos K&TIVOS %xuv T^ X f^ rl IJ-VX'*1^7! UMVAld.

(except that Aid. has &v(a for x 6^ 7? an( ^ ftTfrpafj.fj.fvov : so

also P, but e'i(TfTpau.fj.ei'os). The sentence explains incidentallywhy the pomegranate flower was called KUTWOS (cf. 2. 6. 12

;

C.r. 1. 14. 4; 2. 9. 3; 2. 9. 9; Diosc. 1. 110; Plin. 23. 11U

94

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. xm. 4-5

is why men pluck them off, for they hinder the

growth of the cucumber. And they say that in the

citron those flowers which have a kind of distaff 1

growing in the middle are fruitful, but those that

have it not are sterile. And we must consider

whether it occurs also in any other flowering plantsthat they produce sterile flowers, whether apartfrom the fertile flowers or not. For some kinds of

vine and pomegranate certainly are unable to maturetheir fruit, and do not produce anything beyond the

flower.

(The flower of the pomegranate is produced abun-

dantly and is solid 2: in general appearance it is a

substantial structure with a flat top, like the flower

of the rose 3; but,

4 as seen from below, the inferior

part of the flower is different-looking, being like a

little two-eared jar turned on one side and havingits rim indented.)Some say that even of plants of the same kind J

some specimens flower while others do not;

for

instance that the ' male'

date-palm flowers but the1 female

'

does not, but exhibits its fruit without anyantecedent flower.

Such G is the difference which we find between

and 111), i.e. because it resembled .1 KVTOS (see LS. s.v.). T.

chooses the particular form of jar called SICDTOS, because the

indentations between the sepals suggest this : \T]- This is

called iKTrpa/j./j.fvos, because the weight of the developingfruit causes it to take up at one stage a horizontal position,like a jar lying on its side ; x et/Al? refers to the jar (for the

plural cf. the use of &vruyfs), /avx^St] to the indentations in

the calyx (a jar having ordinarily an unindented rim).6

o/j.oyevwv conj. Sell.; 6(j.oioyevuii> Aid.6 TOUTO ToiauTTjc I conj. from G ; rotavra TTJC UM :

T010UT7JI' P.

95

THEOPHRASTUS

fyopav ex,i, KaOarrep o\&>? 6'cra//,?)

Bvi'arai re\eo-

Kaprrelv. 77Be rou avOovs (Averts ort rr\eiov<; e^e/

Biatyopas (pavepov ere rwv rrpoeiprjjjievwv.

XIV. Aia<p6pei Be ra BevBpa teal TO is roiovrois

Kara TJ)Z> KaprroroKiav' ra aev yap eK rwv vkwv

ra &' eic TWJ> evwv ra & ei;a

repwv. eK fj.ev TMV vewv ffu/crj ayu-TreXo?* etc 8e TWV

evwv e\.da poa /jn]\ea afJLvyBa\ij CITTIOS fjivppivos

/col a-^eBov ra rotavra rrdvra' e/c 8e rwv vewv

eav cipa n crvjjL/3f} Kvrjcrai Kal av0fj<rcu (yiverai

jap Kal ravr eVtot?, wcrrrep Kal ra) fjLVppivw Kal

/jia\,i(T@' a)? eirrelv rrepl ra? /SXacrT^crei? ra? per

'ApKrovpov) ov Svvarai re\eovv a\X' yuiyevfi

tyOeioerai" e a/JL^orepwv Be Kal rwv ei'wv Kal rwi>

vewv ei rives dpa jjn]\eaL rwv Sifpopwv TJ el na\\o KdprrLjjLov en Be 6 6\vv6o<$ eKrrerrwv Kal

(TVKa cfrepwv eK rwv vewv.

'JSicoraTT; Se r;ex rov crreX-e^ou? K<j)V(Tis,

warrep r/)? ev AlyuTrru) avKa/aivov ravrrjv yap

(pepeiv eK rou are\,e^ov^' ol Be ravrr] re

rwv aKpefJLovwv, warrep TIJV Kepwvlav avrrf yapK rovrwv (frepei TrXijv ov rro\vv Ka\ovcn. Be

icepwviav a</>' 7^9 ra avKa ra Klyvrrna KaXovueva.

1? i.e. that, like the 'female' date-palm, they have no

floM'er.2 Toiauro iravra.' (K 5f TUV vewv tav &pa n conj. \V. ;

Trcu'Ta yap e/c ruv tvuv eav 5e apa ri MSS.3

r/. 3. 5. 4.

45i<f>6p<jav conj. Sch. from G ; $ia<f>6pwv UAld.

96

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. xm. S-XIY. 2

plants of the same kind;and the like may be said J

in general of those which cannot mature their fruit.

And it is plain from what has been said that flowers

shew many differences of character.

Differences in fruits.

XIV. Again as to the production of fruit trees

differ in the following respects. Some bear on their

new shoots, some on last year's wood, some on both.

Fig and vine bear on their new shoots ; on last year'swood olive pomegranate apple almond pear myrtleand almost all such trees. And, if any of these does 2

happen to conceive and to produce flowers on its newshoots, (for this does occur in some cases, as with

myrtle, and especially, one may say, in the growthwhich is made after the rising of Arcturus)

3it can

not bring them to perfection, but they perish half-

formed. Some apples again of the twice-bearing4

kinds and certain other fruit-trees bear both on last

year's wood and on the new shoots ; and so does the

ofynlkos,5 which ripens its fruit as well as bearing figs

on the new shoots.

Most peculiar is the growth of fruit direct fromthe stem, as in the sycamore ; for this, they say,bears fruit on the stem. Others say that it bearsboth in this way and 6 also on the branches, like thecarob ;

for the latter bears on the branches too,

though not abundantly : (the name carob is given to

the tree which produces what are called '

Egyptian

* favvQos is not elsewhere used for a kind of fig : fci 5e

ffvuri rovs oXvvQovs eKTrerTovffd ital avKa. fyepovya. conj. Sch.somewhat drastically.

6ravrrj re /col $K conj. W.; ravTijs ulv IK UMVAld. cf.

4. 2. 4.

97

THEOPHRASTUS

&e KOI TO, jj,ev aKpoKapira TWV Sev&pwvo\o)9 TWV <f)VTwv TCL Be TrXayioKapTTa TCL 5'

TT\eiw 8' afcpoKaprra TWV a\\wv rj TWV

OLOV TWV T6 CTlTIJpWV TO, aTa^VW^T) KOL

6a[jLvw$tov epeifer) KOL (nreipaia KCLI ciyvos KOL

aTia Kai ra)V XaxavwSwv ra

d/j,(f)OTp(i)V Se KOI TCOV SevSpctiv evia KOI

olov

eVel KOI e\da TTOLCL TTCO? TOVTO, Kai (fracriv OTCIV

axpov ever/icy a-rj/j,iov evtyopias elvai. drcpo-

Kapiro? 8e TTCO? /ecu 6 <polvi^' 7r\?)i> TOVTO ye KCU

df<po(f)v\\ov KOL dfcpo/3\acrTOV' oXw? yap V rw

i'lVW TTCLV TO ^COTIKOV. TO,<t /JL6V OVV KCLTO, <.TO>

/J*epri &ia<f)0pa<; TreipaTeov /c TOVTCOV Oewpelv.

At Be TOiavTai T?}? 6\rjs ovalas fyaivowrai' &t~)\ov

OTL TO, [lev rffjiepa TCL 8' aypia' Kai TO, fj,ev KapTrmaTO, 8' aKapira' KOU dei(f)v\\a Ka\ (f)v\\o/3o\a>

0r}, TO, 8' oXw? a^uXXa* KCU TCL /JLCV

TO, S' avavQr}' teal TTpw'i(BXaaTi} Se KOI

TO, Se 6-^L/3\aaTr) Kai o-

8e KCU oaa TrapaTrXijcrLa TOVTOIS.

ra ye TOiavTa ev rot? ^epecnv rjOVK avev

eCTTLV. a\V KLV?1 ISlCOTaTTJ Kai TpOTTOV TLVa

Stacrracrt?, rjTrep Kai eVl TWV fawv, OTL Ta

WC)pa TO, be %epcrala- Kai yap TWV

1 Plin 16. 1J2.o n

98

1 Plin 16. 1J2.2 TOVTO conj. Sch. ; TOVTOV UAld. ; TOVTOV M.3 TO add. W.; c/. 1. 13. 1.

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. xiv. 2-3

figs ').lAgain some trees, and some plants in general,

produce fruit at the top, others at the sides, others in

both ways. But bearing fruit at the top is less

common in trees than in other plants, as amonggrains in those which have an ear, among shrubby

plants in heath privet chaste tree and certain others,

and among pot-herbs in those with a bulbous

root. Among plants which bear both on the topand at the sides are certain trees and certain pot-

herbs, as blite orach cabbage. I say trees, since

the olive does this too in a way, and they say that,

when it bears at the top, it is a sign of fruitfulness.

The date-palm too bears at the top, in a sense, but

this 2 tree also has its leaves and shoots at the top;indeed it is in the top that its whole activity is

seen. Thus we must endeavour to study in the

light of the instances mentioned the differences seen

in the 3 various parts of the plant.

General differences (affecting the whole plant).

But there appear to be the following differences

which affect the plant's whole being : some are culti-

vated, some wild; some fruitful, some barren ;

some

evergreen, some deciduous, as was said, while some

again have no leaves at all;some are flowering plants,

some flowerless; some are early, some late in producingtheir shoots and fruits ;

and there are other differences

similar to these. Now it may be said that 4 such

differences are seen in the parts, or at least that

particular parts are concerned in them. But the

special, and in a way the most important distinction

is one which may be seen in animals too, namely,that some are of the water, some of the land. For

4KO.I trus TO ye roiavra, conj. Sch. ; Aral irwv TO yt ravra U ;

Kal TO 7 Toiavra Aid.

99

THEOPHRASTUS

ecrrt. TI TOIOVTOV yevos o ov Bvvarai $>ve&9ai

ev vypM' ra Be (pverai uev, ov^ oaoia Be XXa

\eipa). Trdvrwv Be TCOV BevBpwv o>? avrXco? elirelv

KOI TMV (j)VTWV eiSrj 7T\6ia) TVy%dv6l /Cad' eKdCTTOV

a"%e&ov <yap ovbev eomv cnrXovv aXX' oaa

KOI aypia Xe^erat ravrrjv

Kal fjLeyio-rrjv e%ei Siacfropdv, olov

e\da KOTIVOS, UTTIO^ d^pd^' ocra S' e/ ;

epw rovrwv rot? /capTrois re Kal <$>V\\OLS teal

rat? aXXai? /J,op<pai$ re Kal rot? fjiopiois. d\\d

TWV fjCev dypiwv dvcovv/j,a TCL 7T\ela"ra Kal e/j-Treipoi

o\ijof rwv Se y/j-epcov Kal a)i>o/j.acr/jteva rd TrXeta)

Kal TI alaOrjcns Koivorepa* Xeyco 8' olov dfj,7T\ou

poa? yLtryXea? dirlov Sdtpyrjs /jLvpp{vri<s TWV

TI yap XPV (TL<* ovaa Koivrj <jvv6er)peiv

Troiel ra?"T?1 \ \ >iiif / \ \ \

Loiov o<* Kai rovr ecp eKarepwv ia /jiev yaprc5 dppevi Kal TW 6rj\ei rj uovois rj ad\t,crra

i, Ta Be ijaepa Tr\eioaiv t'Seat?. ecrri Be

uV paov \afielv Kal SiapiOj^rjaai rd

ra)v Be 'xakeirutrepov Bid rrjv TroXv^otav.a Bij ra? uev rwv p.opiwv Bia(j>opds Kal

ovcriwv CK TOVTWV Tretpareov Oewpelv. irepl

Be ra)V yeveaewv aerd ravra \6Kreov rovro ydpT069 elvjjievots ecniv.

100

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, I. xiv. 3-5

of plants too there is a class which cannot growexcept

1 in moisture, while others will indeed growon dry land, but they lose their character and are

inferior. Again of all trees, one might almost say,and of all plants there are several forms to each kind

;

for hardly any kind contains but a single form. Butthe plants which are called respectively cultivated

and wild shew this difference in the clearest andmost emphatic way, for instance the cultivated andwild forms of fig olive and pear. In each of these

pairs there are differences in fruit and leaves, and in

their forms and parts generally. But most of thewild kinds have no names and few know about them,while most of the cultivated kinds have received

names 2 and they are more commonly observed;

I

mean such plants as vine fig pomegranate apple pear

bay myrtle and so forth; for, as many people make

use of them, they are led also to study the differences.

But there is this peculiarity as to the two classes

respectively ;in the wild kinds men find only or

chiefly the distinction of ' male'

and '

female,' whilein the cultivated sorts they recognise a number of

distinguishing features. In the former case it is

easy to mark and count up the different forms, in thelatter it is harder because the points of difference are

numerous.However we have said enough for study of the

differences between parts and between generalcharacters. We must now speak of the methods of

growth, for this subject comes naturally after whathas been said.

1 ^ add. W.* (ivouatrueVa ra TrAefai conj. Sch. ; u>vou.affutv&v irAe/ai Aid.

101

BOOK II

B

I. At yeveaeis TWV Bev&payv teal o\a>?

TWV r) avro/jLarai r} cnro crTre/c^aTO? rj djro

rjttTTo TrapacTTrd&os r} CLTTO aicpe[JLovos r)

CLTTO K\WVOS r) CLTT^ CIVTOV TOV CTT\e^OV^ eifftv, rj

TOV v\ov KaraKOTTevTos ei? fjiiKpd' KOL yapevict, <f>v6Tai. TOVTWV Be

r) pV auroyLtaro?

rt?, at 3e cnro a TTCpharos teal /3t^5 <f>v<ri-

&6%aiev av waTrep yap avTo/Aarai /cal

t A \ > / r/ 'C^\OL o Kai rot? aypuois VTrap^ovcriv ai be

ti\\at T%yris rj 8r/ Trpocupecrews.

2 "ATravra Se ftXaardvei /card Tiva TWV

Tovrtov, rd &e 7ro\\d Kara TrXetou?' e'Xaa

yap Trdvrws (frverai 7r\r)v airo TOV K\.wv6s' ov

yap SvvaTai KCLTamjy'vv^vrj, KaOdirep rj av/c^

T/}? Kpd&ri<$ tealr) poa TT}? pdfiSov. tcaiToi (f>aai

ye TLVGS })$?) teal ^dpaKO^ Trayeivris teal TT/JO? TOV

KITTOV crv/jL/Sitocrai, teal yeveaOai Sevopov d\\d

Ti TO TOLOVTOV 6aTpa & TO, 7TO\\d

GVK.Y] ^e

1 tua fyvfrai conj. Sell.; avatpuerai Aid.

104

BOOK II

OF PROPAGATION, ESPECIALLY OF TREES!

Of the, ways in which trees and plants originate. Instances ofdegenerationfrom seed.

I. THE ways in which trees and plants in general

originate are these : spontaneous growth, growthfrom seed, from a root, from a piece torn off, from a

branch or twig, from the trunk itself; or again from

small pieces into which the wood is cut up (for sometrees can be produced

1 even in this manner). Ofthese methods spontaneous growth comes first, one

may say, but growth from seed or root would seemmost natural ;

indeed these methods too may be

called spontaneous ;wherefore they are found even

in wild kinds, while the remaining methods dependon human skill or at least on human choice.

However all plants start in one or other of these

ways, and most of them in more than one. Thus the

olive is grown in all the ways mentioned, exceptfrom a twig ;

for an olive-twig will not grow if it is

set in the ground, as a fig or pomegranate will growfrom their young shoots. Not but what some saythat cases have been known in which, when a stake

of olive-wood was planted to support ivy, it actuallylived along with it and became a tree ; but such

an instance is a rare exception, while the other

methods of growth are in most cases the natural

ones. The fig grows in all the ways mentioned,

105

THEOPHRASTUS

rrdvras, drro Be ra)i> rrpe^vwv Kal rwvov (frverai' fj,vj\ea be Kal amos teal drro

ro)v a/epejJ>6vfov arraviw^. ov fjwjv d\\d TO, yeTroXXa rj rrdvO^ &>? elrreiv evBe^effOai Bo/cel Kal

drro rovrwv, eav \eloi Kal veoi teal evav^els axriv.

a\\a fyvGiKCATepai TTW? Keii>aL' TO Be

&)? Bvvarbv \r)7neov.f/

O\&>9 yap o\iya TO, airo TWV ava) fjia\\ov

^Xaardvovra Kal 'yevvdifjieva, KaOdirep ayu,7reXo?

a7ro TWV Kk^fJLaTWV avrrj <yap OVK airo r?}?

TTpcopas aXX,' OLTTO rov /cX^aTo? (frveTai, Kal el Btj

TL TOLOVTOV erepov rj BevBpov r) ffrpwyavuBeBoKel TO re Trijyavov Kal

rj Iwvia Kal TO

fBpiov KOI o epTTuXXo? Kal TO e\viov.

ovv earl Tracnv rj re aTrb r-fjs TrapacrTrdBos Kal

<77re/3/xaT09. airavra jap ova e^ei a7rep/j,araKal CLTTO <77re/?yLUiTO? yiVGTai' UTTO Be

Kal rrjv Bdcfcvrjv (fraauv, edv TJ? ra epvrj

<f}VTi>(rr}. Bel Be vTToppt^ov elvai /jLd\i<rrd ye TO

TrapaaTTw/jievov rj V7ro7rpe/j,vov. ov i^v aXXaavev rovrov 6e\eu ftXacrrdveiv Kal poa Kal

iapivr]' fiXaGTavei &e Kal davyBa\rj4 Kara TrXeiarovs Be rpoirovs &>? eiTreiv 77 e\da

ftXacrrdver Kal yap airo rov o-TeXe^ou? Kal diro

rov Trpeuvov KaraKoirrofJievov Kal drro TT}?

l drro rov %v\ov~\ Kal drro pd/3Bov Kal

el'prjrai. rwv 8' a\\a)V 6 fMitppivos' Kal

yap ovros UTTO rwv v\(i)V Kal rwv rrpe^vwv

1 ra 76 TroXAa TrdvS' conj. Sch.; ^ before itdvd' ins. St.; raTf TroAAa iravQ

1

Aid.2

i-ay|er$ conj. H ; av&s UMVAld.3 OVK I conj.; oi8' MSS.

106

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. i. 2-4

except from root-stock and cleft wood ; apple and

pear grow also from branches, but rarely. Howeverit appears that most, if not practically all,

1 trees maygrow from branches, if these are smooth young and

vigorous.2 But the other methods, one may say, are

more natural, and we must reckon what mayoccasionally occur as a mere possibility.

In fact there are quite few plants which grow andare brought into being more easily from the upperparts, as the vine is grown from branches

;for this,

though it cannot 3 be grown from the 'head,'4yet

can be grown from the branch, as can all similar

trees and under-shrubs, for instance, as it appears,rue gilliflower bergamot-mint tufted thyme cala-

rnint. So the commonest ways of growth with all

plants are from a piece torn off or from seed ; for all

plants that have seeds grow also from seed. And

they say that the bay too grows5 from a piece

torn off, if one takes off the young shoots and plantsthem

;but it is necessary that the piece torn off

should have part of the root or stock 6 attached to it.

However the pomegranate and '

spring apple' 7 will

grow even without this, and a slip of almond 8grows

if it is planted. The olive grows, one may say, in

more ways than any other plant ; it grows from a

piece of the trunk or of the stock,9 from the root,

from a twig, and from a stake, as has been said. 10 Ofother plants the myrtle also can be propagated in

several ways ;for this too grows from pieces of wood

4Trpwpas, cf. Col. 3. 10. 1, caput vitis vocat irpwpav. Sch.

restores the word, G. P. 3. 14. 7.5

cf. C. P. 1. 3. 2.6

i.e. a 'heel' (Lat. perna).7

cf. G.P. 2. 11. 6 ; Athen. 3. 23. 8cf. Geop. 10. 3. 9.

' Kal dirb TOV {uAou om. Julius Pontedeva on Varro 1. 39. 3 :

a gloss On OTT& TOV irpt/j.vov KO.TO.K.10 2. 1. 2.

107

THEOPHRASTUS

(f)verai. Bel Be teal rovrov KOI TT}? e'Xaa? ra

Biatpeiv yu,?;e\drrw (nnOa^iaiwv teal rov <p\otbi>

irepiaipeiv.Ta aev ovv BevBpa (B\acrrdvei real yiverai Kara

TOVS elpr//j,evov<$ rporrovs' al <yap e/jLffrvreiai teal

ol evoOaXjLLcrjLol KaQairep /zt^eis1

Tives elcnv

fj /car' aX\ov rpoTrov ^evecreis, irepl wv vcrrepov\KTOV.

II. Twi> Be (frpvyavwBwv KCLI TTOIW&WV ra7r\tara avro crvrepharos fj pl&S Ta Be

a/ji(f)orpa)^' evia Be real CLTTO TWV /3\a<7TO)v, wcrirep

eiptjTai. poBwvLa Be teal fcpivcavia KaraKOTTevTwv

TWV Kav\wv, Mcnrep teal 7; aypaxms. (frverai, Be

r) Kpivwvia KOI i] poBayvia teal o\ou rov tcavXov

re6evro<$. IBicordrr) Be rjarro Batcpvov teal 'yap

ovrw BoKel rb tcpivov <f)vea0ai, orav %rjpai>6rj TO

arroppvev. <acrt Be teal errl rov irrTroaeXivov

teal <yap rovro a^irfcn Batcpvov. (fiverai Be

teal /caXayuo?, edv Ti9 Biare/jLi>a)v TO.? ^

riOf) teal tearatepv^}rr} Korrpw teal yfj.

Be arro /otfty? [TW] ^veaOat, teal ra tee<pa-

2 TocrafTa^w? Be oucr?;? r^5 Bvvduew? ra

TroXXa rwv BevBpav, wcrTrep eXe^Orj rrporepov, ev

7T\LocrL rporrois (frvcrar evia Be dirb

conj. R. Const.; tfj.(pv\cat (with erasures) U;V; ^u<uA.6?cu Aid.

-2. 1. 3; cf. O.P. 1. 4. 4 and 6.

'i.e. bulbil, r/. 6. 6. 8 ; 9. 1. 4 ; (7. P. 1. 4. 6 ; Plin. 21. 24.

4 tVl conj. W.; a7rb P2Ald.

5 6e rtj val Aid,; ra om. W. after Sch.

108

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. i. 4-11. 2

and also from pieces of the stock. It is necessaryhowever with this, as with the olive, to cut up the

wood into pieces not less than a span long and not to

strip off the bark.

Trees then grow and come into being in the above-

mentioned ways ;for as to methods of grafting

l and

inoculation, these are, as it were, combinations of

different kinds of trees;or at all events these are

methods of growth of a quite different class andmust be treated of at a later stage.

II. Of under-shrubs and herbaceous plants the

greater part grow from seed or a root, and some in

both ways ;some of them also grow from cuttings,

as has been said,2 while roses and lilies grow from

pieces of the stems, as also does dog's-tooth grass.Lilies and roses also grow when the whole stem is

set. Most peculiar is the method of growth from an

exudation 3; for it appears that the lily grows in

this way too, when the exudation that has been

produced has dried up. They say the same of 4

alexanders, for this too produces an exudation.

There is a certain 5 reed also which grows if one cuts

it in lengths from joint to joint and sets them 6

sideways, burying it in dung and soil. Again they

say that plants which have a bulbous root are

peculiar in their way of growing7 from the root.

The capacity for growth being shewn in so manyways, most trees, as was said before,

8originate in

several ways ; but some come 9only from seed, as silver-

6cf. 1. 4. 4 ; Plin. 17. 145 ; Col. 4. 32. 2 ; ri6y conj. Sch. ;

J) Aid.; ?0j?.7 i.e. by offset bulbs. Text probably defective; cf. G.P.

1. 4. 1. T$ U; rb UMV. 2. 1. 1.

9<f>v*Tai I conj.; <(>7)ffii> ffTTiv or (paaiv tffnv MSS.; us tyaaivAid. ; irapayivfrai conj. W.

109

THEOPHUASTUS

(f)VTat [JLOVOV, olov e\drrj TrevKrj TTLTVS 0X0)9 TTO.V

TO Kd)l'O(j)6pOV' TL > KOl (boll't^, 7T\r)V L Clpa V

T$a(3v\a)vi Kal ttTTO TCOV pd/3Bc0v [oW] <pa&i rn'e?

fjio\evetv. KvrrdpiTTOs Be Trapa fjiev rotv a\\oi<;

diro cr7repfj.aTO<>, ev Kp^T/7 Be Kol LLTTO TOV (TreXe-

^ou?, oloz^ 7rl T/}? bpeias ev Tappa" Trapa TOVTOIS

<ydp ecmv f) Kovpi^o^evr) KVTrdpnTOS' avr^ 8e CLTTO

TT}? TO^TJS (B\acndveL iravia rpoTrov Te/jLi>Ofxevrj

teal CLTTO yrjs KOI diro TOV /jiecrov KOL euro TOV dvca-

repw ft\aGTdveL ^e evia^ov KOI ano T&V pi^wvGTravlws Be.

Ylepl 8e Spvos a^i<J^i]Tov(Tiv ol ^ev <ydp drro

<f)aai JJLOVOV, ol 8e KOL drro pitysol Se KOI air" avTOV TOV crreXe^oi'?CLTTO Trapaa-Trdo'os &e KOA pifys ovSev

TWVfjir) 7rapaj3\acrTavovTa)v.

*

hrrdvTwv Be ocrwv TrXetou? at yevecreis, i] CLTCQ

/cal Tt /j,dX\.ov rjCLTTO 7rapa(f)vd$os

fcal evavj)s, edv CLTTO

TO, JJLV OUTft)? 7/ 6'Xw? CLTTO (f)VT6VTT]pLa)V

7T6(f)VTev/j,va7rdvTa BoKel TOU? Kapirovs I^OJJLOLOVV.

ocra 8' UTTO TOV /capjrov TWV ^>vva^evwv Kal OVTCOS

/3\acrTdviv, a rnav&' &)? eiTre.lv %eipa), TO, Be Kal

o'Xw? e^tcjTarai TOV <yevovs, olov ayu,7reXo? ytt^Xea

(TVKrj poid aViOT e/c re <ydp T?}? Key^pafjiiSo^ ovBev

yiveTai <yevo$ 0X0)9 tf/jiepov,aXX' 17 epiveos rj

dypia VVK.?}, Biatyepovcra TroXXa/ti? Kal Trj ^poia-xal <yap K y^eXatj/??? \evKrj Kal C

1/j.o\fveiv conj. Sch.; /j.<i}\veii> MSS.; fj.o<rxfvfiv conj. R.

Const, (f/. C.P. 1. 2 1). But cf. Hesych. s.v. noXevtiv.2 Plin. 16. 141. 3 *V1 conj. W.; ri UMVAld.

no

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. n. 2-4

fir fir Aleppo pine, and in general all those that bear

cones : also the date-palm, except that in Babylon it

may be that, as some say, they take cuttings1 from

it. The cypress in most regions grows from seed,but in Crete 2 from the trunk also, for instance in 3

the hill country about Tarra ; for there grows the

cypress which they clip, and when cut it shoots in

every possible way, from the part which has been cut,

from the ground, from the middle, and from the

upper parts ; and occasionally, but rarely, it shoots

from the roots also.

About the oak accounts differ; some say it only

grows from seed, some from the root also, but not

vigorously, others again that it grows from the trunk

itself, when this is cut. But no tree grows from a

piece torn off or from a root except those whichmake side-growths.However in all the trees which have several

methods of originating the quickest method and that

which promotes the most vigorous growth is from a

piece torn off, or still better from a sucker, if this is

taken from the root. And, while all the trees whichare propagated thus or by some kind of slip

4 seem to

be alike in their fruits to the original tree, those raised

from the fruit, where this method of growing is also

possible, are nearly all inferior, while some quite lose

the character of their kind, as vine apple fig pome-granate pear. As for the fig,

5 no cultivated kind is

raised from its seed, but either the ordinary wild fig

or some wild kind is the result, and this often

differs in colour from the parent ;a black fig gives a

: a general term including vapa^vdy and

6c/ C.P. 1. 9.

in

THEOPHRASTUS

'e/c re TT}? d/j,7re\ov rrjs yevraias d

Kal TroXXa/a? erepoi' <yevo$' ore Be oXco? ovBev

i']/j,epov aXX' aypiov evioTe teal TOLOVTOV ware /XT)

K7TTTIV TOV KapTTOV Ol >' W<TT6 yU/^Se dBpVVtVaXXa

5 (PvovTai oe Kai K T(ov T^? e\aa? Truprjvcov

d<ypie\aLos, Kal K TWV TT}? poa? KOKKWV TWV

8e Aral o^elai. TOV avTov Be rpoTrovKal K rwv aTTLWv Kal CK rwv /jUjXecov K fj,ev jap

airlwv fjio^Ot-jpa t] d%pds, K Be TWVre TW ryevei Kal e/c -yXu/ceta? o^ela, Kal GK

arpovdiov KuSftiwo?. /

)(eipwv Be Kalrj d/^vyBa\r)

Kal TW V\(D Kal TO) <7K\ra IK xaXa/c^?' 8t' o

Kal av^rfOelaav eyKevrpi^eiv Ke\evovcnv, el Be /z^

6 Xet/oo)!' Be Kal rj Bpv$- UTTO yovv TT}? ev HvppaTroXXol fyvTevcravTes OVK eBvvavO* opoiav Troielv.

Bd(>vr)v Be Kal uvppivijv Biacfrepeiv TTOTC (fracriv, &>?>V v -v * ' ' * ' /3 ^ ' 51 v x

em TO TroXu o e^idTaauai Kai ovoe TO ypw^aBiaaw^eiv, aXX' e'^ epvdpov KapjTov <yivecr@aL

ueXaivav, wcnrep Kal TTIV ev 'AvTavBpw TroXXa/fi?' / * / 4

Be Kal Trjv KvndpiTTOv e'/c ^r/Xeta? dppeva.

fjbd\i(7Ta Be TOVTWV 6 <^olvi^ BoKel Bia/jieveiv

a>cT7rep elirelv TeXetw? TWV aTro crTre/oyuaTO?, Kal

0)VO(f)OpO<> Kal TTi-Tf? T) (frdeipOTTOLOS.

ovv ev Tofr rj/jLepcouevois. ev Be

1(>vovrat CODJ. W.

; ^ureuoi'Tai Ald.H.; <pvfrat Vo.cod.Cas.

'yXvKfwv conj. St.; 7Aauv/wv UMVAld.c/. Athen. 3. 20 and 23. 4

^/. (7. P. 1. 9. 1.

* In Lesbos : cf. 3. 9. 5 6c/. (7. P. 1. 9. 2.

112

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. 11. 4-6

white, and conversely. Again the seed of an excel-

lent vine produces a degenerate result, which is

often of quite a different kind;and at times this is

not a cultivated kind at all, but a wild one of such a

character that it does not ripen its fruit;with others

again the result is that the seedlings do not evenmature fruit, but only get as far as flowering.

Again the stones of the olive givel a \yild olive,

and the seeds of a sweet pomegranate2

give a

degenerate kind, while the stoneless kind gives a

hard sort and often an acid fruit. So also is it with

seedlings of pears and apples ; pears give a poor sort

of wild pears, apples produce an inferior kind which is

acid instead of sweet ; quince produces wild quince.3

Almond again raised from seed is inferior in taste andin being hard instead of soft ;

and this is why men 4

bid us graft on to the almond, even when it is fully

grown, or, failing that, frequently plant the offsets.

The oak also deteriorates from seed ; at least

many persons having raised trees from acorns of the

oak at Pyrrha5 could not produce one like the

parent tree. On the other hand they say that bayand myrtle sometimes improve by seeding, thoughusually they degenerate and do not even keep their

colour, but red fruit gives black as happened with

iJie tree in Antandros;and frequently seed of a

f female'

cypress produces a ' male'

tree. The date-

palm seems to be about the most constant of these

trees, when raised from seed, and also the ' cone-

bearing pine' 6

(stone-pine) and the '

lice-bearing

pine.'7 So much for degeneration in cultivated trees;

among wild kinds it is plain that more in proportion

7 Plin. 16. 49. The 'lice' are the seeds which were eaten.

cf. Hdt. 4. 109, (peeiporpayeova-i ; Theocr. 5. 49.

THEOPHRASTUS

v on rc\eiw Kara \oyov &>? lo"%vpo-

errel Odrepov ye teal drorrov, el Brj %e//3w

/cal ev e/ceivois Kal 6'Xw? ev rot? drro &7repuaro$uovov el

fjiijrt, ry Beparrela Bvvavrai pera-

&e real TOTTOC TOTTMV Kal arjp

<yap e/c<j>epeiv r; %<w/)a So/eet ra ofJLOta,

Kal ev ^iXtTTTroi?' avdiraKiv 6\iyaware

dypiov iroielv i]/j.epov '//IK ^eipovos

{3e\Tiov TOVTO <yap eirl rr}? /aoa? fjiovov a

ev AliiTTTM Kal eV iiKia avaveLv ev

yap rrjv o^elav Kal arrapelaav

y\VKiav yiveaOai TTOJ? 7} olva)Bi)'

rrepl Be ^0X0^9 TT}? KtX^/aa? irepl Trorauov rov

Hivapov, ovfj /Aa^T? 7T/30? kapelov eyevero, rracrai

ylvovrai drcvprjvoL.

8 EiV\oyov Be Kal et T^? rov Trap'

ev Ba/3v\a)vi, Kdpm^.ov re

'crOat Tot? eKel. rov avrov Be rpoirov Kal

el Ti? erepa rrpocraX,\">i\ov e%ei Kaprrov rorra)'

Kpeirrwv yap ovros TT}? epyacrias Kal TT}? depa-Treta?. a^^elov 8' on aeracpepofjieva raiceWev

aKaprra ra Be Kal oXa)? d(B\aarri ylverai.

9 MeTa/3aXXet Be Kal rfj rpofpfj Kal Bid rrjv

1i.e. that they should improve from seed.

8 Whereas wild trees are produced oiily from seed.3

i.e. improve a degenerate seedling.1 oni. Sch. 6

c/. C.P. 1. 9. 2.

114

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. n. 6-9

degenerate from seed, since the parent trees are

stronger. For the contrary1 would be very strange,

seeing that degenerate forms are found even in

cultivated trees,2 and among these only in those

which are raised from seed. (As a general rule these

are degenerate, though men may in some cases effect

a change3by cultivation).

Effects of situation, climate, tendance.

Again differences in situation and climate affect the

result. In some places, as at Philippi, the soil seemsto produce plants which resemble their parent ; onthe other hand a few kinds in some few places seemto undergo a change, so that wild seed gives a

cultivated form, or a poor form one actually better. 4

We have heard that this occurs, but only with the

pomegranate, in Egypt5 and Cilicia ; in Egypt a tree

of the acid kind both from seeds and from cuttings

produces one whose fruit has a sort of sweet taste,6

while about Soli in Cilicia near the river Pinaros

(where the battle with Darius was fought) all those

pomegranates raised from seed are without stones.

If anyone were to plant our palm at Babylon, it is

reasonable to expect that it would become fruitful

and like the palms of that country. And so would it

be with any other country which has fruits that are

congenial to that particu] ar locality ; for the locality

7

is more important than cultivation and tendance.A proof of this is the fact that things transplantedthence become unfruitful, and in some cases refuse

to grow altogether.There are also modifications due to feeding

8 and6 Or '

wine-like.' Cited by Apollon. Hist. Mir. 43.7 UUTOS conj. W. ; avrbs Aid.8

TJ) Tpo<pTJ conj. W.; TTJJ Tpo(p7)s UMVAld.

"5

THEOPHRASTUS

7u/j,\eiav, ol? Kal TO aypiov e

teal avTO)v Be TWV tf

]fj.epwv evia aTraypiourat, olo

poa KCU d/jLvyBa\f). 77877 Be TLves Kal CK KpiOwvdvatyvi'ai aai irvpoiis Kal CK Trvpwv Kpi9d<$ Kal

10 eTrl TOV avrov irvQfievo? a/j,(f)co. Tavra /JLV ovv

ovv ra fjLeTaftd\\ovTa TOV Tpojrov TOVTOV avTO-'

e^a\\ayfj Se ^co/?a?, uxnrep ev ALJUTTTWK.L\iKLa Trepl TO)V pocov i7ro/.iev, ov8e Bia

depajreiav.&e Kal OTTOV ra Kapirifjui aKapjra

, KaOdirep TO Trepcriov TO e AlyvTTTOv Kal

6 (froivij;ev TTJ 'EXXaSt Kal el Sij TI<? KO/jLicreie TIJV

ev KpiJTy \eyo/jLvr]v aiyeipov. evtoi Be fyacri Kal

Trjv orjv edv et? dXeeivov e\6r) <r(f)6Bpa TOTTOV

aKapTTOv ryiveaOai' (pvcret yap ^rv^pov. ev\oyovSe d/jL<poTepa av/jL/3aiv6iv /tara ra?

eiirep yLf>/S' oXco? evia (ftvecrOaL

\ovTa TOU? TOTTOL/?. Kal KaTa jiev ra?a TOiavTai

11 Kara Be rrjv (frvTeiav TO, UTTO TWV (T7rep/j,dTO)V

, KaQdirep eXep^?;' iravTolai yap ai

Kal TOVTWV. TTJ Oepaireia Be yu,era-

/3aXXet poa Kal d/jivyBaXrj' poa /^ev Kojrpov veiav

\a/3ovcra Kal uSaro? TrX^o? pVTOV' d/jLvyBaXf) Be

OTav 7raTTa\ov rt? evOfj, Kal TO BaKpvov dcfraipfj

TO eTrippeov 7T\LO) ^povov Kal T^v a\\rjv d

1 <Evia airayptovrai olov COnj. W. ;tvia KO\ airopfi re p6a U\r

;

^. Kal airopfi TO. {>6a M ; ^. Kal airoppei TO. poa Aid.2

i.e. cultivation has nothing to do with it.

3 2. 2. 7.4

cf. 3. 3. 4.6 Plin. 17. 242.

8i.e. improve, cf. 2. 2. 6 ad fin.

116

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. n. 9-11

attention of other kinds, which cause the wild to

become cultivated, or again cause some cultivated

kinds to go wild,1 such as pomegranate and almond.

Some say that wheat has been known to be producedfrom barley, and barley from wheat, or again both

growing on the same stool ; but these accounts shouldbe taken as fabulous. Anyhow those things which do

change in this manner do so spontaneously,2 and the

alteration is due to a change of position (as we said 3

happens with pomegranates in Egypt and Cilicia),and not to any particular method of cultivation.

So too is it when fruit-bearing trees become un-

fruitful, for instance the persion when moved from

Egypt, the date-palm when planted in Hellas, or thetree which is called (

poplar' in Crete,4 if anyone

should transplant it.5 Some again say that the

sorb becomes unfruitful if it comes into a very warmposition, since it is by nature cold-loving. It is

reasonable to suppose that both results follow becausethe natural circumstances are reversed, seeing that

some things entirely refuse to grow when their placeis changed. Such are the modifications due to

position.As to those due to method of culture, the changes

which occur in things grown from seed are as wassaid

; (for with things so grown also the changes are

of all kinds). Under cultivation the pomegranateand the almond change character,*

5 the pomegranateif it receives pig-manure

7 and a great deal of river

water, the almond ifone inserts a peg and8 removes for

some time the gum which exudes and gives the other

7cf. C.P. 2. 14. 2; 3. 9. 3; Plin. 17. 259; Col. 5. 10. 15

and 16.8

cf. 2. 7. 6 ; C.P. 1. 17. 10; 2. 14. 1 ; Plin. 17. 252.

117

THEOPHRASTUS

1 2 OepaTreiav. oocraura)? Be Sfj\ov OTI Kal ocra

TOJV dyp[wv rj diraypiovTai rwr

TCL fjiev yap depaTreia ra 8' a

//.era/SaXXer rr\rjv el rt? \eyoi fjUjBe

aXX* erriSoaLV et? TO ySeXr^o^ eti^at /cat y^elpov ov

yap olov re TOV KOTLVOV iroielv <i\dav ov&e rrji>

d^pdBa Troieli' amov ovSe TOV epiveov GVKrjv. b

yap eiri TOV KOTIVOV <a<rl av/Jiftaiveiv, cocrr' eai>

rrepiKOTrels TTJV Qa\iav oXa)? fjLTa(^vrevdf) (pepeiv

(j)av\La<;, /J-eTa/civrjcris TIS yiveTai ov fjLeyd\7].

TavTa /j,ev ovv oTTOTCpo)? Set \aftelv ovOev av

Statyepoi.

III. ^acri 8' ovv avTO/udTijv Tiva yiveaOaiTOLOVTWV yaera^oX?^, ore fjbev TMV KapjT&v ore e

ical oXco? avTcov TWV SevSpwv, a Kal cr^/xe'ta VO/J.L-

%ovaiv ol fjidvTeLS' olov poav o^elav y\vKelui>

e^eveyKelv KOI y\vKelav o^elav Kal Trd\iv aTrXw^

avTa TO, SevSpa yu,era/3aXXeiv, cocrre e% o^eia?

y\VKiav ylveaOai Kal eK y\VK6ia<$ o^elav %elpovSe TO et? y\VKelav yLtera/3aXXetz/. Kal e epiveov

Kal CK CTVKTJS epLveov ^elpov Se TO eK

. Kal % e'Xaa? KOTIVOV Kal eK KOTLVOV

e\dav TfKKTTCL Be TOVTO. Trd\Lv Be (TVKrjv eK

conj. W.; TrfpHTKOirre'ts U ; irepiK6nTT]s Aid.

2(f>av\ias conj. Saltn.; <pav\ovs U; 6d\os Aid. cf. Plin.

16. 244. These olives produced little oil, but were valuedfor perfumery : see C. P. 6. 8. 3 and 5

; de odor., 15.

ov add. Salm.; om. MSS. (?) Ald.H.

118

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. n. ii-m. i

attention required. In like manner plainly some wild

things become cultivated and some cultivated thingsbecome wild

; for the one kind of change is due to

cultivation, the other to neglect : however it mightbe said that this is not a change but a natural

development towards a better or an inferior form;

(for that it is not possible to make a wild olive pearor fig into a cultivated olive pear or

fig). As to that

indeed which is said to occur in the case of the wild

olive, that if the tree is transplanted with its top-

growth entirely cut off,1 it produces

' coarse olives/2

this is no 3very great change. However it can make

no difference which way4 one takes this.

Of spontaneous changes in the character of trees, and of certainmarvels.

III. 5Apart from these changes it is said that in such

plants there is a spontaneous kind of change, some-times of the fruit, sometimes of the tree itself as a

whole, and soothsayers call such changes portents. For

instance, an acid pomegranate, it is said, may producesweet fruit, and conversely ; and again, in general,the tree itself sometimes undergoes a change, so that

it becomes sweet 6 instead of acid, or the reverse

happens. And the change to sweet is considered a

worse portent. Again a wild fig may turn into a

cultivated one, or the contrary change take place ;

and the latter is a worse portent. So again a culti-

vated olive may turn into a wild one, or conversely,but the latter change is rare. So again a white fig

*i.e. whether nature or man is said to cause the admitted

change.6 Plin. 17. 242.

B i.e. all the fruit is now acid instead of sweet, or thereverse. Sch. brackets t oelas . . . b

THEOPHRASTUS

fj,e\aivav real etc /^eXatV?;? \evreijv. o/u-otw?

Be TOVTO real 7rl dfjureXov.2 Kcu raOra fj,ev co? repara ^al Trapa (pvaiv VTTO-

\a[jiftdvov<Tiv' ocra Be avvrjOrj TWV TOIOVTWV ovBe

0av/j,dov(Tiv 6'Xco?' olov TO TTJV redirveiov a/jL7re\ov

rea\ov/jivr]v real ere yu-eXa^o? ftoTpvos \evrebv real

ere \evreov /jie\ava (fiepeiv ovBe ydp ol fidvTeis TCL

TOiavTa repivovcriv ejrel ovBe ereeiva, Trap1

ot?

Trepl T/}? poas ev AlyvTrry a\\a TO

OavfjLacTTov, Bta TO fjiLav [JLOVOV rj Bvo, real rai/ra?

ev TW TravTi %pov(p GTravias. ov ^v aXX' eiTrep

a-v^ftaivei, fjia\\ov ev rot? KapTcols ^LvecrOai rrjv

7rapa\\ayrjv rj ev oXot? rot? SevSpots.'Evrel real ToiavTT) rt? ara^/a <yiveTai Trepl TO L>?

/eapTrovs' olov ijBr) TTOTC avrcfj TO, av/ea efivaev ere

TOV oTTLcrOev TWV Qpicov real poa Be real ayu/7reXo9

ere TWV (TTeKe^wv , real a/ATreXo? avev (>v\\(i)v /eap-

TTOV ijveyreev. eXaa Be TO, /JLCV <f>v\\a a7re/3a\e TOV

Be reapTTov e^ijveyrcev o real OerTaXw TOO Tleiai-

(TTpaTov yevecrOat X^erat. av/jL^aivei Be real Bta

%ei{A(t)vas TOVTO real St' aXXa? atVta? evia TWVBOKOVVTCOV eivat Trapa \6yov OVK OVTWV Be- olov

e'Xaa TTOT aTfOKavdelcra reXew? ave^XaaTrjaev

6'X?;, real avTrj realrj

QdXia. ev Be Trj Botcorta

reaTa/3pa)0evTCov TWV epvwv UTT' aTTeXeftwv 7rd\tv

1 eVl conj. Sch.; e' Ald.H.2

cf. C.P. 5. 3. 1 and 2 ; Arist. de gtn. an, 4. 4 ; Hesych.s.v. Kairvias; Schol. ad Ar. FesjD. 151. 3 2. 2. 7.

4 (Inks has perhaps dropped out. Sch.6

flpfwio conj. R. Const., r/. (7.P. 5. 1. 7 and 8;

5. 2. 2;

tiv P2Ald. cf. also Athen. 3. 11.

I2O

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. in. 1-3

may change into a black one, and conversely ; andsimilar changes occur in 1 the vine.

Now these changes they interpret as miraculousand contrary to nature

;but they do not even feel

any surprise at the ordinary changes, for instance,when the '

smoky'

vine,2 as it is called, produces

alike white grapes instead of black or black grapesinstead of white. Of such changes the soothsayerstake no account, any more than they do of thoseinstances in which the soil produces a natural change,as was said 3 of the pomegranate in Egypt. But it is

surprising when such a change occurs in our own

country, because there are only one or two instances

and these separated by wide intervals of time. How-ever, if such changes occur, it is natural 4 that thevariation should be rather in the fruit than in the tree

as a whole. In fact the following irregularity also

occurs in fruits ;a fig-tree has been known to produce

its figs from behind the leaves,5

pomegranate andvines from the stem, while the vine has been knownto bear fruit without leaves. The olive again has

been known to lose its leaves and yet produce its

fruit ; this is said to have happened to Thettalos,son of Pisistratus. This may be due to inclementweather ;

and some changes, which seem to be

abnormal, but are not really so, are due to other

accidental causes;

6 for instance, there was an olive

that, after being completely burnt down, sprang upagain entire, the tree and all its branches. And in

Boeotia an olive whose young shoots 7 had been eatenoff by locusts grew again : in this case however 8 the

8cf. Hdt. 8. 55 ; Plin. 17. 241.

7epvwv conj. Sch. ; fpyav P2Ald. ; jcXaSwi/ mU.

8i.e. the portent was not so great as in the other case

quoted, as the tree itself had not been destroyed.121

THEOPHRASTUS

dve/3\daTr)ae' TO, 6' olov drrerreo'ev. ijfciara B'

t'cr<w<? TO, ToiavTa drorra Bia rd fyavepas ey^eiv ra?

am'a?j d\\a ^a\\ov TO pi] K TWV olfceiwv TOTTWV

Tot/? Kapjrovs rj fjiif oliceiovs' /cal

el TT}? 6'X?;? </)ucrea)? yiferat, yu,6Ta/3oX?;,

irepl /j,ev ovv ra BevBpa TOtavrai

IV. Twi Be a\\wv TO re aiav^^iov et?

&OKi /ATa/3dX\eiv, eav f^rj KaTe^Tai o KCU, peTatfivTevovcri, 7ro\\.dKis, KCLI

6 TTf/oo? et? alpav. TCLVTO, /JLCV ovv ev rot? SevSpois

eirrep ^LveTat,. ra 3' eV rot9 67TTtot?

Trapa<JKvr)S' olov rj Ti<j)i]Kal rj

(3d\\ovGiv et? rrvpbv eav TTTiaOelaai

Kal TOUT' OUA: ev&vs d\\a Tto TpiTu>

Be TrapaTr\r)o-iov TOVTO ye TW TO, aTrep/naTa

eicdo~Tr)V -^aypav Kal a^eBbv ev TU> tcrro

Kal TI Ti>(f)r]. }JLeTaf3d\\ovcri Se Kal ol

aypioi Trvpol Kal al KpiOal BepaTrevo/JLevai

%r)ij,epov/Aevai KaTa TOV LVOV %povov.Kat TavTa f^ev eoiKe %co/oa? TC /j.Ta{3o\f)

Oeparreia yiveaOai' Kal evia dp,(f)OTepois, TO, Be TJJ

OepaTreia JJLOVOV olov TTyoo? TO TO, ocrTrpia

/3pe^avTa Ke\evovaiv ev

1 oiKflovs' Kal I conj. ; oiKfiovrai UM V; o(/fws Ald.H. ; eoixoras

conj. W. 2 ci ins. Sch. 3 2. 3. 1.

4c/. 6. 7. 2; Plin. 19. 176.

8i.e. to prevent the change which cultivated soil induces.

122

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. in. 3~iv. 2

shoots had, so to speak, only been shed. But after

all such phenomena are perhaps far from strange,since the cause in each case is obvious ; rather is it

strange that trees should bear fruit not at the placeswhere it naturally forms, or else fruit which does not

belong to the character 1 of the tree. And most

surprising of all is it when,2 as has been said,3

there is a change in the entire character of the

tree. Such are the changes which occur in trees.

Oj spontaneous and other changes in other plants.

IV. 4 Of other plants it appears that bergamot-mintturns into cultivated mint, unless it is fixed by special

attention; and this is why men frequently transplant5

it ;6 so too wheat turns into darnel. Now in trees

such changes, if they occur, are spontaneous, but in

annual plants they are deliberately brought about :

for instance, one-seeded wheat and rice-wheat change7

into wheat, if bruised before they are sown ;and

this does not happen at once, but in the third year.

This change resembles that produced in the seeds bydifference of soil 8

;for these grains vary according

to the soil, and the change takes about the same

time as that which occurs in one-seeded wheat.

Again wild wheats and barleys also with tendance

and cultivation change in a like period.

These changes appear to be due to change of soil

and cultivation, and in some cases the change is due

to both, in others to cultivation alone ;for instance,

in order that pulses may not become uncookable,9

9 But see reff. under afya in Index.7

cf. G.P. 5. 6. 12 ; Plin. 18. 93.

8 x^Pa" conj. St.; wpav Ald.H.9

arepdfj.ova conj. W. ; arepajLiva UAld. cf. 8. 8. 6 and 7 5

C.P. 4. 7. 2 ; 4. 12. 1 and 8 ; Geop. 2. 35. 2 ; 2. 41.

123

THEOPHRASTUS

vvKra rj varepaia aireipeiv tv p' ca/coi? waret <f)vrevovo~iv dv ySoXtrro' TOI>?

e, coare ueydkovs, avrots rot? K\V-

e^avra arreipeiv. ueraftdXXovai Be KOL

Kara ra? wpas rou ajropov ?rpo? KOU(j)uri]Ta Kai

a\viriav OLOV edv Ti? TOI)? opoftovs eapivovs

ipr] Tpicr(i\.v7rot jivoi'rai, fcal ov% a>? ol

Yiverai Se teal ev TO??

Sia ri]V Oepaireiav olov TO ae\ivov, eav

ov\ov. yLteraySaXXet Se KCU, rrjv ^copav e

rovra, KaOtnrep KCU raXXa. KCLI ra fj,ev ToiavraKOiva Trawrwv eVrtV. el Be /card riva Trijpwaiv ?}

affraipecriv yttepof? BevSpov ayovov yLverai, KaOd-

Trep rd ^wa, TOVTO crKeTTTeov ov&ev yovv (pavepovKara <ye TrjV Siaipeviv et? TO TrXetco xal eXdrrco

w(77Tp KaicovfJievov, aXX'rj avroXXurai TO

17 Siafjievov fcapTrotyopei. TO Se yijpas

opd Trdcriv.

4 "ATOTTOV 8' av $6j;i6 /zaXXoi^ el eV TO??

at rotavrai, /J.era/3o\al (frvcrtKai teal TrXetou?

70^ Kara Ta? w/oa? eV^a SOKCL /A6Ta/3d\\iv, wcr-

?re/3 o ipa fcal erro^r teal a'XXa

opvewv. Kal Kara Ta? TCOI^ rorrwv

o v$po$ et? l^tv ^paLvo^evwv rwv \i/3d-

I conj. ;ru/crl MSS.

2 tV Poetry conj. Milas. on <7eo/x 3. 27; e/j.0o\ov UMVAid. c/. (7. P. 5. 6. 11 : Col. 2. 10. 15 ; Plin. 18. 198.

3c/. C. P. 5. 6. 11; Geop. 2. 3. G.

* a\wtaif conj. Sell.; 5<" dAuTTj'as M ; 5i' aAuTrj'oy Aid.

I2 4

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. iv. 2-4

men bid one moisten the seed in nitre for a nightl

and sow it in dry ground the next day. To makelentils vigorous they plant the seeds in dung

2; to

make chick-peas large they bid one moisten theseed while still in the pods/ before sowing. Alsothe time of sowing makes differences which conduceto digestibility and harmlessness 4

: thus, if one sowsvetches 5 in spring, they become quite harmless andare not indigestible like those sown in autumn.

Again in pot-herbs change is produced by culti-

vation ; for instance, they say that,6 if celery seed

is trodden and rolled in after sowing, it comes upcurly ; it also varies from change of soil, like other

things. Such variations are common to all; we must

now consider whether a tree, like animals, becomes

unproductive from mutilation or removal of a part.At all events it does not appear that division 7

is an

injury, as it were, which affects the amount of fruit

produced ;either the whole tree perishes, or else,

if it survives,8 it bears fruit. Old age however is a

cause which in all plants puts an end to life 9

It would seem more surprising if 10 the followingchanges occurred in animals naturally and frequently ;

some animals do indeed seem to change according to

the seasons, for instance, the hawk the hoopoe andother similar birds. So also changes in the natureof the ground produce changes in animals, for instance,the water-snake changes into a viper, if the marshes

6cf. Plin. 18. 139 ; Col. 2. 10. 34.

8cf. C.P. 5. 6. 7 ; Geop. 12. 23. 2.

776 conj. Sch.; re Aid.

8Std/j.fi'ov conj. Sch.; Stafjifvovra Aid.

9Something seems to have been lost at the end of 3.

10ei ins. Sch.; rotavrai may however mean 'the above-

mentioned,' and refer to something which has been lost.

125

THEOPHRASTUS

>. (fravepwrara Se teal Kara ra? yevecreis evia,

Kal /j,era/3d\\ei Bid rr\Lov(t)V ^cowv olov CK

<yiv6Tai %pvcra\\ls etr' etc

^ ' "-V -V 5 V ~ -v ' > J \ W/cat e?r aK\.wv o ean rovro TrKeiovwv, ovoev tcrcos"

, oi)S' bfioiov TO tyjrov^evov. d\\ exelvo

i nrepi ra SevSpa teal oXco? Trdcrav rqv

v\riv, wcTTrep e\e%0r) /cal Trporepov, MCTTC auro/xa-

TTJV

T&V ovpaviwv TOiavrrjs. ra [j,ev ovv irepl

ra? yevecreis /col yuera/3oXa? etc TOVTWV

V. 'E?rel 8e ral at epyaviai KOI al Oepairelai

av{A/3d\\ovTat, /cal en Trpo-repov at

/cal Troiovcri u<yd\a<; ^la&opds, \eKreov

teal Trepl TOVTCOV.

Kal TTpMTOV 7Tpl TMV <j)VTLa)V. al /JLV OVV

oipau TrpoTepov eiprjvrai rca6' a? Bel. ra &e

\afi/3dviv K\vovcriv co? KaXXiara Kal e

77}? et? $)v ytieXXet? fyvreveiv, r) ^eipovos' rovs oe

rcpoopvrreiv &>? rr\eLcrrov %povov Kal

alel Kal rot? 7ri7ro\aioppiorepoi<;.

1i.e. in the instance given the development of an insect

exhibits, not one, but a series of changes from one creature

to another.2 Whereas the metamorphoses mentioned above are inde-

pendent of climatic conditions.8 Se conj. W.; T6 Aid.4 Kd\\itrra conj. W., cf. C.P. 3. 24. 1; -rdxiffra MVAld. ;

TCl X^

126

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. iv. 4-v. i

dry up. Most obvious are certain changes in regardto the way in which animals are produced, and such

changes run through a series of creatures l; thus a

caterpillar changes into a chrysalis, and this in turninto the perfect insect ;

and the like occurs in a

number of other cases. But there is hardly anythingabnormal in this, nor is the change in plants, whichis the subject of our enquiry, analogous to it. Thatkind of change occurs in trees and in all woodland

plants generally, as was said before, and its effect is

that, when a change of the required character occursin the climatic conditions, a spontaneous change in

the way of growth ensues. 2 These instances mustsuffice for investigation of the ways in which plantsare produced or modified.

Of methods ofpropagation, ivith notes on cultivation.

V. Since however methods of cultivation and ten-

dance largely contribute, and, before these, methodsof planting, and cause great differences, of these toowe must speak.And first of methods of planting : as to the seasons,

we have already stated at what seasons one should

plant. Further 3 we are told that the plants chosenshould be the best possible,

4 and should be takenfrom soil resembling that in which you are going to

plant them, or else inferior 5; also the holes should

be dug6 as long as possible beforehand, and should

always be deeper than the original holes, even for

those whose roots do not run very deep.

*i.e. the shift should be into better soil, if possible, cf.

C.P. 3. 5.2.6yupovs TrpoopvTTfiv conj. R. Const.; TTVOOVS nooffopv-rrtiv

UMVAld. cf. G.P. 3. 4. 1.

THEOPHRASTUS

2 Aeyovai Be rives a>? ovBcfxia Karwrepa) BiiKveirat.

rpia)i> rj/jurroBitoV' Bi o KOI emrifjiwcTL rot? ev

fj,eiovi (3d6ei (frvrevovaiv OVK eoi/eaffi Be opflax;

\eyeiv errl rro\\wv aXX' eav r) ^co^aro? eV^Xa/?-

fiadeos rjreal ^co/oa? Toiavrrfs rj

KCLI TOTTOU,

fJLCLKpOTepav toOei TO rfj <pvo-i

Be TIS etyrj ^era^vreixov

rrjv pl^av e^eiv OKraTrrj^yv KaLjrep ov%

Ta Be fyvrevTrjpLd eav fj.ev evBe^rjrai V

el Be yu?;, Bel /zaXXoi^ CLTTO TWV Kara)r) T&V dixo

\afji{Saveiv, TrXijv a/jL7re\ov KOI TO, ^ev e^ovra

pt^a? opOa e/jL^d\\eiv, ra BefJLrj e^ovra V7ro/3d\-

\eiv TOV (j)VTevrtjpLOV oaov ffiriOa^v rj

ir\elov. evioi Be Ke\evovcri, KOI rwv

V7ro/3a\\eiv, TiOevcti Be /cal TTJV 0eaiv 6yuo/a)9 rjvTrep

efyev eVi TWV BevBpayv ra Trpo&ftoppa real ra TT/JO?

eft) KOI ra rrpos /j,ecnjf^^piav. ocra Be evBe^erairwv <j)vra)v real Trpo/Aocr'xeveiv' ra fiev eV avrwv

rwv BevBpcov, olov e'Xaa? drriov //-^Xea? wrcr)?' ra

, olov d/JL7re\ov ravrrjv japolov re err' avrijs

'Eai' Be fir) vrroppi^a ra (frvrd fAijBe vrrorrpefjiva

1 a\\' av . . . rotovrov. eav ^ pev ffuifiaros M ; so V, butjf ;

tl om. PAld.; x^fjiaros H ; /cevw^uaros for (rco^aror and *v8i68ov

for 4) /cal rS-jTov conj. W. x^pas refers to exposure, etc.,r6irov (sc. TOJOUTOU) to quality of soil : so G.

a Plin. 16. 129 ; Xen. Oec. 19. 3. 8c/. C.P. 3. 6.

128

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. v. 2-4

Some say that no root goes down further than a

foot and a half, and accordingly they blame those whoplant deeper. However there are many instances

in which it appears that what they say does nothold good ;

a plant which is naturally deep-rootingpushes much deeper if it finds either a deep massof soil or a position which favours such growth or

again the kind of ground which favours it.1 In fact,

2

a man once said that when he was transplanting a

fir which he had uprooted with levers, he found thatit had a root more than eight cubits long, thoughthe whole of it had not been removed, but it wasbroken off.

The slips for planting should be taken, if possible,with roots attached, or, failing that, from the lower 3

rather than from the higher parts of the tree, exceptin the case of the vine

; those that have roots shouldbe set upright,

4 while in the case of those whichhave none about 5 a handsbreadth or rather more ot

the slip should be buried. Some say that part evenof those which have roots should be buried, and thatthe position

6 should be the same as that of the tree

from which the slip was taken, facing north or east

or south, as the case may be. With those plantswith which it is possible, shoots from the boughsshould also, they say, be planted, some being set onthe trees themselves,

7 as with olive pear apple and

fig, but in other cases, as in that of the vine, theymust be set separately, for that the vine cannot be

grafted on itself.

If the slips cannot be taken with root or stock

4cf. C.P. 3. 6. 4; Xen. Oec. 19. 9.

6 oaov conj. Sch.; olov P2Ald.6

cf. C.P. 3. 5. 2. 7i.e. grafted.

129

THEOPHRASTUS

\anfBdveu 1

, KadaTrep TJ}? e'Xaa?, ayiaawrd re TO

v\ov KciTwOev Kal \i0ov e/A/3a\6vTa (frvreveiv

ofjLoiws Be Kal T/}? e'Xaa? Kal crvKfjs Kal TWV aX-

\cov. <$VTVTai Bef) GVKJ] Kal edv T9 KpdB^v

ira^elav diro^vva^ crfyvpa TraCy, a^/H ov ai>

aTro\'nrr} fjuxpov vjrep TT}? 7^9, etr' ai^r/}? CL^^LOV

fia\u>v avwOeveTrt^cocrrj' Kal yiveaOai Sij <pacri

KOL Ka\\ia) ravra ra (frwrd, H<."%pi> ov av yvea.

5 Hapa7r\^(TLa Kal TWV d/j,7re\a)v, orav CLTTO

TOV TrarraXou' TrpooBoTroiel jap 6

O) K\t]^aTi Sia rr)v aaOeovrco Kal poav KOI a\\a T&V SevBpcov.

7} avKi] Be, eav ev aKi\\rj (^urevOfj, QCLTTOV Trapa-

yiverai Kal YITTOV VTTO <JKW\TI]KWV Karea0LTat.

oXco? Be Trav ev crKi\\r) <f)VTev6/j,evov

KOL Oa-rrov av^dverai. oaa Be K TOV

Kal BiaKOTTTo/aeva (frvTeveTai, KUTCO TpeirovTaBel fyvTevew, BiaKoTTTeiv Be

/j,rje'Xarrw

axTTrep e^e^Ot), Kal TOV

8'irpocrevai' (veTai K TV TOLOVTWV epvrj'

S' del Trpoo-^covi'veiv, a^pc, ou av

dpTLOV aim; /j,ev ovv T^? e'Xaa? IBia Kal TOV

^vppivov, al B* aXXat KoivoTepac Trdcriv.

e "ApicrTov Be Kal pi^uxraaOaL Kal (frvTCias yttaXt-

crra TT}? TV^ova^ 7} avKrj. (f>VT6veiv Be poa? /j,ev

1r) before TTJS om. W. 2 re rb conj. W. ; r6 re MVP.

5 nal T^JJ 6'Ao/os U;^AcJas MVP ; SO W.

4 Plin. 17, 123. 5cf. C.P. 3. 12. 1.

9cf. 1. 13. 4 ; G. P. 5. 6. 10 (where another bulb, <rxls, is

mentioned as being put to the same use) ; Atheu. 3. 13;

Plin. 17. 87.

130

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. v. 4-6

attached, as with the olive,1they say that one must -

split the wood at the lower end and plant with a

stone on top ;and the fig and other trees must

be treated in like manner with the olive. 3 The fig4

is also propagated by sharpening a stout shoot and

driving it in with a hammer, till only a small piece of

it is left above ground, and then piling sand above so

as to earth it up ;and they say that the plants thus

raised grow finer up to a certain age.Similar is the method used with vines, when they

are propagated by the (

peg' 5 method

;for the peg

makes a passage for that sort of shoot on account of

its weakness;and in the same manner men plant the

pomegranate and other trees. The fig progressesmore quickly and is less eaten by grubs, if the cutting-is set in a squill-bulb

6;in fact anything so planted is

vigorous and grows faster. All those trees which are

propagated by pieces cut from the stem should be

planted with the cut part downwards,7 and the

pieces cut off should not be less than a haiidsbreadtti in

length, as was said,8 and the bark should be left on.

From such pieces new shoots grow, and as they grow,one should keep on heaping up earth about them,till the tree becomes strong.

9 This kind of propa-gation is peculiar to the olive and myrtle, while theothers are more or less common to all trees.

The fig is better than any other tree at strikingroots, and will, more than any other tree, grow byany method of propagation.

10 We are told that,

7c/. Geop. 9. 11. 8.

82. 5. 3, where however the method of propagation is

different.9&pnov Aid.; d/mreAf; conj. W. (quoad satis corroboreturG

;

donee robur planta capiat Plin. ] 7. 124) ; &pTtrut> U ;

MV; &Pn vtS>v Pa .10

c/. C. P. 3. 7.

THEOPHRASTUS

teal fjivppivovs Kal Bd<pvas rrvKvds K\evouat,7r\eov Biearcoa-as r) evvea TroBas, fii)\as Be

, drr'iOVS Be KOI Oy^VaS en fJLCt\\OV ,

Be /cal (rvKas TroXXw 7T\eov, uxjavrws

Be Kal rrjv e\dav. TroieicrOai, Be /cal TT/JO? TOV

TOTTOV T9 tt7TO(JTa(re9' eV jap rot? opeivols eXar-

TOU? 17 eV rot? TreBeivol?.

*' Me'y40"7

'

^ ^^ ft>5 elirelv TO Trjv irpbcrfyopov

%ct)pav aTroBiBovai' Tore yap evOevel

co? 6' avrXco? eljrelv e'Xaa /xev /tat di;:^

^I/ ireBeiv-qv fyacriv olKeioTarriv elvai,

rot? Se aKpoBpvois ra? vjrwpeias. ^ptj Be Kal ev

Tot? o/Aoyevecri /jirj ayvoeiv ra?

rjBe 609 eljrelv Biatyopa ra TMV d

ocra yap eari yfjs ecBrj, roaavrd rives

l dfjiire\wv eivai. (frvrevofjieva p,ev ovv Kara

dyaOa <yivea6ai irapa fyvcnv Be a

Tavra pev ovv wairep KOLVCL

VI. Twf Be (j)OivLKO)v iBios f) (frvTeia TrapdrdX\a Kal i] /j.era Tavra Oeparre'ia. tyvrevovcn

yap rrXelovs els ravro nOevTes Bvo Kara) Kal Bvo

dvwdev eTTiBovvres, rrpavels Be rruvras. TIJV ydp

K(f)V(TlV OVK K TWV VTTTLCOV Kal KOL\0)V TTOieirai,

KaOdrcep rives <$>aaiv, aXX' CK rwv avco, Bi o Kal

ev rfj eTTi^ev^ei rwv 7riridep.eva)v ov Bel rrepiKa-

\vrrreLV rds dp%ds oOevrj eK(f)vaiS' (f)avepal B'

conj. Bod. (c/. Plin. 17. 88) ; faav UAld.H.2

e \drrovi conj. Sch. ; eAarrov Aid.3 i.e. apples pears plums, etc.

132

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. v. 6-vi. i

in planting the pomegranate myrtle or bay, oneshould set two trees close together, not further

than nine feet apart, apples a little further, pears andwild pears still further, almonds and figs further still,

and in like manner the olive. 1Again the distance

apart must be regulated by the nature of the ground,being less 2 in hilly parts than in low ground.Most important of all, one may say, is it to assign

to each the suitable soil; for then is the tree most

vigorous. Speaking generally, they say that low

ground is most suitable for the olive fig and vine,and the lower slopes of hills for fruit trees. 3 Norshould one fail to note what soil suits each varietyeven of those closely related. There is the greatestdifference, one may say, between the different kinds of

vine : for they say that there are as many kinds of vineas there are of soil. If they are planted as their

nature requires, they turn out well, if otherwise, theyare unfruitful. And these remarks apply almost

equally to all trees.

Of the propagation of the date-palm ; ofpalms in general.

VI. 4 The method of propagating date-palms is

peculiar and exceptional, as also is their subsequentcultivation. They plant several seeds together,

putting two below and two above, which are fastenedon ; but all face downwards. 5 For germination starts

not, as some say, from the ' reverse'

or hollow side,6

but from the part7 which is uppermost ; wherefore

in joining on the seeds which are placed above onemust not cover up the points from which the growth

4 Plin. 13. 32.6

i.e. with the grooved side downwards.6

i.e. the grooved side. * i.e. the round side.

THEOPHRASTUS

eicri TO!<? efjiTreipois. BLCL rovro 8' et? TO avro

7T\eiOV<i n0eaO~lV OTl tlTTO TOV l>0<f d<T0]'r}<; r)

<pv7ia. rovrwv Be a'i re pi^at, Trpbs aXX?;Xa?

crv/j,7r~\,Kovrai Kal evOvs al rrpwrai ySXacrr^cret?,

wcrre ev yiveffQat TO o-reXe^o?.'II fJieV OVV CLTTO TWV KapTTWV <f)VTia TOtaVTIJ

r)8'

a</>' avrov, orav a^eXcocrt TO avw ev

o eaXo?* d<aiov(Ti $e o&ov

Be rovro Kara> rideaai TO vypovrs\ / '-v'T1 pi A \'/ \ /

oe %fi)pav aA,jjuoorj' ot o tcai oirovfjirj roiavrt/

rvy%dvi rcepLTrdrroveriv a\a? 01 i

yewp<yoL' rovro

C Bel rroLtlvfJL't] 7Tpl avras Ta? pi^a? aXX' arco6e]'

drroarrjcravra TrepLTrdrreLv ocrov t'njiieKTOV' on, Bt

roiavrrjv Q^rel %a)pav Kafcetvo rroiovvrat, crr)/j,lov

jap orrov 7rXr}^o? fyoiviKwv dX/jicoBeis at

Kal jap ev Ba/3iAaW (fiacriv, orrov o!

7re(f)VKacri, Kal ev Aifivy Be Kal ev AljvTrrtii

Kal QoiviKr} Kal T/)? ^f/3ia? Be T?^? /cotX^?, ev 77 7'

ol rrKelaroL rvj-^dvova-iv, ev rpicrl /Ltoi^of? TOTTO/?

aX.fifoBecriv eivai TOU? Bvva/jievovs

rovs 8' ev Tot? a'AAot? ov Bia/j,eveiv d\Xa8' ?;Sei? eivai Kal Karavd\l<TKetv ovrw,

Be Kal vBpeiav o~(j)6Bpa TO BevBpov rrepi

Be Korrpov BiafJ,(f)i(r/3r)rovcriv ol f^ev jap ov

aXX' evavricorarov eivai, ol Be

Kal eTruBocriv TroXX^ Troielv. Beiv 8'

vBpeveiv ev fid\a Kara rr}? Korrpov, KaOdrrep ol ev

1i.e. 'cabbage.'

2 rovro . . . vyp6v : I have inserted Se, otherwise retainingthe reading of Aid.; TOUTOU Ka.ru- rideaa-i 8* evvypov conj . W.cf. Plin. 13. 36. rb vyp6v, viz. the cut end.

3a\/j.u8r] conj. W. ; ap./j.uSi) P2Ald.H.

134

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vi. 1-3

is to come ;and these can be recognised by experts.

And the reason why they set several together is that

a plant that grows from one only is weak. The roots

which grow from these seeds become entangledtogether and so do the first shoots from the verystart, so that they combine to make a single stem,

Such is the method of growing from the fruits.

But propagation is also possible from the tree itself,

by taking off the topj which contains the 'head.' 1

They take off about two cubits' length, and, splitting

it, set the moist end. 2 It likes a soil which contains

salt 3; wherefore, where such soil is not available,

the growers sprinkle salt about it ; and this must notbe done about the actual roots : one must keep thesalt some way off and sprinkle about a gallon. Toshew that it seeks such a soil they offer the following

proof; wherever date-palms grow abundantly, thesoil is salt,

4 both in Babylon, they say, where the tree

is indigenous, in Libya in Egypt and in Phoenicia;

while in Coele-Syria, where are 5 most palms, only in

three districts, they say, where the soil is salt, are

dates produced which can be stored ; those that growin other districts do not keep, but rot, though whenfresh they are sweet and men use 6 them at that

stage.7 The tree is likewise very fond of irrigation ; as

to dung there is a difference of opinion : some saythat the date-palm does not like it, but that it is most

injurious, others that it gladly accepts8 it and makes

good growth thereby, but plenty of water should be4

a\/nw5ett conj. W. ; a/j./nu8eis Ald.H.5

ir$y' ol conj. W.; V '\vtoi U; V "Iriot MVAld.6 Kara.va\'iffKfiv Aid. ; KaTava\t<TKea6ai conj. W.

Plin. 13. 28.8 KOI xpv ff&ai conj. Sch.; KexpTJffOai Aid.; ? Ke^dpTfierOai.

135

THEOPHRASTUS

'PoBay. TOVTO fjiev ovv eTTia-KeTTTeov laws jap oi

OI/TW9 ol B* KLVa)S BepCLTTeVOVG IV, KOi /jLTCL

TOV vSaros uxpeXi/jiov rj KOTrpos dvev Be TOVTOV

a(3epd. OTav Be eviavcrios yewyrat,/col TWV a\wv cTV/jLTrapaftoXXovcri,

orav Sier?;?' ^aipei jap acfroSpa rfj /tera-

(f)VTia.

Mera<j)VTvov<Ti Be ol fiev aXXot rov 77/009' ol Be

ev J$a/3v\a)i>i Trepl TO aarpov, ore KOI oXco? oi je7TO\\ol <$)VTeVOV(TlV, &)? KOI 7TapajlVOfJiVOV

av^avo^evov Oarrov. veov fiev 6Wo? ov%Tai, 7T\rjv avaBovcri rrjv /cofjirjv, OTTO)? op0o<bvf) T'

f)

KOI at pdfiBoi fjirf aTraprcovrai. /zera Be ravraorrorav dBpbs JjBtj jevrjrai

o>7ro\Lirova'i Be oaov <T7ri0a/jir)v

pdfB&wv. fyepei Be eiw? fj.ev av f) i/eo? dirvp^vov rov

Kapjrov, fjbera Be TOVTO TrvptivcaBr).

"AXXot Be Tives \ijovcnv co? o'i je KOLTCL ^vpiavovBefAiav Trpocrdjovaiv epjacriav aXX*

77 Bia~

Kadalpovai Kal 7ri/3p'%ovo~iv ) eiri^ijTeiv Be /jLa\\ovTO vafiaTialov vBcop 7; TO etc TOV Ato?* elvat Be

7TO\V TOIOVTOV eV Tft) O,V\MVl eV W Kal TO, (J301VL-

Ko<j)VTa Tvj%dvei, TOV av\wva Be TOVTOV \ejeivTOI;? ^<vpov$ OTI Biareivei Bid r/)? 'Ayoa/3ta? ^XP L

TT}? epvdpas ^aXacro"??? KOI TCO\\OV<; (f)daKiv

e\tj\v0evat,' TOVTOV Be ev TW KoCkoTaTW Tretyu-

Kevai TOU? (froiviKas. raura /j,ev ovv Ta^ d/j,(f)o-

Te/?o)9 av eir)' icaia jap ra9 %co/?a9, Mcnrep Kal

1c/. 7. 5. 1.

3 Plin. 13. 37.8

<rv/j.irapa.pd\\ov(Ti conj. Sch. from G ; <rvjj.irapa\an.&dvov<r>

UAld. 4c/. Plin. 13. 38.

136

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vi. 3-5

given, after manuring, as the Rhodians use. This

then is matter for enquiry ; it may be that there arc-

two distinct methods of cultivation, and that dung,if accompanied by watering,

1is beneficial, thougli

without it it is harmful. 2 When the tree is a yearold, they transplant it and give plenty

3 of salt, andthis treatment is repeated when it is two years old,

for it delights greatly in being transplanted.4 Most transplant in the spring, but the people of

Babylon about the rising of the dog-star, and this is

the time when most people propagate it, since it

then germinates and grows more quickly. As longas it is young, they do not touch it, except that theytie up the foliage, so that it may grow straight

5 andthe slender branches may not hang down. At a

later stage they prune it, when it is more vigorousand has become a stout tree, leaving the slender

branches only about a handsbreadth long. So longas it is young, it produces its fruit without a stone,but later on the fruit has a stone.

However some say that the people of Syria use no

cultivation, except cutting out wood and watering, also

that the date-palm requires spring water rather thanwater from the skies ;

and that such water is abundantin the valley in which are the palm-groves. Andthey add that the Syrians say that this valley

7

extends through Arabia to the Red Sea,8 and that

many profess to have visited it,9 and that it is in the

lowest part of it that the date-palms grow. Nowboth accounts may be true, for it is not strange that

5op0o</>i/7) T' $ conj. W. ; bpQo<pvT]Ta.i P2Ald.

6 airapTwvTdi conj. R. Const. ; a.iropQu>VTai P2MAld.7

cf. Diod. 3. 41.8

i.e. the Arabian Gulf.9

4\T)\vd(fat Aid. ; SieATjAufleWt CODJ. W.

137

THEOPHRASTUS

avTa TO, BevBpa, Bta^epetv real ra? e'pyacrta? OVK

aroTrov.

Tevrj Be TWV fyoiviKwv ecnl TrXei&r TrpayrovKCU wcnrep ev peyiuTrj Biacfropa TO /J.ev K

TO Be arcapTTOv, et; wv ol Trepi Ba$u\a>i>a ra? re

teal ra\\a (TKCUTJ iroiovvrai. eireira Tw^

ol JJL^V cippeves al Be drjXeiar Bia(>epov(ri,

Be a\\i]\cov, fca@' a 6 /uey apprjv avQo<$ TrpwroveVl TT}? crTrdQrjs, rj

Be 6t')\eia Kapjrbv evOl

avrwv Be rwv KapTrwv Biatyopal TrXetof?-

ol /J.ev ryap aTrvprfvoi ol Be fjia\aK.07Tvp^voi' ra?

^DOia? o/ fiev XevKol OL Be /xeXaz'e? ol Be ^aTO 8' o'Xoz' OVK eXaTTO) %p(t)/jiaTa faacnv eh>ai

crvfcwv ovB* avrXw? ra ryevr)- Biacfiepeiv Be KCU /cara

TO, /jieyeflr) KCU /cara ra cr^j^aara- KCLI <yap afyai-

poeiBel? eviovs weavel /zr}A,a KOI TO, fieyeOrj Tr)\i-

KOVTOVS a>9 rerra/oa? 6i? Tov Tcr\yvv elvai, [eVraKOI evTToBovs]' aAAof? Be [JLiKpovs r)\iKov<$ epe-

KOI rot? ^fXot? Be TTO\V Bia^epovTas.TOV Be KOL T(t)l> \eVKWV KCU TWV fJ,e\dv(t)V

TO [3a(TL\iKov Ka\ov/jLevov 76^0? ev eKarepw KCLI

fj.eye@ei teal dpeTrj' o~7rdvia B* elvai ravTa \eyovai,'

a^eBov yap ev fJLovfp TW Baywou fCijTrm TOV

iraXaiov irepl Ba^fXwi/a. ev KvTrpy Be 'IBiov TI

yevos (f)oiviKcov e(TT\v o ov TreiTaivei TOV Kapirov,dXX' w/zo? wv ?;8u9 o~<f)6Bpa KCU y\VKvs eo~Ti' Ti]i'

Be y\vKi>Tr)Ta IBiav e%ei. evioi 8' ov (JLOVOV Bia-

1 Plin. 13. 39.3irpurov conj. Sch.; irpuros UMVAld.

3irr\Xvv conj. R. Const, from Plin. 13. 45. and O, c/. Diod.

2. 53; araxw UMVAld.4 eirra na\ euirdSous UMV: the words perhaps conceal a

I 38

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vi. 5-7

in different soils the methods of cultivation should

differ, like the trees themselves.1 There are several kinds of palm. To begin with,

to take first the most important difference ; someare fruitful and some not ; and it is from this latter

kind that the people of Babylon make their beds

and other furniture. Again of the fruitful trees

some are 'male/ others 'female'; and these differ

from one another in that the ' male'

first 2 bears a

flower on the spathe, while the ' female'

at oncebears a small fruit. Again there are various differences

in the fruits themselves ; some have no stones, others

soft stones;as to colour, some are white, some black,

some yellow ; and in general they say that there is

not less variety of colour and even of kind than in

figs ;also that they differ in size and shape, some being

round like apples and of such a size that four of themmake up a cubit 3 in length, . . .

4 while others are

small,5 no bigger than chick-peas ; and that there is

also much difference in flavour.

The best kind alike in size and in quality, whetherof the white or black variety, is that which in either

form is called ' the royal palm'

; but this, they say,is rare

;it grows hardly anywhere except in the

park of the ancient Bagoas,6 near Babylon. In

Cyprus7 there is a peculiar kind of palm which does

not ripen its fruit, though, when it is unripe, it is

very sweet and luscious, and this lusciousness is of a

peculiar kind. Some palms again8 differ not merely

gloss on trrixvv, e.g. efs irTi^vs Suo iro'Ses (Salm.) ; om. G ; tviort

KOL e'Ti-l Tro'So conj. W. 5 Plin. 13. 42.

Bayctov : Bar-rot; MSS. corr. by R. Const, from Plin. 13.

41. rov TraAafou apparently distinguishes this Bagoas fromsome more recent wearer of the name.

' Plin. 13. 33. 8 Plin. 13. 28.

139

THEOPHRASTUS

rot? KapTrois aXXa Kal avrw T&> BevBpa)Kara re rb H^KOS Kal rr)V a\\t]v /jLOptyi'jv ov yap

KOL /jiaKpol XXa /3panels, ert Be KapTTi-ro)i' XXa>z> Kal Kaprrofyopovvres ev0v<;

rpierel?' 7ro\\ol oe Kal ovroi rrp\ Y^vrrpov. el&i

8e Kal irepl ^LvpLav Kal rrepl Aiyvirrov <j)OiviK<;

01 (frepovai rerpaereis Kal rrevraerels d

"Qrepov B1

en yevos ev KuTrpo), o Kal rb d>v\\ov/ >/ V \ ^ / c^

7T\arvrepov e%ei K.OLI rov Kapjrov /J-CL^O) TroXXw

/cat lBiOfjLOp(f)OV' /bieyeuei jj,ev ?/Xt/co? poa TO) cry?^-

8eirpo/JLiytciys,

OVK ev%v\o<$ Be warrep aXXot

Oftoio? rat? pbaLS, wcrre/j,r) KaraBe^eaOai

Bia/j,acrr)cra/j,ei>ovs K/3d\\etv. yevrj pev ovv,

eiprjrai, TroXXa. Oiiaavpi^eaOai Be fiovovsi/j > ^ / \> ^ j^ n'at <pa<r< Twt' ei^ 2<vpiq TOU? ei' TW av\(avi,

Tot/? 8' ei^ AlyvTrrw KOI KUTT/OCO :al rrapa rot?*/ >

aXXoi? p^Xwpou? ava\.icrKo~uai.

9 "E<7T Se o (f)oivi a)? yuei^ ttTrXw? elrrelv JJLOVO-

(TTfc'Xe^e? /tat fJLOvo^ve^' ov /JLIJV aXXa yivovralrives Kal Biffrvels, w&Trep ev Klyvrrrco, KaOdrrep

ovi) aliens Kal rrevrdrrri^y' rrpb<$ aXX^Xa 5e

iad^ovra. (fracrlBe Kal rovs ev Kpyjrtj

TrXetof ? eli^at TOL>? Bi^veis, eviovs Be Kal rpupveifev Be ry AaTraia riva Kal rrevraKe^)a\ov OVK

d\oyov yovv ev rat? evrpofywrepais ^Mpats 7rXeta>

yiveaOat ra rotavra Kal rb 6\ov Be ra eiBrj 7r\eia)

ra?

conj. Bod.; 6/xo/ws UMVAld. ac/. 5.

Plin. 13. 38 ; c/. 4. 2. 7, where the name (KovKi4<popov) of

this tree is given.

140

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vi. 7-9

in their fruits but in the character of the tree itself

as to stature and general shape ; for instead of beinglarge and tall they are low growing ; but these are

more fruitful than the others, and they begin to bear

as soon as they are three years old ; this kind too is

common in Cyprus. Again in Syria and Egyptthere are palms which bear when they are four or

five years old, at which age they are the height of

a man.There is yet another kind in Cyprus, which has

broader leaves and a much larger fruit of peculiar

shape ;in size it is as large as a pomegranate, in

shape it is long ;it is not however juicy like others,

but like l a pomegranate, so that men do not

swallow it, but chew it and then spit it out. Thus,as has been said, there are many kinds. The onlydates that will keep, they say, are those which growin the Valley

2 of Syria, while those that grow in

Egypt Cyprus and elsewhere are used when fresh.

The palm, speaking generally, has a single and

simple stem ; however there are some with two

stems, as in Egypt,3 which make a fork, as it were

;

the length of the stem up to the point where it

divides is as much as five cubits, and the twobranches of the fork are about equal in length. Theysay that the palms in Crete more often than nothave this double stem, and that some of them havethree stems ; and that in Lapaia one with five headshas been known. It is after all not surprising

4

that in more fertile soils such instances should be

commoner, and in general that more kinds and morevariation should be found under such conditions.

4 OVK &\oyov yovv conj. W. (OVK &\ayov 8' Sch.) ; ov xaXus

yovv Ald.MU (marked doubtful).

141

THEOPHRASTUS

10 "AXXo Be TL yei'O? <TT\V o (fracri yivecrOai

7r\l(TTOV 7Tpl T1]l> AlfllOTTiaV, O

ovroi Be OafjLi'doBeis, ov%l ev TO crreXe^o?aXXa TrXetw /ca! evioTe avvrjpTrj/jiei'a ^XP L

^, ra? Se pdftSovs ou /naKpa? [JLZVaXX'

) aXXa Xe/a?, eVt ^e TWI^ ci/cpwv rrjv

even 8e ^rat TO fyvKKov 7r\arv teal wa-

/c %>vo1i> crvyKi/iJi.vov ^Xa^icfTOLV. /ca\ol Be

/cat rfj o^reu fyaivovTai' TOP Se tcapTrov teal TW

/jLaTi real TM /j.eje0eL KOI TOO %fXcrrpoyyv\(i)T6pov jap Kal fjid^w /cal

YITTOV Be J\VKVV. ir^iralvovai Be eV rpierlv ereaiv

WCTT' del Kapirov eyjziv, 7TitcaTa\a{.t/3dvovTOS

rov veov TOV evov Troiovcrt Be Kal apTOu?

Trepl i^ev ovv TOVTWV eTriaKeTTTeov.

u Ol Be xafj-atppiffieis KaKovfJievot ra)V

erepov TL 76^09 early wcnrep O/JLOOVV/J-OV teal yapTOV eyKe<pd\ov

airo TWV pit&v 7rapa[B\a<TTdvovcn.Be Kal TW KapTT(o Kal Tot9 <uXXo9' TrXaTU yapKal fjLa\aKOv exovcn TO <$>v\\ov, Bi o Kal TrXe-

KOVVIV e% avTOv Ta<; Te crTrvpiBas Kal TOVS

TroXXol Be Kal ev Ty KpiJTy yivovTai Kal

TL jLa\\ov ev ^iK\ia. TavTa JLev ovv eV).

7T\LOV el'prjTai

1 Plin. 13. 47.2 K^IKCIS conj. Salm. c/. 1. 10. 5, and the probable reading

in Plin. I.e.

3<TvvripTri/j.tva. p.ixP l TJP&S *'J <v conj. W. ;

142

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vi. 10-11

1 There is another kind which is said to be

abundant in Ethiopia, called the doum-palm2

;this

is a shrubby tree, not having a single stem but

several, which sometimes are joined together up to

a certain point3

;and the leaf-stalks are not long,

4

only the length of a cubit, but they are plain,5 and

the leafage is borne only at the tip. The leaf is

broad and, as it were, made up of at least 6 twoleaflets. This tree is fair to look upon, and its fruit

in shape size and flavour differs from the date,

being rounder larger and pleasanter to the taste,

though not so luscious. It ripens in three years, so

that there is always fruit on the tree, as the newfruit overtakes that of last year. And they makebread out of it. These reports then call for

enquiry.7 The dwarf-palm, as it is called, is a distinct kind,

having nothing but its name 8 in common with other

palms. For if the head is removed, it survives,

and, if it is cut down, it shoots again from the

roots. It differs too in the fruit and leaves ; for

the leaf is broad and flexible, and so they weavetheir baskets and mats out of it. It is common in

Crete and still more so in Sicily.3 However in

these matters we have said more than our purpose

required.

U; ffvvrjpTrifj.fi'a (J-^XP' TW&S ' <r ' Aid.; ffvvrjpTTilJitvas

rtfbs elei' MV.*

(j.\v ins. W. after Sell. (omitted above).6

i.e. without leaflets, except at the tip.6

t\axlffTotv Bas. ; eAox^rwv U. cf. Arist. Elh. N. 5. 3. 3,

Plin. 13. 39. 8 For b^wp-ov cf. 9. 10. 1 n.9 A dwarf palm is now abundant at Selinunte: cf. Verg.

A en. 3. 705, palmosa Sdinua.

143

THEOPHRASTUS

12 'Ey Be rat? rwv a\\wv fyvreiais dvdrra\iv

rWevrai rd (frvrevrtjpia, KaOdrcep rwv K\riiJidrwv.

ol fjiev ovv ovOev Bia(f)epeiv (fracrlv rj/ciara Be emrwv dfirreXwv evioi be poav BacrvveffOai teal

crKid^eu' //.aXXoy rov Kapirov GTL Be TITJOV UTTO-

(Bd\\eiv Tou? KVTLVOVS. (TV^alv&iv Se rovro (fracri

KOI fcVt rrjs GVKT)<;' ov <yap dTro(Sd\\eiv dvdTTa\iv

, ert S1

evfiarcdTepav ^IveaQai' OVK

Se ov& edv

TO aicpov.

At jj,ev ovv (j)VTLai, KCU yeve&eis ov

cr^eBov co? TVTTW TrepiXaftelv eipqvrat.VII. Ilept Be TT)? epyacrias Kal TT}?

ra /jLev eVrt KOiva ra Be iBia KaO* ercacrTov. KOIVCL

fjiev r) re (TKaTrdvTj Kal rj vBpeia Kal 77 KOTrpcD&is,

en Ber) BiaKaOapGis Kal dfyaipeais rcov avcov.

Bia<j)pov(Ti Be TO) /jba\\ov Kal T)TTOV. ra fiev

<f)i\vBpa Kal (friXoKOTrpa rd S' ov% o/ioto)?, olov t]

Kvrrdpirros, rjrrep ov <^i\oKorrpov ovBe <f>i\uBpov,

d\\d Kal drrb\\V(r6ai (pacrtv edv ye veav ovaav

e(pvBpeva)O'i TroXXw. poa Be Kal a/tTreXo? (pi\vBpa.

avKrj Be ev^Kaarorepa /xev vBpevo/jLevrj rov Be

Kaprcov i&xei, xeipto rr\rjv TT}? AaKcoviKijs' avrrj Be

1 avd-naXiv conj. Sch.; ravdva\tv Aid. cf. C.P. 2. 9. 4;

Qeop. 10. 45; Plin. 17. 84. 2 olv ins. H.3 Saffvftffdat : see LS. reff. *.v. 5ars.4

cf. C. P. 2. 9. 3.6evBarurepav (i.e. 'more manageable'). The reference is

to a method of keeping the tree dwarf (Bod.). Plin. I.e. has

144

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vi. i 2-vn. i

Further notes on the propagation of trees.

To return to the other trees : in propagating them

they set the cuttings upside down/ as with vine-shoots.

Some however 2say that that makes no difference,

and least of all in propagating the vine ; while others

contend that the pomegranate thus propagated has

a bushier growth3 and shades the fruit better, and

also that it is then 4 less apt to shed the flower. Thisalso occurs, they say, with the fig ;

when it is set

upside down, it does not shed its fruit, and it makesa more accessible 5 tree

;and it does not shed its fruit,

even if one breaks off the top6 as it begins to grow.

Thus we have given a general sketch of whatwe find about methods of propagation, and of the

ways in which these trees are reproduced.

Of the. cultivation of trees.

VII. 7 As to cultivation and tendance some require-ments apply equally to all trees, some are peculiar to

one. Those which apply equally to all are spade-work watering and manuring, and moreover pruningand removal of dead wood. But different trees differ

in the degree. Some love moisture and manure,some not so much, as the cypress,

8 which 9is fond

neither of manure nor of water, but actually dies,

they say, if it is overwatered when young. But the

pomegranate and vine are water-loving. The fig

grows more vigorously if it is watered, but then its

fruit is inferior, except in the case of the Laconian

variety, which is water-loving.10

fcansilem (so also G), which seems to be a rendering of ev/for.

evBcnorfpav U.8 rb &Kpov conj. R. Const, after G ; -rlv Kapirlv UMVP2Ald.' Plin. 17. 246. 8 Plin. 17. 247.9

fiittp conj. W. from G ; &<rirfP Aid. 10cf. G.P. 3. 6. 6.

145

THEOPHRASTUS

AiaKaQaipeo-dai Be Trdvra tyrei- ySeXrtw yapTWV avwv a^>aipov^evwv cocnrep a\\OTpia>v, a KCLL

Ta9 av^rjcreis Kal ra? rpocfras fj,7roBiei. oY o

Kal . . . orav 77 yepdvBpvov oXco? KOTTTOVCTIV'77 yap

/3XacrT77cr9 vea yiverai TOV SevSpov. 7T\icrrij<; Se

$iaKaddpae(t)$ faiGiv 'Av&poriwv Seia-Qai fJLVppivov

KCU e\dav oaw yap av eXarrw KaTokiTrys, a^eivov

/SXacrr^cret Kal TOV Kapjrov ol'dei TrXetw TrXr/r

ayu-TreXoi; $r)\ov oil- ravrrj yap dvay/caiorepoi'l 7T/J09 /3\,d(TTr)criv Kal TT/JO? evtcapiriav.

Kal TavTTjv Kal TIJV aX\t]v Oepaireiav vrpo?

(frvcnv CKCLGTW TroLrjreov.

Aetcr^at Se <f)7j(nv 'Av&porLWV Kal KoirpovKal fr\i(TTrj<; vSpeias, wcrirep Kal 77)9

, e\dav Kal /Auppivov Kal poav ou\v / >r^\' \^>^/yap e^eiv fjirjipav ovoe voar]/Jia Kara 7?;? ovoev

d\\* eVeiSai/ Tra\aiov f)TO Sev&pov, aTrorefiven'

Selv rovs aKpefjLovas eireiTa TO <jTeXe^o? Oepa-Treveiv axiTrepdv e dp%)j<; (frvrevdev ovro) Be

fyacn 7ro\vxpovia>Tepa Kal Id^vpoTara fivppivovelvai KOL ekdav. ravra fiev ovv eTrtc

av Tt?, el Kal /AT) iravra aXXa Trepi ye

'H Be KOTrpo? ovre TTCLGIV 6/Wa>? ovO*rj avrij

TTCLGLV dp/AorreL' Ta [lev yap Bpijj^las Belrai ra'

Y]TTOV ra Be Traz^TeXw? KoiHpijs. BpL/jivrdrij Be

TITOV dv0pct)TTOV KaOdirep Kal Xa/oroSpa?

aplaTrjv fiev ravr^jv eli'al (^TJCTL, Bevrepav Be TTJV

veiav, TpiTT)v Be alyos, TerdpT-rjv Be Trpoftdrov,

1 Plin. 17. 248. * Name of tree missing. Sch.8

C/. C.P. 3. 10. 4. *TOUTT; conj. W.; TOUTTJJ Aid.

146

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vn. 2-4

1 All trees require pruning ;for they are improved

by removal of the dead wood, which is, as it were, a

foreign body, and prevents growth and nourishment.

Wherefore when the (tree)2 becomes old, they cut

off all its boughs : for then the tree breaks afresh.

Androtion 3says that the myrtle and olive need more

pruning than any other trees ;for the smaller you

leave them, the better they will grow, and they will

bear better fruit. But the vine of course needs

pruning even more ;for it is in the case of this tree 4

more necessary for promoting both growth and

fruitfulness. However, speaking generally, both

this and other kinds of tendance must be suited to

the particular natural character in each case.

Androtion further says that the olive the myrtleand the pomegranate require the most pungentmanure and the heaviest watering, as well as the

most thorough pruning, for that then they do not

get' softwood

' 5 nor any disease underground ;but

when the tree is old, he adds, one should cut off the

boughs, and then attend to the stem as though it

were a tree just planted. Thus 6 treated they say

that the myrtle and olive are longer lived and

very robust. These statements might be a subject

for "further enquiry, or, if not all ofthem, at least what

is stated of the ' softwood.'

Manure does not suit all alike, nor is the same

manure equally good for all. Some need it pungent,some less so, some need it quite light. The most

pungent is human dung : thus Chartodras 7says

that this is the best, pig-manure being second to it,

goat-manure third, fourth that of sheep, fifth that of

6i.e. effete sap-wood.

6 OVTW conj. W. ; ol Aid.7 Name perhaps corrupt.

THEOPHRASTUS

Be ySoo?, /CT^V Be Trjv \o<f)ovpwv. 77Be

aX\.r) /cal aA,Xa>?' TI /j,ev yap do~deve-

GTepa Tavrrjs rj Be Kpelrrwv.5 Trjv Be cr/caTrdvrjv Tcaaiv olovrai o-VjJL^epeiv,

axTTrep real rrjv ocr/coXo-iv rofc eXaTToaw evrpa-

(f)eaTpae

yap'yiV6crdaL. TpefyeLV Be Bo/cel real o KOVL-

O/3TO? evia KOI 0d\\eiv iroielv, olov TOV ftorpvv, Bi

o KOI VTTOKoviova-i 7ro\\dfcis' 01 Be KCLI r9 CTVKCLS

vTroGKaiTTovatv cv6a TOVTOV Bet. Meyapoi Be

teal TGI/? criKvovs teal ra? KO\OKVVTCI<;, orav ol

erijtriat irveixjuxji, &Kd\\ovre<; KovLopiovai /cal

ovro) y\vKvrepov^ Kal dTToXwrepovf TTOLOVO-LV

ov% vBpevovres. TOVTO /nev ovv ojjio\oyov^evov.

TTJV B* a/J,7T\OV 0V<f)Cl(Tl, TlVe<$ Belv [?}] VTTOKOVieLV

ovB' oXw? cLTTieaQai irepKa^ovTOS TOV

aXX' eLTrep orav d7ro/j-e\avQf}. ol Be TO o\ov

Tore TT\r)V ovov viroTlXai Tr)V (BoTavriv virep fj,ev

OVV TOVTWV d/J,(f)l(T/3r]TGVO~lV.

'Eay Be TI/jir) fyeprj fcapirbv aXX* et? ^Kdo'Trfo'iv

TpeTrrjTai, o-^i^ovcri TOV crreXe^ou? TO /tara yfjv

/cal \LOov evTiOtaaiv OTTW^ av pajfj, Kal<J)ao~i

(frepeiv. ofjboiws Be Kal edv T? TWV pi^wv Tivas

TrepiTe/jLy, Bi* o /cal TCOV d^L7re\wv oTav Tpajwcrt,TOVTO TroLovcn Ta? 7rnro\f)$. iwv Be O-VKWV

7T/309 TW TrepiTefJiveiv Kal Tefypav TrepiTr

/cal KaTao~%dovo~i TO, o'TeXe^ Kal<$>ao-t,

djjbvr

yBa\fj Be /cal TfaTTa\ov e

1 Lit.'

bushy tails,' i.e. horses asses mules.*

cf. C.P. 3. 16. 3.3 5e? ins. H ; so apparently G read.

4 SeiV viroKovlav o5' o\<as conj. W. (so bch., but keepingafter 5eV) ; Se'tv ^ viroKtvie'iv ot5' o\a>s UMV; Se*!/ ^ VTTOKO-

?; 2Ao>s Aid. * Plin. 17. 253 and 254.

148

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vn. 4-6

oxen, and sixth that of beasts of burden. 1 Litter

manure is of different kinds and is applied in various

ways : some kinds are weaker, some stronger.

Spade-work is held to be beneficial to all trees,

and also hoeing for the smaller ones, as they then

become more vigorous. Even dust 2 is thought to

fertilise some things and make them flourish, for

instance the grape ;wherefore they often put dust to

the roots of the vine. Some also dig in dust about

the figs in places where it is deficient. 3 In Megara,when the etesian winds are past, they cover the

cucumber and gourd plants with dust by raking, and

so make the fruits sweeter and tenderer by not

watering. On this point there is general agreement.But some say that dust should not be put to the vine,

4

and that it should not be meddled with at all whenthe grape is turning, or, if at all, only when it has

turned black. Some again say that even then nothingshould be done except to pluck up the weeds. So

on this point there is a difference of opinion.5 If a tree does not bear fruit but inclines to a

leafy growth, they split that part of the stem which

is underground and insert a stone corresponding6 to

the crack thus made, and then, they say, it will bear.

The same result follows, if one cuts off some of the

roots, and accordingly they thus treat the surface

roots of the vine when it runs to leaf. In the case

of figs, in addition to root-pruning,7they also sprinkle

ashes about the tree, and make gashes in the stems,and then, they say, it bears better. 8 Into the almondtree they drive an iron peg, and, having thus made

8 oncas ^.v ftay?) Aid.: SO G; ? '6irov ; enrols avedyr; conj. W,cf. Geop. 5. 35.

'

7 Plin. I.e.

8cf. 2. 2. 11 ; C.P. 1. 17. 10 ; 2. H. 1 ; Plin. 7. 253.

149

THEOPHRASTUS

Spvivov KOI Trj yfj KpurrTovcriv o KCU Kd\ov<ji

Tfi/e? Ko\d^eiv co? vj3pi%ov TO SevSpov.

TauToz> 6e TOUTO KOI eVl TT}<? CLTTLOV Kal eVaXXcoy Tives TroLovcriv. ev 'ApKa&ia &e Kal

evOvveiv Ktikovcrt, rrjv oav TroXv <yap TO SevSpov

TOUTO Trap1

auTofc CCTTL. fcai (fracriv, OTCLV

TOVTO, Ta? JAW fjirj (frepovcras (frepeiv Ta? Se

e/crreTTeiv /caXw?. atvaTv e /ca

<yiyvecr9ai ^/\vKelav, edv

TO (TTeXe^o? :al TiTpdvas baov T6 7ra\aicrTiaLoi>

TO TravTa^oOev ajroppeov Bd/cpvov errl TCLUTO eft

KCLTappelv. TOVTO /lev ovv civ elf] TTyoo? T TO(frepeiv

a/ta Kal TT/jo? TO evKaprreiv.

VIII. 'A7ro/3aXXet Se TT/JO TOU rre-^at, TOV Kap-TTOV d/jivy<$a\ri /zryXea poa avr/o? al /j.d\icrTa

Kal (poivit;, rrpbs a teal Ta?

o6ev KOI 6 pivaa/j.o<;' etc <ydp TWV

Kpe/JLavvvfjievwv eptv&v -^rrjves efcSvo/uevoi KCLT-

<T0iovcn Kal TuaivovGi TO.? K0pv<pd$. Siafiepovcn

Se real al %wpat TT/OO? T? aTro/^oXa?* rrepl yapov <acrti> a7ro/5aXXi/, Si' o 01)8' epi-

1 The operation being performed at the base of the tree.

cf. 7.2 iKirtfrtiv conj. R. Const.; fla-ntTTfiv UMAld.

3 Plin. 17. 252.4 rb TravTcixo^ei/ conj. W. ; iravTaxoOev rb MSS. ; so ap-

parently G. cf. C. P. 2. 14. 4.

6Tre'J/cu COnj. Sell.; ire^ai Aid.

6 /cr KptfJiavvvfjiivdov fpivwv I conj. ;^K6? Kpfp.a.vvvfj.(V(i>v Aid. :

eiriKpfyuaufVcoj/ tyivwv conj. W. : but the present partic. is used

C. P. 2. 9. 5.

150

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vn. 6-vm. i

a hole, insert in its place a peg of oak-wood and

bury it 1 in the earth, and some call this '

punishing'

the tree, since its luxuriance is thus chastened.

Some do the same with the pear and with other

trees. In Arcadia they have a similar process which is

called 'correcting' the sorb (for that tree is com-mon in that country). And they say that under

this treatment those trees that would not bear do

so, and those that would not ripen their fruit now

ripen2 them well. 3 It is also said that the almond

becomes sweet, instead of bitter, if one digs round

the stem and, having bored a hole about a palms-breadth, allows the gum which exudes from all

sides 4 to flow down into it and collect. The objectof this would be alike to make the tree bear and to

improve the fruit.

Of remedies for the shedding of the fruit : caprification.

VIII. Trees which are apt to shed their fruit before

ripening5 it are almond apple pomegranate pear

and, above all, fig and date-palm ; and men try to

find the suitable remedies for this. This is the

reason for the process called '

caprification'

; gall-insects come out of the wild figs which are hangingthere,

6 eat the tops of the cultivated figs and so

make them swell. 7 The shedding of the fruit differs

according to the soil : in Italy8they say that it

does not occur, and so they do not use caprification,9

7 Tnaivovfft MVAld. ; Sifipovvi conj.W. ? TreTralvovfft, 'ripen,'which is the word used in the parallel pass. C. P. 2. 9. 6, the

object of the process being to cause the figs to dry.8 Plin. 15. 81. 'Italy' means South Italy, cf. 4. 5. 5 and

6 ; 5. 8. 1.

8$pivd.ovaiv conj. Bod.; Ipivovviv Aid. H.

THEOPHRASTUS

vd^ovaiv ovB' ev TO?? KarajSopeiois Kal \e7TTO-

yeiois, olov eVt ^a\vKco rr}? MeyapuBos' ovBe TT}?

K.opiv0ias ev Ticri ToVot?. u>cravTW<$ Be KOI 77

TWV TrvevfiaTcov Kard(TTacri$' fiopeiois jap /JLO\.\OV

77 VOTLOIS aTroftaXkovcri, KCLV -^rv^poTepa KCU

7r\eiw yev^Tai jja\\ov en 8' avrcov TWV SevSpwv77 <u<j?' ra Trpcola yap dTroftaXX-ei, TO, 8' otyiaOVK K/3d\\ei, KaOdirep rj A.afco)VLKr) KOLI at, d\\ai.

81 o KOI OVK epivd^ovai ravras. ravraovv ev re rot? roTroi? KOI rot? yevecri, real r

rov depos2 Ot Be "fyiives e/cSvovrai fiev etc rov epiveov,

KaOdirep eLpi^rai' yivovrai 8' e/c rwv Key^pa/uLiSfDV.

arifjielov Be \eyovGiv, on, 7reiBdv etcBvcoaiv OVK

evetai Key^pa^LBe^. e/cBvovrat, Be ol 7ro\\ol

eyKaToXiTrovTes rj TroBa rj Trrepov. 761/09 Be nKal erepov ecrn rwv tyrjv&v, o /ca\ovcri Kevrpivas'ovroi B* dpyol fcaOaTrep Krjfyrjves' /cal TOU? elcrBvo-

/xe^oi'9 TCOV erepwv KreivovGiv avrol Be evcnro-

Qvr}<TKovGiv. liraLvova-L Be fidXicrra TCOV epivwvra fji\ava ra e/c TWV TrerpwBcov ^wpicav TroXXa?

3 yap e^ei ravra Key^pa^lBa^. yiyvwa-Kerai Be

TO epivaa^evov TW epvOpov elvai fcal TroiKiXov Kal

la^vpov TO 8* dvepiva&Tov \evKov Kal dcrO eves'

rrpocrTideao'i, Be rot9 Beofjiei'ois OTav vo~y. OTTOV

Be TrXetcrro? KOViopTos, evTavOa TrXetcrra

1c/. 8. 2. 11.

2\l/vxp6rfpa. Kal w\clu conj. Sch.; TfXVOT *P a KC^ TA/a>v MV

Aid. ; rexooTtpa Kal ir\fica U.*

irpwta conj. Sch. from G ; irpwra Ald.H.4 Plin. 17. 255 and 256.

152

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vm. 1-3

nor is it practised in places which face north nor in

those with light soils, as at Phalykosl in the

Megarid, nor in certain parts of the district of

Corinth. Also conditions as to wind make a differ-

ence ;the fruit is shed more with northerly than

with southerly winds, and this also happens moreif the winds are cold and frequent.

2 Moreover the

character of the tree itself makes a difference;for

some kinds, such as the Laconian and other such

kinds, shed their early3

figs but not the later

ones. Wherefore caprification is not practised with

these. Such are the changes to which the fig

is subject in respect of locality kind and climatic

conditions.4 Now the gall-insects come, as has been said, out

of the wild fig, and they are engendered from the

seeds. The proof given of this is that, when theycome out, there are no seeds left in the fruit ; andmost of them in coming out leave a leg or a wingbehind. There is another kind of gall-insect which is

called hentrines; these insects are sluggish, like drones,

they kill those of the other kind who are enteringthe figs, and they themselves die in the fruit. Theblack kind of wild fig which grows in rocky placesis most commended for caprification, as these figs

contain numerous seeds. 5 A fig which has been

subject to caprification is known by being red and

parti-coloured and stout, while one which has not

been so treated is pale and sickly. The treatmentis applied to the trees which need it, after rain.

The wild figs are most plentiful and most potent

8i.e. and so should produce more gall-insects: in G.P.

2. 9. 6 it is implied that the insect is produced by putrefac-tion of the seeds of the wild tig.

153

THEOPHRASTUS

TO, epiva jtvcTai. (fraal Be e

l TO TfoKiov, OTTOTCLV avTw KapiTos ?; TroXv?, /cal

Toi/9 T/}? TTTeXea? icwpvKOVs' djjiveTai jap KOI eV

KaTeaOiovon TOU? ifrrjvas. a/co? Be TOVTOV

(pacrlv elrai TOU? KapKivows TrpocTTrepovav' rrpbs

jap TOVTOVS TpeTrecrdai rou? Ar^tTra?. d\\aII I

jap 6V; rat? [lev avKals avTai fBoijOeiai.

* Tots" 5e (JJOLVI^IV al diro TWV dppevwv vrpo? TOVS

OVTOL jp ecriv o

jiverai Be rovBe TOV Tpbirov. OTCLV

avGf) TO appev, arrorefjiv overt, TTJV cnrdOrjv e</)'

^9 TO ai>9os ev0v<$ coaTrep e^et, rov re ^vovv Kal

TO avOos Kal TOV Kovioprov KaTacreiovcri Kaia

TOV KapTrov r?}? 0rj\ias' KUV TOVTO TrcWy, BiaTijpel

Kal OVK U7ro/3d\\i. <f)aiveTai S'd/j.<j)oiv ajro TOV

tippevos rot? 0ii\e(n, ftoi]0eia jiveaBai' 0rj\v japKoXovai TO Kap7To<fi6pov aXX'

i] uev olov

r; Be KCL-T ci\\ov Tpoirov.

'

ttv . . . iro\vs conj. W. from G, cum copiose fructi-

Jlcat ; oiroTav alyiirvpos ij TTO\VS MSS. U adds KU\ before

I conj. In 3. 14. 1. the elm is said to bearwhich contain gnat-like creatures ; these growths

are callod KvpvKufiTj TWO. /fo?Aa 3. 15. 4 ; and in 3. 7. 3. the

154

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vm. 3-4

where there is most dust. And they say that

hulwort also, when it fruits freely,1 and the 'gall-

bags' 2 of the elm are used for caprification. For

certain little creatures are engendered in these also.

When the knips is found in figs, it eats the gall-insects.

It is to prevent this, it is said, that they nail upthe crabs ;

for the knips then turns its attention to

these. Such are the ways of assisting the fig-

trees.

With dates it is helpful to bring the male to the

female ;for it is the male which causes the fruit to

persist and ripen, and this process some call, byanalogy, 'the use of the wild fruit.' 3 The processis thus performed : when the male palm is in flower,

they at once cut off the spathe on which the flower

is, just as it is, and shake the bloom with the flower

and the dust over the fruit of the female, and, if this

is done to it, it retains the fruit and does not shed

it. In the case both of the fig and of the date it

appears that the ' male'

renders aid to the '

female,'

for the fruit-bearing tree is called ' female'

but while in the latter case there is a union of the

two sexes, in the former the result is brought about

somewhat differently.

same thing is referred to as rb fltAaKwSes TOVTO, where TOVTO

= 'the well-known '; cf. also 9. 1. 2, where Sch. restores

KwpvKOus ; cf. Pall. 4. 10. 28. Kviraipovs (?) U ; Kvirtpovs MV;Kinrepiv Aid. ; Kwndpovs COllj. W.

3b\vvdd(fiif, from <j\w6os, a kind of wild fig, as epivdfciv,

from ipiv6s, the wild fig used for caprification. cf. G.P.3. 18. 1.

155

BOOK III

I. 'E?ret Be irepl TWV rj/jiepcov bev&pwv etprjrat,

\eKTeov o/W9 KOI Trepi rwv tfypiwv, el re TL

ravrov Kal erepov e^ovcri rot? ijuepois el 0*

At uei' o^f reveaeis avrXat r/^e? avra)i> elat'

Truvra <yap rj airo airep/jLaro^ ? avro

TOVTO S' OL> &)? OVK ^v^eojievov Kal

TO//.?/ 7TLpd(T0ai fir/Bevo,

tK<pvoiTO S' av el \a/j./3dvoi6v TOTTOU? e

Kal Oepajreiav TVJV ap/jLOTrovcrav wcr7re/J Kal vvv

ra a\act)(!)T) Kal (f)i\v$pa, \eyo) 5' oiov TrXdravov

iTeav \VKr)v afyeLpov 7rr6\.eav airavTa yapravra Kal ra roiavra (frvrevo/jieva ft\aa"rdvei Kal

ra^icrTa Kal Kd\\t<na diro TWV Trapaa-Trd&cov,

ware Kal ueydXas ovaas tfir) Kal LGO&ev&povs av

TLS fxeraOfj Siaueveiv (frvreverai, &e rd 7ro\\d

avrwv Kal Kara7r /

rjyi'v/jLei>a i KaOdjrep fj \CVKJJ

2 'VovTwv aev ovv TT/^O? TTJ a7r6p/j.ariK^ Kal rfj

UTTO TMV pi^cov Kal avni yevea-Ls eVrf TWV Be

conj. W. ; tirupvoiTo UMVAld.

158

BOOK III

OF WILD TREES.

Of the ways in which wild trees originate.

I. Now that we have spoken of cultivated trees,

we must in like manner speak of wild ones., notingin what respects they agree with or differ from

cultivated trees, and whether in any respects their

character is altogether peculiar to themselves.

Now the ways in which they come into being are

fairly simple ; they all grow either from seed or froma root. But the reason of this is not that they

/

could not possibly grow in any other way, but merelyperhaps that no one even tries to plant them other-

wise ; whereas they might growl from slips, if they

were provided with a suitable position and received

the fitting kind of tendance, as may be said evennow of the trees of woodland and marsh, such as

plane willow abele black poplar and elm ;all these

and other similar trees grow very quickly and well

when they are planted from pieces torn off, so that -

they survive, even if at the time of shifting they are

already tall and as big as trees. Most of these are

simply planted by being set firmly, for instance, the

abele and the black poplar.Such is the way in which these originate as well

as from seed or from roots;the others grow only

a uaTf Kal p.cy. conj. Sch. ; /cal Start ol pfy. UM ; KO\ Start

. PA Id.

159

THEOPHRASTUS

exevat' TTV ocra /j,vov rro crTrepuaros

cfrverai, KaOdrrep e\dr7) TrevKi] rrirvs. ocra oe c^ei

(TTrep/jia KOI Kapjrov, Kav airo pt?;? yivr/rai, Kal

drro rovrwv 7rel Kal TO, SoKovvra aKapTTd elvai

yevvdv (pacriv, olov rrTeXeav Ireav. (TTJ/JLCLOV Be

OV JiOVOV OTi*

ou<; av y TOTTOU?, d\\a Kal ra

decopovvres, olov ev Qevey TI}?

ias, &>9 e^eppdyrj TO avvaOpoicrQev vBcop ev

OTTOV

eyyi/s rjcrav ireai TrefyvKvlai TOV

TOTTOV, TW vcrrepM eret fjLera TTJV

evravOa avOis dva(j)vvai <$>acnv Ireav OTTOU

TrreXeat av6i<$ TrreXeo,?, KaOdirep Kal OTTOV

Kal eXarat Treu/ca? Kal e'Xara?, wcnrep

3 'AXXa Trjv Ireav ra%v 7rpoKaraftd\\iv rrporov reXftft)? dbpuvat, Kal Tre^ai, rov Kaprrov8t' o Kal rov Troirjrrjv ov KaKws Trpo&ayopeveii'

avr^v <JO\GLKaprrov.

TT}? Se TrreXea? KUKBLVO crrujbeiov u7roXayu./9a-

vovcriv orav yap drro rwv rrvev^drwv et?

e^OyUefou? TOTTOU? 6 Kaprros aTreve^dfj,

(fiacri. TraparrK^viov oe GOIKCV elvai TO GVo Kal 7rl rwv (frpvyaviKaiv Kal TroicoScov nvutv

earw OVK e^ovrwv yap cnrep/jia <f>avepov, aXXo

1

c/. 5. 4. 6.2 ' Katavothra' (now called ' the devil's holes,' see Lawson,

cited below) ; c/. Paus. 8. 14 ; Catull. 68. 109 ; Pint, dt iera

numinis vindicta, 557 c : Plin. 31. 36 ; Frazer, Paimanias andother Grttk Sketches, pp. 315 foil. ; Lawson, Modern Greek

Folklore and Ancient Greek Religion, p. 85.

160

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. i. 2-3

in these two ways while some of them, such as

silver-fir fir and Aleppo pine grow only from seed.

All those that have seed and fruit, even if they growfrom a root, will grow from seed too ; for they saythat even those which, like elm and willow, appearto have no fruit reproduce themselves. For proof

they give the fact that many such trees come up at a

distance from the roots of the original tree, what-

ever the position may be ; and further, they have

observed a thing which occasionally happens ;for in-

stance, when at Pheneos l in Arcadia the water whichhad collected in the plain since the undergroundchannels 2 were blocked burst forth, where there

were willows growing near the inundated region, the

next year after it had dried up they say that willows

grew again ; and where there had been elms, elms 3

grew, even as, where there had been firs and silver-

firs, these trees reappeared as if the former trees

followed the example4 of the latter.

But the willow is said to shed its fruit early, before

it is completely matured and ripened ; and so the

poet5 not unfittingly calls it "the willow which loses

its fruit."

That the elm also reproduces itself the followingis taken to be a proof: when the fruit is carried bythe winds to neighbouring spots, they say that youngtrees grow from it. Something similar to this

appears to be what happens in the case of certain

under-shrubs and herbaceous plants ; though theyhave no visible seed, but some of them only a sort of

* TrreXfas alQis irreXtas conj. St.; TrreXe'as avrl irf\fas U ;

iTTf\(as avrl irreXtas MV; Trre\fas alQis irreAeas P; irreAea

a50ty irreAeaj Aid.4

i.e. by growing from seed, as conifers normally do.

Homer, Od. 10. 510; c/. Plin. 16. 110.

161

THEOPHRASTUS

TO)v /j,V olov yyovv TWV 5' avOos, waTrep TO Ovfiov,CLTTO TovTwv ft\aGtavov(Tiv. tVet

-fj <ye

(fiavepws Kal cnro TOVTWV (pverai.rovro 6' e aXXwv TC &TJ\OV Karcelvo fie

jap ?/Sr; Trore

ev

4 Taura? re Brj ra? ^e^ecrei? v7ro\r)7TTeov elvai

dypiwv Kal en, ra? avTO/j,drov<f, a? KOI ol

\eyovaiv 'A^a^ayo/oa? jxev TOV aepa(j)dcrKQ)v %eiv cfTrep/jLara KCU ravra

TW vBan <yevvav ra <j)vrd'

& crrjiro/Aevov rov i/^aro? /ecu fiifyv

riva \ajj;{3dvovTO<> TT/OO? rrjv 77)^* KXetcTvvea"rdvai fiev etc rwv avrwv rot?

8e OoXepwrepwv Kal^v^pOTepwv TOCTOVTOV

TOV wa elvai. [\eyovo-i, Be rives KOL aX\.oi

5 'A XX' aur?; yu-ez; dTrrjpTrj/jLwrj TTOJ? eVr^ TT}S

, olov orav e^>oSo? yevrjTai Trora/Aov

T09 TO peWpov rj Kal oXco? erepayOi

KaOdrrep c NeVo? eV TT} "A/S&ypmSlfj,era/3aii>ei, Kal ajua rfj fjLerajSdcrei, rocravTrjv

crvyyevva TO!? TOTTOIS, ware ru> rpiroa erei

lv. Kal 7rd\iv orav 7ro/jL/3piai

TrXeta) yjpovov Kal yap ev Tavrais

yLVOvrai, <f)VTO)V. eoiKe Bet'j fjiev TWV

o9 eirdyetv cnrep/jLara Kal Kapjrovs, Kal

9 (pacrt, ra rwv TroiwSwvfj

8' irofAJ3pia

1c/. C. P. 1. 5. 2.

2Sc. of Apollonia, the 'Ionian '

philosopher.3

c/. C'./5

. 1. 10. 3 ; 3. 23. 1 ; Arist. Meteor. 2. 9.

162

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. i. 3-5

down, and others only a flower, such as thyme, young

plants nevertheless grow from these. As for the

plane, it obviously has seeds, and seedlings growfrom them. This is evident in various ways, and

here is a very strong proof a plane-tree has before

now been seen which came up in a brass pot.

Such we must suppose are the ways in which wild

trees originate, apart from the spontaneous waysof which natural philosophers tell. l

Anaxagoras

says that the air contains the seeds of all things,

and that these, carried down by the rain, producethe plants ;

while Diogenes2

says that this happenswhen water decomposes and mixes in some sort with

earth. 3 Kleidemos maintains that plants are madeof the same elements as animals, but that they fall

short of being animals in proportion as their com-

position is less pure and as they are colder. 4 Andthere are other philosophers also who speak of

spontaneous generation.But this kind of generation is somehow beyond

the ken of our senses. There are other admitted

and observable kinds, as when a river in flood getsover its banks or has altogether changed its course,

even as the Nesos in the district of Abdera often

alters its course, and in so doing causes such a

growth of forest in that region that by the third

year it casts a thick shade. The same result ensues

when heavy rains prevail for a long time; during

these too many plants shoot up. Now, as the

flooding of a river, it would appear, conveys seeds

and fruits of trees, and, as they say, irrigation channels

convey the 5 seeds of herbaceous plants, so heavy

4Aeyouou . . . yevecrea)? apparently a gloss (W.).

6 TO. conj. W.; rrjv MAld.

THEOPHRASTUS

TOVTO Troiei ravTO' (TvjKara^epei jap 7ro\\d

rwv o"JTep^dTwv, KOL apa ar^lv riva TT}? 7779 real

TOV uSaro?' ejrel KOLrj fii^is avrij TT}? AlyvTrria^

6yr}<?

BoKei nva jevvav vX/qv. via%ov B, av povov

vTrep'ydawvrai teal Kivr)Gw<Jiv, ev0v$ dva/3\acrTdv<-

ra olfceia TT}? %ct)pa<s, axrTrep ev Kpijrrj KvirdpLTTOi.6e TrapcnrXijcnov TI TOVTW /cal ev rot?

yap KLVov^kvr]^ dva^\aa"rdveLev Se rot? ^/jii/Bpo^oi^ edv

(paiveaOai, tyacri rpt,/3o\ov. avrai ^,ev

ovv ev rfj /jieTa/3o\f} TT}? ^u>pa^ elaiv, CLTC KOI

cnrep/jidrayv etre Kai avrij^ TTOJ?

OTrep i'crcos OVK droTrov eyfcara-

K\io/j,eva)v dfxcnwv vypwv evia^ov Be real vSdraiv

iSicorepov dvarel\ai v\rj<; 77X7)^09,

ev K.vpijvr} TrtTT&iSou? TWOS yevo/xevov /cal

* OUTO>? <ydp dvej3\daTi](Tv 77 TT\^aLov v\y

Trporepov OVK ovaa. (fraal Se teal TO 76 <ri\(j)i,ov

Troa Tt? ev e/cdaroif. ev Se rot? jii/Bo

OVK ov Trporepov K Toiavrrjs rivos ama?vat. rpoTTOi /Jiev ovv TOIOVTOI rcov TOIOVTWV

II. Tldvra Se KapTTi/jia rj d/tapira, KOI

77 <f)v\\of36\a, Kal dvOovvrarj dvav6rf KOtval

1T; 5* ... Tau7^ conj. W. ; TJ S' IK. rovr' av lirolfi ravr&

UMV (8' a5 marked doubtful in U) ; TJ S' tir. TOVT' ourJ* tiroiti

Aid. 2 Plin. 16. 142.3

i.e. and is released by working the ground.4

c/. C.P. 1. 5. 1 ; Plin. 16. 143, who gives the dateA.U.C. 130; c/. 19. 41.

164

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. i. 5-11. i

rain acts in the same wayl

;for it brings down

many of the seeds with it, and at the same time

causes a sort of decomposition of the earth and of

the water. In fact, the mere mixture of earth with

water in Egypt seems to produce a kind of vegeta-tion. And in some places, if the ground is merelylightly worked and stirred, the plants native to the

district immediately spring up ;

2 for instance, the

cypress in Crete. And something similar to this

occurs even in smaller plants ; as soon as the earth

is stirred, wherever it may be, a sort of vegetationcomes up. And in partly saturated soil, if youbreak up the ground, they say that caltrop appears.Now these ways of origination are due to the changewhich takes place in the soil, whether there wereseeds in it already, or whether the soil itself some-

how produces the result. And the latter explanationis perhaps not strange, seeing that the moist ele-

ment is also locked up in the soil. 3 Again, in some

places they say that after rain a more singularabundance of vegetation has been known to spring

up ;for instance, at Cyrene, after a heavy pitchy

shower had fallen : for it was under these circum

stances that there sprang up the wood 4 which is

near the town, though till then it did not exist

They say also that silphium5 has been known to

appear from some such cause, where there was nonebefore. 6 Such are the ways in which these kinds

of generation come about.

Of the differences between wild and cultivated trees.

II. All trees are either fruit-bearing or without

fruit, either evergreen or deciduous, either floweringB

cf. 6. 3.' Toiovroi MSS. ; TOCTOVTOI conj. W.

165

THEOPHRASTUS

yap rives oiaipeaeis errl rrdvrcov elcrlv o/^ot

f]/uLpa)i>re real dypicov. iSia oe rrpos rd

"i

rcov dypiwv o^riKaprcia re Kal Ivyvs Kal rro\u-

Kaprria r(o rrpofyaiveiv nrercaivet. re yap 6-friai-

repov Kal TO o\ov dvBel Kal /3\aardvei co? errl TO

Kal la-^uporepa rfj (frva-ei' Kal rrpotyaivei,

ev 7r\ia) Kaprrov exTrerrei 8' rjrrov, el fir] Kal

rrdvra d\\d ye ra Ofioyevij, olov e'Xaa? Kal drriov

Ka xp$. rravra jap ovrws,

ei TI arrdvLOv, warrep errl rwv Kpaveiwv Kal

ova)v ravra yap $ij (fyacn rrerrairepa Kal rjbvrepa

ra dypia rwv rj/jLepcov elvat' Kal el Srj rt a\\o urj

TTyOocrSe^erai yewpyiav rj SevSpov r) Kal n rwv

.\arr6vu>v, olov TO aik^iov Kal t] Kdmrapis Kal

ra)V ^e8porra)v 6 0epuos, a Kal fjidKiar dv

2 aypia rrjv (frvaiv elrroi. TO yap ur) Trpoa

ijuepaxTiv, waTrep ev TO?? a>oi?, rouro dypiov rrj

Kairoi (frrjalv "\rrrcu>v drcav Kal i^epovl dypiov elvai, Kal Oepairevvaevov /JL6V i]p.epov

r] 6parcevo[jivov &e dypiov, rfj uev opOws \eyoov

rfj oe OVK 6pdo)S. e^a/j,e\ovaevov yap 'drcav

%eipov ylverai Kal drraypiovrai, QepaTrevouevovoe ov% drrav fte\riov, wcrrrep eiprjrai. o oij

eov Kal ra aev dypia rd 8' fjuepa \eKreov,

1el IJL)) . . . ouoyfvr) conj. W. ; el ^ Kal irdvra ri ^AAa

T^ 0^01076^7? UMVAld.H.3

c/. G.P. 3. 1. 4.3

cf. 1. 3. 5n.4

i.e. the terms 'cultivated' and 'wild' do uut denotedistinct '

kinds.'

166

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. 11. 1-2

or flowerless ; for certain distinctions apply to all trees

alike, whether cultivated or wild. To wild trees, as

compared with cultivated ones, belong the special

properties of fruiting late, of greater vigour, of

abundance of fruit, produced if not matured ; for they

ripen their fruit later, and in general their time of

Howering and making growth is later;also they are

more vigorous in growth, and so, though they producemore fruit, they ripen it less ;

if 1 this is not universally

true, at least it holds good of the wild olive and pearas compared with the cultivated forms of these trees.

This is generally true with few exceptions, as in the

cornelian cherry and sorb;for the wild forms of these,

they say, ripen their fruit better, and it is sweeter

than in the cultivated forms. 2 And the rule also does

not hold good of anything which does not admit of

cultivation, whether it be a tree or one of the smaller

plants, as silphium caper and, among leguminousplants, the lupin ;

these one might say are speciallywild in their character. For, as with animals whichdo not submit to domestication, so a plant which does

not submit to cultivation may be called wild in its

essential character. However Hippon3 declares that

of every plant there exists both a cultivated and a

wild form, and that 'cultivated' simply means 4 that

the plant has received attention, while ' wild'

meansthat it has not

;but though he is partly right, he is

partly wrong. It is true that any plant deteriorates

by neglect and so becomes wild;but it is not true

that every plant may be improved by attention,5 as

has been said. Wherefore 6 we must make our

distinction and call some things wild, others culti-

6 i.e. and so become ' cultivated.'* & 6}; MSS.; Sib conj. Sch. from G.

167

THEOPHRASTUS

rcov ^cacov ra avravOpwrrevofJieva Kal ra

,'a ri0acreiav.

3 'AXXo. rovro fjiev ov&ev t'cr&>9 ^ta^epet rrorepws

prjreov. arrav Be TO ei;aypiovaevov rot? re

Kaprrols \elpov yiverai KOI avro /3pa%vrepoi>KOi <f)l>X\OlS KOL K\(D(J-l KOI <f)\OLO) KCU TTj 0\7)

/jiop(f)f)'KOI yap TTV/cvorepa teal ov\oTepa KOL

a-K\r)p6rpa KOI ravra Kal 6\rj f) (frvcris <yiverai,

&)? eV Touroi? fjidXicrra rn? $ia<popds TMVTWV dypicov yivOfJLGVi)?. ^t' o Kal ova

/jievtov rotavra rvyxdvei, ravra ayptdelvcLi, KadaTrep TVJV TrevKtjv Kal rrjv Kujrd-

, rj oX,&)9 TI rrjv appeva, Kal TTJV Kapvav &

Kal rrjv Sioaftdkavov.4 "Er^ re rw (^L\o^rv^pa Kal opeiva {ia\\ov elvai"

Kal yap TOVTO Xa/jL/Sdverai vrpo? ri]v d

TMV SevSpwv Kal 6'Xo)? TMV (fivrcov, elV* ovi>

avro \a[M{3avo/jL6vov etre Kara (jf/^ySeyS^/co?.

'O /j,v ovv rwv dypiwv d(J)opianos eW ovro)<>

rjKal ttXXo)? X^Trreo?, ovBev av tcra)<?

I'VV Kell>O a^^, W? 6 T&) TV7TM

Kal ttTrXoi? elirelv, ori /JLU\\OV opeiva ra aypia Kal

evOevel ra rr\6LO) Kal jj,a\\ov cv rovrois rot?

TOTTOt?, eav fMrj Ti? \a/jL{3dvr) ra <f)i\v8pa Kal

Traparrord/Aia Kal aXcrco^. ravra yap Kal ra5 roiavra rvy^dvei rre&eiva fjia\\ov. ov fjiifv

a\X'

ev ye rot? /j,eyd\ots opecriv, olov Hapv^crw re

Kal }.v\\i]vr) Kal 'OXuyitTrw ra> TliepiKfp re Kal

TO) Mucriw Kal el rcov roiovrov erepov, arravra

1 -rrfaatiav conj. W., cf. Plat. Pol. 264 ; nedaiw UMAId.

[68

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. n. 2-5

vated the latter class corresponding to those animals

which live with man and can be tamed. 1

But perhaps it does not matter which way this

should be put. Any tree which runs wild deteriorates

in its fruits, and itself becomes dwarfed in leaves

branches bark and appearance generally ; for under

cultivation these parts, as well as the whole

growth of the tree, become closer, more compact2

and harder ;which indicates that the difference

between cultivated and wild is chiefly shown in these

respects. And so those trees which show these

characteristics under cultivation they say are really

wild, for instance fir cypress, or at least the ' male'

kind, hazel and chestnut.

Moreover these wild forms are distinguished by

having greater liking for cold and for hilly country :

for that too is regarded as a means of recognisingwild trees and wild plants generally, whether it is so

regarded in itself or as being only incidentally a

distinguishing mark.

So the definition of wild kinds, whether it should

be thus made or otherwise, perhaps makes nodifference for our present purpose. But it is certainly

true, speaking3broadly and generally, that the wild

trees are more to be found in hilly country, and that

the greater part of them flourish more in such regions,with the exception of those which love water or growby river sides or in woods ;

these and such-like trees

are rather trees of the plain. However on great

mountains, such as Parnassus Cyllene the Pierian andthe Mysian Olympus, and such regions anywhere

'2ou\6repa conj. W. from G, spissiora ; bpOtrepa MSS. c/.

C.P. 6. 11. 8.3 &s 7 e conj. Sch. ; Sxrre UM ; j iv Ald.H.

169

THEOPHRASTUS

&ia rijv TroXveibiai' rwv rorrMV' eyovvi

yap Kal \i,jnv(i)Sei<s Kal evvypovs teal fyipovs Kal

yeaiSei? real TrerpcoSets /cal rovs dvd fj-eaov \ei-

/xcora? Kal cr^eBov ocrai Siaffropal T?}? y>}s' en Se

TOl/9 /J,V KOl\OV<S KOI v8llVOVS TOU? B yL66Tec6/)OU9

/cal Trpocrrjve/jiovs' ware ^vvaaOai Travroia Kal ra

ei> rot? 7reStoi9 (fiepeiv.

OJP> V M V t M J >r \ rl /

voev o aroTTov ouo et evict, fir) OVTCO 7ra/j,(popa

rwv npwv, d\\' iSitorepas rt^O9 #X?;9 rj Trd&rjs rj 77)9

7rXetcm79, olov ev rfj Kpijrr) ra 'ISaia' KVirdpiTro?

yap CKei' Kal TO, jrepl KikiKiav Kal ^vplav, ei

ot9 KeBpos' eviaj(pv $e r/}9 ^vpias TepjJiivOos. ai

yap Siatyopal Trjs %u>pas rrjv ISior^Ta TTOLOVO-IV.

etptjraL TO i&iov &>9 eVt TTCLV.

m>/r^ C\\ ' > A> ^. Loia oe ra roiaoe rwv opeivwv, a ev rois"

1

oy (frverai, [nepl rrjv McifeeSoviav] e\dryj

rrirvs dypia <j>i\vpa ^vy'ia ^77709

Kapva LO(ravos rrpvos. r

Be Kal ev rot9 TreStot? fjbvpi/er] rrre\ea \evKrj Irea

alyeipos tcpaveia 6rj\vKpaveia K\ijdpa 8/31)9 \aKa-

oarpva K)j\acrrpov /j,e\ia rra-

. . . 'iSaTo conj. W. (after Sch., who conj. Tck iv) ; TO

Tj) 'iSa^a UAld.*

i.e. it is not meant that a tree which is'

special'

to

Mount Ida (e.g. ) occurs only there.3

-nfpl TT\V Ma*.? a ^loss; vepl re TTJV Ma/c. MP2Ald. ; re om. P.

170

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. n. 5-111. i

else, all kinds grow, because of the diversity of

positions afforded them. For such mountains offer

positions which are marshy, wet, dry, deep-soiled or

rocky ; they have also their meadow land here and

there, and in fact almost every variety of soil; again

they present positions which lie low and are shel-

tered, as well as others which are lofty and exposedto wind ; so that they can bear all sorts, even those

which belong to the plains.Yet it is not strange that there should be some

mountains which do not thus bear all things, but

have a more special kind of vegetation to a grea1,

extent if not entirely ; for instance the range of Ida

in Crete l;for there the cypress grows ; or the hills

of Cilicia and Syria, on which the Syrian cedar

grows, or certain parts of Syria, where the terebinth

grows. For it is the differences of soil which givea special character to the vegetation.

2(However

the word '

special'

is used here in a somewhatextended sense.)

Of mountain trees : of the differencesfound in wild trees.

III. The following trees are peculiar to mountain

country and do not grow in the plains ;

3 let us

take Macedonia as an example. Silver-fir fir' wild

pine' lime zygia Valonia oak box andrachne yewPhoenician cedar terebinth wild fig alaternus hybridarbutus hazel chestnut kermes-oak. The following

grow also in the plain : tamarisk elm abele willow

black poplar cornelian cherry cornel alder oak lakare

(bird-cherry) wild pear apple hop-hornbeam hollymanna-ash Christ's thorn cotoneaster maple,

4 which

4<r<j>(v$aij.vos add. Palm, in view of what follows ; otvdxap-ra

UPAld.Bas.j 6.Ka.vQos P2.

171

THEOPHRASTUS

opei TretyvKvtav ^uyiav KaXovaiv, ev Be TW

y\eivov. oi 8' aXX9 Biaipovai, Kal erepov TTOI-

ovaiv eZSo9 atyevBd/jivov teal ^wyias."Ajravra Be ocra KOLVCL rwv opwv Kal ra)v

/jLi(0 fJLV KCU KO\\L(O rfj O^et TO, V TOt?

yiverai, KpeiTTw Be TTJ xpeia rrj re

KOL TT) TO)V KapTTWV TO, OpeKal d7riov Kal /x?;X,ea9' avrau 8* ev rotv

Kpeirrovs ov povov rot? /ca/JTrot? dXXarot? ^uXoi9* ev yap rot? opecrt fjiiKpal Kal o^aKal aKavdaiBeis yivovrai' Trdvra Se Kal ev rot?

opeaiv, orav eTriXd/Bcavrai TWV oltcelwv TOTTWV,

Ka\\iw (foverai Kal evOevel ^a\\ov co? Be

eiirelv TO, ev rot? ofJLd\e<ri TWV opcov Kal

rwv Be aXXcov ra ev rot? /cara) Kal KoiXow ra B'

rayv aKpwv 'xepicna, Trrjv et ri ry3 <f)t\6^fvxpov ^i Be Kal ravr* av riva Biatyopdv

V TO49 aVO[JLoioiS TtttV T07TWV, VTTep O)V VGTepOV\Kreov vvv Be Btatpereov eKacrTOV Kara ra? Bia-

(fropas ra? eiprjjjLevas.

Aei<j)V\\a /jiev ovv can rwv dypiwv a

Trporepov eXe^Orj, e\drrj TrevKr] TTITU? aypia

Trpivo? /jLvpiKr)' ra Be aXXa iravra

7r\r)V el TL Trepirrbv evia^ov, KaOdirep e\e%6r) Trepl

T^? ev rfj Kpijrrj 7r\ardvov Kal Bpuos Kal el TTOV

T07T09 Ti9

15' &\\ws conj. Sch. from G ; 8* aS Aid. a Plin. 16. 77.

3i.e. are not always of the poorest quality. roDr' of; TWO.

conj. W. ;Tavra avrwv Ald.H. 4 1. 9. 3.

172

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. in. 1-3

when it grows in the mountains, is called zygia,when in the plain, gleinos : others, however,

1classify

differently and make maple and zygia distinct trees.2 All those trees which are common to both hill

and plain are taller and finer in appearance when

they grow in the plain ;but the mountain forms are

better as to producing serviceable timber and fruits,

with the exception of wild pear pear and apple ;

these are in the plain better in fruit and also in

timber ;for in the hills they grow small with many

knots and much spinous wood. But even on themountains all trees grow fairer and are more vigorouswhen they have secured a suitable position ; and, to

speak generally, those which grow on the level partsof the mountains are specially fair and vigorous ;

next to these come those which grow on the lower

parts and in the hollows ; while those that grow onthe heights are of the poorest quality, except anythat are naturally cold-loving. But even these shewsome variation 3 in different positions, of which wemust speak later

;for the present we must in our

distinctions in each case take account only of thedifferences already mentioned.

Now among wild trees those are evergreen whichwere mentioned before,

4 silver-fir fir( wild pine

'

boxandrachne yew Phoenician cedar terebinth alaternus

hybrid arbutus bay pkellodrys5

(holm-oak) hollycotoneaster kermes-oak tamarisk ; but all the others

shed their leaves, unless it be that in certain places

they keep them exceptionally, as was said 6 of the

plane and oak in Crete and in any other place whichis altogether favourable to luxuriant growth.

5<t>\\68pv$ conj. Bod., c/. 1. 9. 3 ; ^eAAfcj fyvs UMV(?)Ald.

61. 9. 5.

173

THEOPHRASTUSv ^ v "A 'v ' \ v /

be TO, pev a\\a rravTa' Trepi be trea?

Kal alyelpov KOI Trre/Vea?, wa-rrep e\e^0}), B(.a/j,<picr-

eviot, Be TIJV aiyeipov /j,6vijv atcapjrelv

, wo"7rep Kal ol ev 'ApKaBia, TO, Se dX\.a

ra ev rot? opecri Kaprrofyopelv. ev K/??^^Se KOI airyeipoi KapTTifioi TrXetou? eltrL' f^ia /^tv ev

TO) (TTOjjiifp rov dvrpov TOV ev rfj "iSy, ev w ra

dvuKLrat, a\\rj Be /Mfcpa 7T\t]crLOV

Be po^iara BwBefca (rraStou? irepi TIVCL

Kpijwrjv ^avpcv Ka\ov/J,evr)v 7ro\\ai. elcri Be KOL

ev TO) 7r\r](Tiov opei TT}? "18^? ev TM KivBpiw

Ka\ovp,evM KOI Trepi Ylpaicriav Be ev rot? opecnv.

Ol B {AOVOV TO)V TOLOVTWV T1JV 7TTe\eaV

elvai (fracri, KaOuTrep ol Trepi MafceBoviav.

Be Biacfropa TT^O? Kapirov KCLI a

i]TWV TOTTWV (frvcris, WGTrep eTri Te TT)? 7re/3crea?

Kal TWV fyoiviKwv rj JAW ev AlyvTTTM tcapTro-

<popei /cal el TTOV TWV TrXvjcriov roTrcov, ev 'PoBfo Be

pe^pi TOV dvOelv fj.6i'ov dcfriKveiTai. 6 Be (>oivi

Trepi /aev Ba{3v\)va OavpacrTos, ev Trj 'FAXaS^ Be

ovBe Tre-naivei, Trap1

erioi? Be 6'Xco9 ovSe Trpofyaivet,

KapTrov.

'O/Aota)9 Be Kal erepa TrXetw rotaur' ecrTiv errel

l TWV eXaTTovwv iroapiwv Kal v\rifjidTwv ev

1 2. 2. 10.2

c/. 2. 2. 10. It appears that the buds of the poplar weremistaken for fruit (Sch.); c/. Diosc. 1. 81. Later writers

perpetuated the error by calling them KOKKOI.3 rov Iv rfi "iSy conj. Sch.; rov tv ry 'iSy U; TOV iv r<j> ''i

MV ; iv TT)Vl5j? Ald.H.

174

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. in. 4-6

Most trees are fruit-bearing, but about willow

black poplar and elm men hold different opinions,as was said l

;and some, as the Arcadians, say that only

the black poplar is without fruit, but that all the

other mountain trees bear fruit. However in Crete

there are a number of black poplars which bear fruit 2;

there is one at the mouth of the cave on mount Ida,3

in which the dedicatory offerings are hung, andthere is another small one not far off, and there are

quite a number about a spring called the Lizard's

Spring about twelve furlongs off. There are also

some in the hill-country of Ida in the same neigh-bourhood, in the district called Kindria and in the

mountains about Praisia. 4 Others again, as the

Macedonians, say that the elm is the only tree of this

class which bears fruit.

Again the character of the position makes a greatdifference as to fruit-bearing, as in the case of the

persea5 and the date-palm. The persea of Egypt

bears fruit, and so it does wherever it grows in the

neighbouring districts, but in Rhodes 6it only gets

as far as flowering. The date-palm in the neighbour-hood of Babylon is marvellously fruitful ; in Hellas it

does not even ripen its fruit, and in some plices it

does not even produce any.The same may be said of various other trees : in

fact even 7 of smaller herbaceous plants and bushes

some are fruitful, others not, although the latter are

4Upaiffiav conj. Meurs. Greta ; npaaiav UMVAld.

6c/. 4. 2. 5. Trepcrecu conj. R. Const.; -nepffflas U; Trepffias

Aid.6'PtSy conj. R. Const, from G, BO too Plin. 16. Ill ; pta

Aid. cf. 1. 13. 5. for a similar corruption.7 Ve{ J conj. Sch. from G ; eVei 5e Kal Aid.

175

THEOPHRASTUS

avrrj %w/3a KOI crvvopw %co/oa TO, /jtev Kapjrt/xa ra

& aKapjra ryiverai,' KaOdrrep Kal TO Kevravpiov ev

Trj 'HXeta, TO fj.ev ev TTJ opeivfj Kapjri/Aov, TO'

ev

TW TreSift) a/caprrov d\\a fiovov dvdel, TO S' ev rot?

KOL\ot<? roTTOt? otS' avQel 7T\r]i> tea/CMS. So/cet 8'

ot't' :at TO)!/ a\\cov TOOV o/no'yevwv /cat eV /ua

7Tpo(Trjyopia TO ^v a/capTrov elvaL TO Be KdpTnfjLOv,

OLOV TTpLVOf 6 JUL6V KapTTt/jLOS 6 &' CtKCLpTTOS' KOL

7 K\t']0pa B McravTcos' dvOel S' ajn<pw. cr^eSop Se

ocra Ka\ovcriv appeva TMV 6/j,oyei>wv aKapira- KOI

TOVTWV TO, [lev 7roXXa dvOelv(fiacri,

TCL S' o\iyov\ $* r'^ > >/) \5>V'' ^ \ V

ra 6 oAo)? oud avueiv TO, oe ai>aira\iv, TO, yuer

dppeva pova KapTrofyopeiv, ov p,rjv a/VX' avro 76T&)i di>0a)V fyveaOai TCL SevSpa, KaOdirep KOI CLTTO

/capTTcov oaa KapTTifJia' KOI ev d^olv OVTCOS

TTVKvrjv euvai Trjv e/ccfrvcriv wcrre TOL/9

ov SttvaaOcu Suevai,

8 'A/^^fcryS^Tetraf 8e KOL Trepl TWV dvOwv eviwv,

wcnrep ecTTo/jiev. ol /JLev jap /cat $pvv dv9elv

rflOVTCLl Kal TTJVr

HpaK\0)TlV KdpVCLV KOi SlO(T-

fidXavov, GTI Be TrevKr)v Kal Tfiivv ol 8* ovSev

TOVTCOV, d\\a TOV iov\ov TOV eV rat? Kapvais Kal

TO ftpVOV TO SpVlVOV Kal TOV KVTTapOV TOV TTITV-

1X&P? K<d Aid. ; ^ Kal conj. St.

3 i.e. the 'males' are sterile whether they flower or not.

Kal TOVTUV ra ntv iroAXa I COlij. ; TOVTWV TO. tro\\a TO. yuer Aid.3

1 i.e. the flowers of the ' female '

tree.4

i.e. (a) in those trees whose 'male' form is sterile,

whether it bears flowers or not ; (6) in those whose ' male '

176

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. in. 6-8

growing in the same place as the former, or lquite

near it. Take for instance the centaury in Elea; whereit grows in hill-country, it is fruitful ; where it growsin the plain, it bears no fruit, but only flowers ; andwhere it grows in deep valleys, it does not even

flower, unless it be scantily. Any way it appearsthat, even of other plants which are of the samekind and all go by the same name, one will bewithout fruit, while another bears fruit

;for instance,

one kermes-oak will be fruitful, another not;and the

same is true of the alder, though both produceflowers. And, generally speaking, all those of anygiven kind which are called ' male

'

trees are without

fruit, and that though2 some of these, they say,

produce many flowers, some few, some none at all.

On the other hand they say that in some cases it is

only the ' males'

that bear fruit, but that, in spiteof this, the trees grow from the flowers,

3(just as in

the case of fruit-bearing trees they grow from the

fruit). And they add that in both cases,4 the crop

of seedlings5 which comes up is sometimes so thick

that the woodmen cannot get through except bv

clearing a way.There is also a doubt about the flower of some

trees, as we said. Some think that the oak bears

flowers, and also the filbert the chestnut and eventhe fir and Aleppo pine ; some however think that

none of these has a flower, but that, resembling*5

and corresponding to the wild figs which drop off

prematurely, we have in the nuts the catkin,7 in the

form alone bears fruit, but the fruit is infertile. The passageis obscure : W. gives up the text.

6fK$vffiv. c/. 7. 4. 3.

6ofjioiov conj.W.; 6fj.oiav UAld. c/. 3. 7. 3.

c/. 3. 5. 5.

177

THEOPHRASTUS

LVOV ofj.otov /cal dvd\oyov elvai rot? rrpoarro-

TTTOJTOf? epwoi?. 01 Be rrepl Ma/eeSoviav ovBe

ravrd (paatv dvOelv apKevOov o^vrjv dpiav atyev-

evtot, Be ra<? dp/cevdovs Bvo elvai, /cal rrji>

erepav avOeiv p,ev uKapiroi' 8' elvai, T^V Be

erepav OVK avOelv ^ev tcapirov 8e (frepeiv

uxnr^p KOL ra9 GVKCIS ra epivci.

Svoovv ware et vo enj TOV Kapjrov

IJLOVOV rovTo TWV SevSpw. ravra IJLZV ovv

IV.f

ll Be fi\dcrTr)crL<$ TWV fiev a/jia rylverai /cal

rjf^epwv, TWV 8e fiucpov eirih.enrofJLevTj, TWV 8'

7r\ov, aTrdvTwv Be Kara TT]V r)pivr]

u\\a rwv KapirSiV 1} TrapaXXayij 7r\twvBe KCU irpoTepov etTro/zei/, ov Kara Ta?

al Trejrdvaeis aXXa TroXu Bia(j>epovcriv eVet /cal

TCOV otyiKap'TTO'repayv, a Bij rives (fracriv evtauro-

<f)0peii>,olov ap/cevOov /cal rrplvov, oficos al /3\aa-

r?y<re9 rov rjpos. avra 8' aiirwv ra of^oyevr) ra>

rrporepov /cal vvrepov Biatfrepei, Kara TOU? TOTTOU?'

rrpwra [lev jap (3\aardvei ra ev rot? eXecriv,

ol rrepl MaKeBoviav \eyovcri, Bevrepa Be ra ev

TreBiois, eV^ara Be ra ev rol<; opecnv.

Kvr&v Be rcov /ca@* e/caara BevBpcov ra p.ei>

1i.e.. the male flower, cf. Schol. on Ar. Vesp. 1111.

<f)(6<pi>a.(nos Kvplws \tyei Hvrrapov TTJV TrpodvOrjaiv TTJS iriruos :

but no explanation of sucli a use of the word suggests itself.

cf. 3. 3. 8 ; 4. 8. 7.8

apiar conj. Suh., c/. 3. 4. 2; 3. 16. 3; 3. 17. 1; otfviiv a.yp(av

Aid.

.78

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. in. 8-iv. 2

oak the oak-moss, in the pine the '

flowering tuft.' l

The people of Macedonia say that these trees also

produce no flowers Phoenician cedar beech aria 2

(holm-oak) maple. Others distinguish two kinds of

Phoenician cedar, of which one bears flowers but

bears no fruit, while the other, though it has no

flower, bears a fruit which shows itself at once 3

just as wild figs produce their abortive fruit. How-ever that may be,

4it is a fact that this is the only

tree which keeps its fruit for two years. Thesematters then need enquiry.

Of the times of budding and fruiting of wild, as comparedwith cultivated, trees.

IV. Now the budding of wild trees occurs in somecases at the same time as that of the cultivated forms,but in some cases somewhat, and in some a gooddeal later ; but in all cases it is during the springseason. But there is greater diversity in the time of

fruiting ;as we said before, the times of ripening do

not correspond to those of budding, but there are

wide differences. For even in the case of those

trees which are somewhat late in fruiting, whichsome say take a year to ripen their fruit such as

Phoenician cedar and kermes-oak, the buddingnevertheless takes place in the spring. Again there

are differences of time between individual trees of

the same kind, according to the locality ; those in

the marshes bud earliest, as the Macedonians say,second to them those in the plains, and latest those

in the mountains.

Again of particular trees some wild ones bud

3 i.e. without antecedent flower.4 5' oSvconj.W.; trx^v UMVAld.

179

THEOPHRASTUS

/O-v ' m t t '-V

<Twavap\aaTavei rot? ijuepois, oiov avbpa"x\r)

d(f)dpK^' d^pcis Be /jLiKpfo v&repov rrfi UTTLOU. TO,

Be Kal Trpo e<f)i>pov KOI /zero. TTVOCLS evdv ^ec^vpov.

teal Trpo ^ecfrvpov aei> Kpaveia Kal OrfkvKpaveia,

a ^etyvpov Se Sdtyvr) K\rj0pa, Trpo icr^/zepia? ^6

(j)i\vpa ^vyia ^77709 crvfcrj' TrpwiftXaaraSe real /capva Kal Spvs Kal a/creo?' en &e {jid\\oi>

TO, aKapjra SoKovvra Kal d\a(t)Srj, \CUKTJ vrreXea

Irea atyetpos' TrXaraw? Be fjiLKput o^rialrepov

TOVTWV. ra Be aXXa atcnrep cvLara/Aevov rov

rjpos, olov epiveos (friXvKij o^vdtcavOos Tra\iovpos

Kapva biocrftdkavos' yLt?;Xea 6' oi/a-

acrro?* 6\lri,8\aa'T6raToi> Be a-yeBov n/ro? dpiai /v ' '

Oveia utXo?. at jiev ovv

OUTft)?

3 At' Be dvOrjaeis aKO\ov6ovaL p.ev 009 elirelv Kara

\6yov, ov fjirjvaXXa TrapaXXdrTOvai, fjidXXov Be

Kal eirl 7r\eovf)TWV KapTrwv reXetcocri?. Kpaveia

uev yap dTroBiBwai irepl rpOTrds 9epivd<$ f)

(rxeBbv wcTTrep Trpwrov r;8' o\^t09, TJV Bij

Ka\ovai 6ri\.VKpaveiav, yaer' ai)To TO

ean Be 6 TavTTjs Kapjros aj3pa)TO<} Kal TO

dcr9eve<$ KOI j^avvov TOcravT?} Brj Biacfropd irepl

4cifji^w. TepfiivOos Be Trepl irvpov a^T]TOV rj

1 See below, n. 4.2 ra O.K. 5o/c. xal a\ff. conj.W.; rck O.K. Kal SUK. Kal a\ff. U

MP ; ra a/c. ra fii/K. a\ff. Aid.3

wtrnfp apologises for the unusual sense given to

1 80

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. iv. 2-4

along with the cultivated forms, as andrachne and

hybrid arbutus ; and the wild pear is a little later

than the cultivated. Some again bud both before

zephyr begins to blow, and immediately after it hasbeen blowing. Before it come cornelian cherry and

cornel, after it bay and alder;

a little before the

spring equinox come lime zygia Valonia oak fig.

Hazel 1 oak and elder are also early in budding, andstill more those trees which seem to have no fruit

and to grow in groves,2 abele elm willow black

poplar ;and the plane is a little later than these.

The others which bud when the spring is, as it were,becoming established,

3 are such as wild fig alaternuscotoneaster Christ's thorn terebinth hazel 4 chestnut.The apple is late in budding, latest of all generallyare ipsos

5(cork-oak) aria (holm-oak) tetragonia

odorous cedar yew. Such are the times of budding.The flowering times in general follow in proportion ;

but they present some irregularity, and so in still

more cases and to a greater extent do the times atwhich the fruit is matured. The cornelian cherry pro-duces its fruit about the summer solstice

; the earlykind, that is to say, and this tree is about the earliest

of all. 6 The late form, which some call ' femalecornelian cherry

'

(cornel), fruits quite at the end of

autumn. The fruit of this kind is inedible and its

wood is weak and spongy ; that is what the difference

between the two kinds amounts to. The terebinth

produces its fruit about the time of wheat-harvest or

(usually 'beginning'). TO, 5* &\\a Sxrirep evia-r. conj. W.; ri8' &\\us irfp* U; ra Se &\\a>s rrepifviffra^ffov MAld. H.

4Kapva can hardly be right both here and above.

8 See Index.6

trxeSbi/ tiffirep irptarov not in G, nor in Plin. (16. 105) ; text

perhaps defective.

181

THEOPHRASTUS

dTroBiBaicri KCU /-teXta KCU

TOV Oepovs TOV tcapTTov K\i}6pa Be KOI /capita KCU

TL yevo? /j,TO7ru>pov' Bpvs Be KCU Biocr-

o^rLaiTepov eri rrepl YlXeidBo? Bvcriv,

Be KCU <f)L\VKri KOI Trplvos KOI 7ra\LOVpovKCU o^vaKCLvOos //-era IlAet'a&o? Bvcrtv

1}S' dpia

ap%o/j,evov KCU7; /j,^\ea /xev rot? Tr/jcorot?

Be o^ria ^eiyuco^o?* avBpd^\7j Be

KCU a^dpKif] TO /.Lev Trpcorov TreTralvovcriv

(36rpvi rrepKa^ovrLyTO Be vcnepov, Bo/cei yap Tavra

BixapTra, dp^ofjievov TOV ^eifjiwvo^, e'Aa-n; Be /cal

yLttXo? dvOoiXTi JALKpOV TTpO T)\LOV TpOTTWV [/Cal T?)?

76 eXar>;9 TO ai>0o<; KpoKtvov KOI dXkws KCL\OV^TOV Be KapTTOv d^idcrL yuera Bvaiv Ii\tidBos.

TTCVK^ Be xal TTLTV? TrpoTepovai Trj fiXaaTtjaei

/jiiKpov, ocrov TrevTeKCLLBe/ca ij/jiepais, TOU? Be tcap-

7roL>? dTToBiBoaai /zera TIXeidBa /cara \6<yov.

TaOra pev ovv fjieTpiwTepav fj,ev e^et TrapaXXa-irdvTwv Be TrXetcrr?;;' 7; apKevOos KCU 7; K//\acr-

:at 7; rrpivos' rj p,ev yap aptcev0o<; eviavcnovt -\/O r V''coKet' TrepiKaTaXafJipaveL yap o i/eo? TOV Trepv-

GIVOV. a>? Be Tives fyacrii1, ovBe rreTraLvet, BS o /cat

rrpoa<j)aipovcn KOL %povov TLVLI Tripovaw eai> Be ea

fl errl TOV BevBpov TL^,d r

jro^)}paLveTai. (fracrl Be teal TIJV

Trplvov ol rrepl 'ApKaBidv eviavTU) T\eiovv a/za

yap TOV evov Trejraivei KOI TOV veov V7ro<paivet'tocrT6 rots" TOiovTOis <TV/ji(3aLi>et crvve%a)$ TOV Kaprrov

(/>acrlBe ye KCU T)JV Ki]~\.a(TTpov VTTO TOV

. Kal ueAi'a U;

<x7ro5t'5a>0v f.L(\(a Aid. Some confubiouin text, but sense clear.

2otf ia : 1 T) bi\/[a. W.

182

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. iv. 4-6

a little later, manna-ash1 and maple in summer; alder

hazel and a certain kind of wild pear in autumn;

oak and chestnut later still, about the setting of the

Pleiad;

and in like manner alaternus kermes-oak

Christ's-thorn cotoneaster after the setting of the

Pleiad ;aria (holm-oak) when winter is beginning,

apple with the first cold weather, wild pear late 2 in

winter. Andrachiie and hybrid arbutus first ripentheir fruit when the grape is turning, and again

3

when winter is beginning ;for these trees appear to

bear twice. As for 4 silver-fir and yew, they flower

a little before the solstice ;

5(the flower of the silver-

fir is yellow and otherwise pretty) ; they bear their

fruit after the setting of the Pleiad. Fir and Aleppopine are a little earlier in budding, about fifteen

days, but produce their fruit after the setting of the

Pleiad, though proportionately earlier than silver-fir

and yew.In these trees then the difference of time is not

considerable ;the greatest difference is shewn in

Phoenician cedar holly and kermes-oak ; for Phoe-nician cedar appears to keep its fruit for a year, the

new fruit overtaking that of last year ; and, accord-

ing to some, it does not ripen it at all; wherefore

men gather it unripe and keep it, whereas if it is left

on the tree, it shrivels up. The Arcadians say that

the kermes-oak also takes a year to perfect its fruit;

for it ripens last year's fruit at the same time that

the new fruit appears on it; the result of which is that

such trees always have fruit on them. They say also

3 After vffrtpov Aid. adds avQovvri (so also H and G) ; Pliu.

I'i. 121. omits it ; om. W. after Sch.*

yiip Aid.; 5e conj. W.6Probably an early gloss, W. cf. PI in. 16. JOG.

183

THEOPHRASTUS

drrof3d\\eiv. o^riKapTra Be cr(f)6Bpa KCLI

Kal TTV^OS. \rov Be Kaprrov ciftpwrov

rravrl fay (f)i\vpa di]\vKpaveia rrv^os.

Be teal /arro? Kal dpKevdos /ecu

/col dvBpd^Xrj.^ a>? Be 01 irepl

TOVTWV

Be TrdvTtov otyiaiTepa TerpaywvLa dveLa /u-

Xo?. at fJilv ovv TWV Kapir&v aTrofioXal real

TreTrdvaeis TCOI/ dypicov roiavTas eleven Bia(f)opa$

ov IJLOVOV 7T/909 ra rj/jiepa d\\a KOL TT/JO? eavrd.

V. Sf/z./3aiWt 8' orav dp^wvrai ft

ra fj,ev d\\a avvzyj) TI]V re /3\dari]criv Kal rrjv

av%r)(Tii> 7roi6L(T0at, rrevKijV Be Kal e\drr)v

Bpvv Bia\ei7reiv, Kal rpels o/syaa? elvai Kal

dfiieval /3XacrTOU9, Bi? o Kal Tplcr\orcoi' rrav yap

Brj BevBpov orav /3\acrrdvrj \orra' rrpcorov

aKpov ea/jo? ev9v<$ lara^vou rov apyeV Be rfj "I By rrepl rrevreKalBeKa (Jidkiara rj/jie

fj,era Be ravra Bia\i7r6vra rrepl rpiaKovra -i]

rrd\iv aXXou9 9Xacr-

et ra> irpo-

repfp (3\aaru>' Kal ra /j,ev avw ra 8' et9 ra

7T\dyia KVK\W rroielrat rijv /BXaarijcni', olov yovv

1<f>l\vpa Aid.; (pt\vpfa conj. 8cli.

2 T^V 8e . . . . avSpax^-n- Apparently a gloss, W.8Terpayuvia conj. Sch. (rerpa- omitted after -repa) : cf. 2

;

yuvia MV ; 7o)vteo U.4 TUV aypiuiv after 7T67ray(re<j conj. Sch.; after

'-fip-tpa, Aid.8 Plin. 10. 100.

184

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. iv. 6-v. i

that holly loses its fruit owing to the winter. Lime J

and box are very late in fruiting, (lime has a fruit

which no animal can eat, and so have cornel and

box. Ivy Phoenician cedar fir and andrachne are

late fruiting2) though, according to the Arcadians,

still later than these and almost latest of all are

teiragoniaz odorous cedar and yew. Such then

are the differences as to the time of shedding and

ripening their fruit between wild 4 as comparedwith cultivated trees, and likewise as compared with

one another.

Of the seasons of budding.

V. 5 Now most trees, when they have once begunto bud, make their budding and their growth con-

tinuously, but with fir silver-fir and oak there are

intervals. They make three fresh starts in growthand produce three separate sets of buds ;

wherefore

also they lose their bark thrice 6 a year. For everytree loses its bark when it is budding. This first

happens in mid-spring7 at the very beginning of the

month Thargelion,8 on Mount Ida within about

fifteen days of that time; later, after an interval of

about thirty days or rather more, the tree 9puts on

fresh buds which start from the head of the knobbygrowth

10 which formed at the first budding-time; and

it makes its budding partly on the top of this,11

partlyall round it laterally,

12using the knob formed at the

8rplff\OTroi conj. Sch.; TpiffXonroi UM V; TpfcrAeTrot M x

Ald.

cf. 4. 15. 3; 5. 1.1.7

eapos conj. R. Const.; aeoos VAld. cf. Plin. I.e.

8 About May.9 What follows evidently applies only to the oak.10

Kopwriatas conj. Sch.; Kopvvrjs ccos UMV; K0pv$r\s ews

Aid.11

cf. 3. 6. 2. 12 ra add. Sch,

185

THEOPHRASTUS

TTJV TOU TrpWTOV (SXaaTOV KOpVVTJI',

i] TrpwTrj /3Xacrr);<Tt? ^ei. yiverai be

TOVTO Trepl TOV ^Kippo(f)opia)va \jjyovTa.2 KaTa 8e TavTijv TTJV ftXda-Trjcriv Kal rj

(bveTai Traaa, Kal -n \evKri Kal 77 ae\aiva'i

* / IIf> v r 5V > -y

oe a)? em TO TTOM

[liav av^Oelaa, Tr\rjv T^? TTfTToetSou?, eav VTTO

TOV Kav/jt,aTOS \r]<$)9f) grjpaiveTai, Kal dvav^rjs eTrl

TO /Jiel^ov, eyiveTO yap av fj-ei^wv TO) ^eyeOei.Tives avTwv ov ftei^ov %ovo~i Kvd/jiov TO

r) Be /j,e\atva Kal errl TrXetou? ?;^e/

, Kal

7rd\tv TO TpiTov e

jj,eTa TOVTO Trepl

pov Tcrco? ^ap e ^ CTTTCL TO Tc\ei(TTOV'

ySXacTTT^cri? 6/jioia Kal TOV avTOv TpoTrov. 7rape\-Oovcrwv Be TOVTWV ovKeTi ei? iLrjKOS d\\

J

et?

Tra^o? 77 av^ycris T^eVeTcu.3 tlacTi /i,ei;

ow TOt9 SevbpOLS al /3XacrT7;cr6i9

fyavepai, fiaXiGTa e TT) e\drr) ical TTJ TrevKrj Bia

TO (TTOi%elv TO, ^/ovaTa Kal e% LCTOV TOI/?

e^eLV. wpa Se Kal Trpo? TO Te/.ive(T0ai, TO,

TOTE &ia TO \OTTCIV v yap TO?? aX\oi9OVK evTrepiaiperos o <f)\oi6s, d\\a Kal Trepiaipe-

6evTO<s p,e\av TO %v\ov yiveTai Kal TTJ otyei ^elpoveirel Kal Trpo? 76 TTJV %peiav ovSev, d\\a Kal

1 About Jane.2

c/. 3. 7. 4; 3. 8. 6 ; Plin. 16. 27.

'

67x^wpoj conj. Coraes ; ($\\<i>pos Aid.4 6iaAe/7To>'To COnj. St.; Sta\(lirovffat Ald.H.

186

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. v. 1-3

first budding as a sort of joint, just as in the case of

the first budding. This happens about the end of

the month Skirrophorion.1

2(It is only at the time of this second budding that

the galls also are produced, both the white and the

black ;the liquid forming them is mostly produced in

quantity at night, and, after swelling for one day

except the part which is of resinous character it

hardens if it is caught by tthe heat, and so cannot grow

any more ;otherwise it would have grown greater in

bulk;wherefore in some trees the formation is not

larger than a bean. The black gall is for several

days of a pale green3 colour

;then it swells and some-

times attains the size of an apple.)

Then, after an interval 4 of about fifteen days, the

tree for the third time puts on buds in the monthHekatombaion 5

; but this growth continues for fewer

days than on either of the previous occasions, perhapsfor six or seven at most. However the formation of

the buds is as before and takes place in the same

manner. After this period there is no increase in

length, but the only increase is in thickness.

The periods of budding can be seen in all trees,

but especially in fir and silver-fir, because the joints

of these are in a regular series and have the knots

at even distances. It is then the season also for

cutting the timber, because the bark is being shed 6;

for at other times the bark is not easy to strip off,

and moreover, if it is stripped off, the wood turns

black 7 and is inferior in appearance ;for as to its

utility8 this makes no difference, though the wood

5 About July.6 \oirav conj.Sch.; \onrav UMV; \iirnv Aid.7

cf. Plin. 16. 74.87 conj. Sch.; re Aid,

187

THEOPHRASTUS

a"Xyprepov, eav /xera TTJV TreTravcrtv rwv Kap7ra)i>

4 Tavra /jiev ovv i8ia TWV Trpoeipij/jLevwv Be

al Se /3Xa<TTr;cret? al eVt Kim Kal 'ApKrovptp 71^0-

fjievai, yLtera rrjv eapwrjv o"%eoov KOIVOI irdvrwv

evr)\oi Se fjia\\ov ev roi? T)/j,epois Kal TOVTWV

fjidXtcTTa dVK?j Kal dp,TTe\w Kal poia Kal oXco? oaa

vrpa<j)rj Kal OTTOV %copa roiavrr}- 81 o Kal rrjv

KTOiipw 7r\.ei<JTr)V (fiaal jivecrOai irepi

Kal MaKeBoviav d/jia yap av^^aiveiTO

l rrjv /jLa\aK6rt]ra (Tv/jiftaXXe&dai, rov depos.

et Kal ev At^yTrrw 8ia TOV&* a>5 e

acrTdvei ra SevSpa, rj Kal piKpov Tiva

ra /xev Trepl ra<; 7ri/3\acmjcri<;, wcnrep

, KOLVCL, ra Be Trepl ra? ^^aXet-v/ret? diro

iSia TWV \%6evTa)v. 'i&Lov &'

Kal TO TT}? Ka\ovp,i>ri<; Ka^pvos, olov

rot? [re] TTpoeiprjfievoiS' ex L 7^P Ka'

L ^drrjKal fipvs, Kal en <f)i\vpa Kal Kapva

Kal Trirvs. aviai 8e yivovrat &pvi

Trpo T^}? ySXacrr^crect)? vTrocfratvovcnjs

wpas. ecrrt S' axnrepei Kvrjcris

TTLTnovcra TT)? e^ a/r^% eTroiSijcrea)? Kal

yS\a(JT/;cre&)9' TTJ S' 077 ecrrl rov

conj. R. Const.; Kapirwv Ald.H.2

c/. C.P. 1. 10. 6; 1. 12. 4; 1.13. 3; 1. 13. 5; 1. 13.10; Plin.

16. 98. c/. C.P. 1. 14, 11. 4c/. 5. 1. 4 ; Plin. 16. 30.

188

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. v. 3-5

is stronger if it is cut after the ripening of thefruit.

Now what has been said is peculiar to the above-mentioned trees. 1 2 But the buddings which take

place at the rising of the dog-star and at that of

Arcturus after the spring budding are common to

nearly all, though they may be most clearly seen in

cultivated trees, and, among these, especially in figvine pomegranate, and in general in all those thatare luxuriant in growth or are growing in rich soil.

Accordingly they say that the budding at the risingof Arcturus is most considerable in Thessaly andMacedonia 3

;for it also happens that the autumn in

these countries is a fair and a long season; so that

the mildness of the climate also contributes. Indeedit is for this reason, one may say, that in Egypt toothe trees are always budding, or at least that the

process is only suspended for quite a short time.

Now the facts as to the later buddings apply, as

has been said, to all trees alike ; but those which

belong to the intervals after the first period of

budding are peculiar to those mentioned above.

Peculiar to some also is the growth of what are

called ' winter buds/ 4 for instance in the above-mentioned trees ; silver-fir fir and oak have them, andalso lime hazel chestnut and Aleppo pine. Theseare found in the oak before the leaf-buds grow, whenthe spring season is just beginning. This growthconsists of a sort of leaf-like formation,

5 which occurs

between the first swelling of the leaf-buds and thetime when they burst into leaf. In the sorb 6 it

8eo-rt . . . <f>v\\iit)) : iffri conj. R. Const.; oxnrepel conj. Sch.;

ITJ 5e &crirep 77 icvrjffis (pvXctKTj UAld.H. ; <uAA/c$7 mBas. etc.8

TT? 5' ot? fcr-rl conj. W. (cf. the description of 077, 3. 12. 8) :

ry V ISitrijTi Aid.

189

THEOPHRASTUS

fJ,T07T(jOpOV /jLTCL TT)V (f)U\\o(3o\iaV eV0VS \l7Tapd

TIS Kal wcnrep eTTwBijKvla, KaOairepavel yueXXofcra

/3\a(TTdvLV, Kal Bia/xevei TOV ^ei^wva ^XP i TOV

?//oo9. >;Be 'Hpa/cXecoTt/o) jnera TIJV diro^oXrjv TOV

vei rb /3orpv(*)<:>e<> rf\.iKov aKa)\r] evfie-

e^o? pla")(OV TrXetco 77,a KaXovai rives

TOVTWV GKaGTOV K (JilKpWV <7VyKirai,

rfj rd^ei, KaOaTTep ol

elvai

(TTpo{3L\(p Veto Kal '\\.WpU) 7r\t]V 7TpO/J,rjK<TTpOV

Kal a"%eoov tcroTra^e? &oXou. TOVTO Se av^eraiTOV %ei{ia)va' (Kal aaa TU> rjpi ^d(TKL TO,

So)ra Kal ^av6a <yiveTai), Kal TO fjir}Ko<

/cal Tpio'dKTV\ov" oTav Be TOV ijpos TO <f)v\\oi>

ao~Tvrj, TavT aTTOTrtTrrei Kal ra TOV KapvovKa\vKO)$r) TrepiKapTTia jiveTat

TOV fjiio"\pv ) ToaavTa ocra Kal ijv TCI avOi]- TOVTWV'

eV e/cacrrro Kapvov ev. irepl Be TT}? (frtXvpas

7rio~K67TTeov, Kal el TI aXXo Ka^pvofyopov.VI. "Ecrrt Be Kal TO, fjiev evav^rj rd Be Bvo~avr).

cvav^rj [Jiev ra re irdpvBpa, olov TrreXe'a

\ei>Ki] aiyeipos //rear tcai TOL rrepl TavTr]? d

ftijTovai TLves a)? Bvaav^ov^' Kal TWV KapiroBe e^aTT) TrevKij Bpv$. evav^ecrTaTov Be . . .

1 tvBus \iirapa COnj. Sell. ; TIS add. W. ; v6vs at irapa rrjs U.2

</>ui conj. W.; (puerat Aid. 3i.e. catkins, cf. 3. 3. 8.

* 7rAe/a> STJ COllj. Sell. ; 7riw5rj UMVAld. ; -nXtlova U ?.

5cf. 3. 10. 4.

6ffv/j.^.f/jLVKura KO.TO. rov

ft,.: G evidently had a different

text ; ? ffv/jLiretyvKora W.

IQO

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. v. 5~vi. i

occurs in the autumn after the shedding of the

leaves, and has from the first a glistening look,1 as

though swelling had taken place, just as if it wereabout to burst into leaves

;and it persists through

the winter till the spring. The filbert after castingits fruit produces

2 its clustering growth,3 which is

as large as a good-sized grub : several 4 of these growfrom one stalk, and some call them catkins. Eachof these is made up of small processes arrangedlike scales, and resembles the cone of the fir, so that

its appearance is not unlike that of a young greenfir-cone, except that it is longer and almost of the

same thickness throughout. This grows through the

winter (when spring comes, the scale-like processes

open and turn yellow) ;it grows to the length of three

fingers, but, when in spring the leaves are shooting,it falls off, and the cup-like

5 fruit-cases of the nut

are formed, closed all down 6 the stalk and corre-

sponding7 in number to the flowers

;and in each ot

these is a single nut. The case of the lime andof any other tree that produces winter-buds needs

further consideration.

Of the comparative, rate of growth in (rets, and ofthe length oftheir roots.

VI. Some trees are quick-growing, some slow.

Quick-growing are those which grow by the waterside,as elm plane abele black poplar willow

; (howeversome dispute about the last-named, and consider it

a slow grower :)and of fruit-bearing trees, silver-fir

fir oak. Quickest growing of all are . . .8yew lafcara

r offa nal fiv TO. avQi] conj. W. ; '6aa KO\ Kara av6r) Aid.8 Lacuna in text (Sch. W.). The following list of trees also

appears to be in confusion, and includes some of both classes.

THEOPHRASTUS

Kal \d/capa (prjybs apKevOos (TtyevBa/jivos ocrrpva

fj,e\ia K\ij0pa TTLTVS dvBpd^\rj /cpaveia

d%pds. /capTTCHpopei B' evtfvs eXar?; irevKif

, KCLV o7rr)\tKovovv /xeyeOo? \dfSwcnv.'H Be avj^rjais /cal rj ^\darrjcri^ rwv fjiev a\\wv

Kara TOU? TOTTOU? TWV ySXacrrcof,

\drr]<; toptcr/jievr] KOL crvve'Xjiis KOI vcrrepov. oiav

yap ex TOV crT6\^ou<; ra 7rpa)ra o-^ia-Ofj, 7rd\iv ei;

efceivov 77 erepa cr^/crf? ylveTai Kara TOV avrbv

TpoTrov, KOI TOUT* del Troiel Kara Traaa? ra? CTU-

ev Be roi? aXXoi? ovS* 01 o^oi KCLT

CTTL TIVWV 6\iycov, olov KOTIVOV

rj

Trdvrwv o/^otw? rj/jiepwv re /cal dypicov ra

yap real IK, TOV d/cpov TWV /3XacrTco^ Kal e/c

TrXayiwv cfrveTai, /caddrrep CLTTIOS poa crvKrj

o"%eobi> TO, TrXetcrTa- TO, S' K TOV dfcpov

fj,i> OVK dvirjcriv K Se TWV iT\ayiwv, Kal avTO

TO inrdp^ov, waTrep Kal TO o\ov crre-

Kal ol aKpe/jioves. av/jL/Saivei Be TOVTO eVi

epffiK^ Kapvas Kal TTJS 'Hpa/c/Veam/o;? Kal

3 a\\a)v. dTrdvTWV Be TWV TOLOVTWV et? ev (f)v\\oi>

ol /3Xa<rrot, Bi o /cal ev\6ya)s OVK

/cal

(6/J.oia Be TpoTrov Tivarj av^rjcris /cal TOV CTITOV

1 Kara . . . &\aar>v conj. W. ; Kara rovs rp6irovs (correctedto TOTTOUS) /cal ^AOCTTOUS U; MVP insert TOVS before /SAaaToyj.

3 ^Kf(vov . . . Kara conj. W.; Ixtlvov 77 ertpa ff\ltrcu TO Icro

\ UAld.* a\\wv : ? i\das W.; I suggest &\\ut> l\awv.

192

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. vi. 1-3

^bird-cherry) Valonia oak Phoenician cedar maplehop-hornbeam zygia manna-ash alder Aleppo pineatidrachne cornelian cherry box wild pear. Butsilver-fir fir and Aleppo pine bear fruit from the veryfirst, whatever size they have attained.

While the growth and budding of most trees are

irregular as regards the position in which the buds

appear,1 the growth and budding of the silver-fir

follow a regular rule, and its development afterwards

is also in a regular sequence. For, when the trunk

first divides, then again from the divided trunk the

second division 2 takes place in like manner, and so the

tree goes on with each fresh formation of buds. In

other trees not even the knots are opposite to one

another, except in some few cases, as wild olive andothers. 3 Here too we find a difference in the

manner of growth which belongs to all trees alike,

both cultivated and wild : in some cases the growthis from the top of the shoots and also from the side-

buds,4 as in pear pomegranate fig myrtle and the

majority of trees, one may say : in some cases the

growth is not from the top, but only from the side-

buds, and the already existing part is pushed out 5

further, as is the whole trunk with the upperbranches. This occurs in the walnut and in the filbert

as well as in other trees. In all such trees the buds endin a single leaf 6

;wherefore it is reasonable that

they should not make fresh buds and growth from this

point, as they have no point of departure. (To a

certain extent the growth of corn is similar;for it

TOV . . . TrXayiui' : ? K TOV &Kpov nal K

cf. 3. 5. 1.

5 i.e. grows without dividing, cf. Plin. 16. 100. (of dif-

ferent trees).8<pu\\ov perhaps conceals some other word.

193

THEOPHRASTUS

Kal yap ovros del ry rrpotocrei rov

av^dverai, Kav KO\oj3<aQf) rd <f)v\\a, KaOdrrep ev

rot? erri{3ocrKO/uLevoi<;' TrXr/i' OUTO? ye OVK eK rov

rrXayiov rrapa(f)vei, Kaddrrep evia rcov;

avrrj aev ovv Biacfropd Ti? dv elr/

d/j.a Kal av^/jcrea)?.

4 T$a0vppL^a Be ov fyaal rives elvai rd dypia Bid

TO <f)vecr0ai rrdvra drro (rrrep/jLaros, OVK dyav6p8ws \eyovres. evBe%erai yap orav

rroppo) KaOievai Ta? picas' eVet Kal rwvrd TroXXa rovro rroiei, Kairrep dcrdevecrrepa ovra

Kal evapyws (j>vo/j,eva <eV> rfj yfj. /3a6uppiorarovB* ovv BoKel rayv dypuwv eivai

i] rrplvos' e\arrj Be

Kal rrevKrj /merpioos, emrro'X.aiorarov Be dpavrra-Xo? Kal KOKKv/jir)\ea Kal crrroBids' avrtj B* earlv

toarrep dypia KOKKV/jirj\ea. ravra p,ev ovv Kal

Be roll a'XXoi? TO?? yu,?;Kara fidOovs e%ovai t

rjKiara e\drrj Kal rrevKr), rrpoppi^OL*; vrru

5 Ot jJiev ovv rrepl 'ApKaBiav ovrco \eyovaii1. oi

B* CK rrjs"I8if

)$ BaOvppL^orepov eXdrrjv Bpvos aXX'

eXaTTOu? evetv Kal evdvppi&repav elvai' BaOvppi-/V I I *>> I II

^orarov Be Kal r^v KOtCKVLLvjXeav Kal rrjv 'Hpa-"~v\f/( V \i \ \\ g f~\ i (st o x fir ^r/7 c t a t / tr \/ 1 f D ci o ^* T^ it

TIV, rrjv Be KOKKvarj\eav rco\vppi^ov,8' e/jL/3i(*)vai Belv Bv(T(t)\e0pov Be ryv

KOKKVfJLrfKeav. emrro\ri<; Be a<fxlvBauvov Kal

1 TOU v-rrdpxoi'Tos uonj. Sell, from G ; TTJ unap\ov<rTi Aid.- out' : '. OVK W. 3 Plin. 16. 127*.4

enfiiiaffj) : cf. 3. 6. 5; C.I'. 1. 2. 1.

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. vi. 3-5

also regularly increases by pushing forward of the

already existing part,1 even if the leaves are mutilated,

as in corn which is bitten down by animals. Cornhowever does not 2 make side-growths, as some

leguminous plants do.) Here then we may find a

difference which occurs both in the making of budsand in the making of fresh growth.

3 Some say that wild trees are not deep rooting,because they all grow from seed ; but this is not a

very accurate statement. For it is possible that,when they are well established,

4they may send

their roots down far;in fact even most pot-herbs

do this, though these are not so strong as trees, andare undoubtedly grown from seed planted in the

ground.5 The kermes-oak however seems to be the

deepest rooting of wild trees;

silver-fir and fir are

only moderately so, and shallowest are joint-fir plumbullace (which is a sort of wild plum). The last

two also have few roots, while joint-fir has many.Trees which do not root deep,

6 and especially silver-

fir and fir, are liable to be rooted up by winds.

So the Arcadians say. But the people who live

near Mount Ida say that the silver fir is deeperrooting

7 than the oak,8 arid has straighter roots,

though they are fewer. Also that those which havethe deepest roots are plum and filbert, the latter

having strong slender roots, the former havingmany : but they add that both trees must be well

established to acquire these characters;

also that

plum is very tenacious of life. Maple, they say,*

ii/apyws . . . 71} : so G;ev add. W.

tt

j8a0ou$ conj. Sch.; &d6os Aid.7Padoppitfrtpov COllj. W. ; pa6upptoTcnoi> UMVAld.

8 Proverbial for its hold on the ground ; cf. Verg. Ae.n. -4

441 foil.

195

THEOPHRASTUS

'

TIJV Be ue\iav TT/VdW? Kal elvai irvKVop-

pi^ov Kal fiaOvppi^ov. 67r7roX?}s" Be Kal apKevOov/col KeBpov Kal K\r)0pa<$ XeTrra? Kal OyuaXe??'

TI B* o^vrjv Kal <yap TOUT' eiri7ro\atoppi^ov KOL

ovav

e Kal Tra^eta? /cat $vcrui\,e9pov<s TrXry^et Se

/3a0vppia fiev ovv Kal ov\ ~ ^

Ta TOiavT ecrTiv.

VIT.'

A-TTOKOirevros Be rov areX-e^ov^ ra

a\\a TTavO' 009 elireiv TrapafiXacrrdvei, 7r\r)i> eav

ai pi^ai TTpoiepov TV^WCTL rreTrov^Kvlai' TrevKrj

Be Kal eXarri TeXew? GK pi^wv avroerels avalvovrai

Kal eav TO aKpov eTriKOTry. avfjiftaivei. Be iBiov

TL Trepl T-TJV eXaTrjv' orav jap KOTTTJ r) Ko\ova6rj

VTTO TTvevp,aTO<$ rjKal aX\.ou TWOS Trepl TO \eiov

TOV crTeXe^ou? e^ei <yap ptypt T^O? Xeto^ Kal

ao^ov Kal bfJidKov iKavov '(aTu> 7r\oLov--7rept-

<j)VTai uiKpov, vTroBeeaTepov et? in^o?, Kal KU-

\ovatv ol fjtev aa(f)avj;iv ol Be a^it^vav, TW uev

XpoouaTi fi\av TTJ Be aK\rjpoT^TL

et; ov TGI/? KpaTrjpas Troiovcnv ol Trepl'

2 TO Be Tra^o? o!oi> civ Tv^rj TO BevBpov, oayrrefi

av Icr^vpoTepoi' Kal ey^vXoTepov 77 Tra^inepov.

o~VfJL/3aive(, Be KaKeivo iBiov ev TavTw TOVTW Trepl

o\lyas conj. W. ; <r</>.KOT* b\lyov UMVAld.

2i.e. not very fibrous.

3c/. Hdt. 6. 37, and the proverb -rrlrvos rp6wov 4icTpl0t<rdai.

4'6fj.a\ov conj. Seal. ; '6^oiov Aid.

8lita.v'bv 'Iffrep irAoiou COnj.W.; ^ Kal T]\lKOV irKtluv Aid.; ac

UH, but with TT\o7ov.

196

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. vi. 5-vn. 2

has shallow roots and few of them l; but manna-ash

has more and they are thickly matted and run

deep ;Phoenician cedar and prikly cedar, they say,

have shallow roots, those of alder are slender and'

plain,'2 as also are those of beech ; for this too has

few roots, and they are near the surface. Sorb, they

say, has its roots near the surface, but they are

strong and thick and hard to kill, though not verynumerous. Such are the trees which are or are

not deep-rooting.

Of the effects of cutting down the ivhole or part of a tree.

VII. Almost all trees shoot from the side if the

trunk is cut down, unless the roots have previouslybeen injured ; but fir and silver-fir wither away

3

completely from the roots within the year, if merelythe top has been cut off. And there is a peculiar

thing about the silver-fir ; when it is topped or

broken off short by wind or some other cause

affecting the smooth part of the trunk for up to a

certain height the trunk is smooth knotless and

plain4(and so suitable for making a ship's mast 5

),

a certain amount of new growth forms round it,

which does not however grow much vertically ;and

this is called by some amphauxis6 and by others

amphiphya6

; it is black in colour and exceedinglyhard, and the Arcadians make their mixing-bowlsout of it ; the thickness is in proportion

7 to the tree,

according as that is more or less vigorous and sappy,or again according to its thickness. There 8 is this

peculiarity too in the silver-fir in the same connexion;

6 Two words meaning'

growth about,' i.e. callus.7 olov h.v conj. W. ; olov fav Aid.; '6<rov Uv conj. Seal.8 Plin. 16. 123.

197

THEOPHRASTUS

rijv eXanyv orav [lev yap TIS roi>$ 6'bu9

d<f)e\a)V drroKo^rrj TO ci/cpov, drroOinjcrKet,

orav Be ra Karcorepw rd Kara TO \eiov d<pe\rj,

77 TO Kard\oi7rov, irepi o Brj Kal 77 a/z^au^f?

(pverai. 77 $e &fj\ov ori ra> ey%v\ov elvai KCLI

e'LTrep aTrapdjB\a<JTOV. d\\a yap rovro

L&IOV T^? eXaTT;?.

<l>epei Be ra ftev a\\a rov re Kapirov roi>

eavrwv KOI ra icar* eviavrov eTTiytvo/j-eva ravra,

(frv\\ov av9o<$ /3\aar6v ra Be Kal fipvov rj e\iica'

ra Be 7r\iO), /cadaTrep r} re TrreXea rov re fiorpvv

real TO 0u\aKa)Bes rovro, Kal CTVKTJ Kal ra epiva

ra TrpoaTTOTTiTrrovra Kal ei Tti'e? apa rwv CTVKWV

o\vv0o(f>opovcriv' taws Be rporrov nva

OUTO?. aXX* 17

t

}^.paK\ewriKi'j Kapva rov iov\ov

Kal r) Trplvos rov <$>OIVLKOVV KOKKOV t] Be Bd(j)vri

TO ftorpvov. (frepet,uev Kal

r; Kap7ro<p6po<>, el

Kal TTacra d\\d rot yevos n avrr)$, ovfj,rjv

a

TT\eov T) aKapfros, TJV Br) Kal dppevd rives Ka\ou-

CTLV. a\\' 77 TrevKrj rov TrpoaTTOTTLTrrovra Kvr-

rapov.nXeto*Ta Be Trdvrcov rj Bpvs jrapd rov KapTrov,

olov rrjv re KrjKiBa ri)V /ntKpdv Kal rrjv erepav

1i.e. and so does not, like other trees under like treat-

ment, put its strength into these, cf. C.P. 5. 17. 4.

2 tavrwv conj. Sch. from G ; av-rbv Aid.

The leaf-gall, cf. 2. 8. 3; 3. 14. 1. For rovro cj. 3. 18. 11;

4. 7. 1.4 Lat. groAsi. cf. C.P. 5. 1. 8.

B nva. Kapirbs conj. Sch.; riva &i<apnos UAld.

198

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. vn. 2-4

when, after taking off all the branches, one cuts oH

the top, it soon dies ; yet, when one takes off the

lower parts, those about the smooth portion of the

trunk, what is left survives, and it is on this partthat the amphauxis forms. And plainly the reason

why the tree survives is that it is sappy and greenbecause it has no side-growths.

1 Now this is peculiarto the silver-fir.

Of other things borne by trees besides their leaves flowers andfruit.

Now, while other trees bear merely their own 2

fruit and the obvious parts which form annually, to

wit, leaf flower and bud, some bear also catkins or

tendrils, and some produce other things as well, for

instance the elm its' cluster

'

and the familiar bag-like thing,

3 the fig both the immature figs which dropoff and (in some kinds) the untimely figs

4though

perhaps in a sense 5 these should be reckoned as

fruit. Again filbert produces its catkin,6 kermes-oak

its scarlet '

berry/7 and bay its

' cluster.' 8 The

fruit-bearing sort of bay also produces this, or at all

events 9 one kind certainly does so ; however the

sterile kind, which some call the '

male,' producesit in greater quantity. The fir again bears its

e

tuft,'10

which drops off.

11 The oak however bears more things besides 12 its

fruit than any other tree ; as the small gall13 and its

6cf. 3. 3. 8 ; 3. 5. 5.

7cf. 3. 16. 1. i.e. the kermes gall (whence Eng. 'crimson').

8frorpvov UMVAld., supported by G. and Plin. 16. 120;

but some editors read &pvov on the strength of 3. 11. 4. andG. P. 2. 11. 4.

9 a\\d rot conj. W. ; a\\a Ka\ Aid.J0

cf. 3. 3. 8 n. " Plin. 16. 28.12

Troock conj. W., cf. 6; 4>e>. Aid. 18cf. 3. 5. 2.

199

THEOPHRASTUS

rrjv TTirrcoBr) ue\aivav. en Be crvKa/uLivtoBes aXXo

rfj fjiOpcftfj 7T\r)V (TK\r)pOV KOI BvO~K(iraKrOV ,

arfdviov Be rovro' Kal erepov alBoiwBr) a-^ecnv

e\pv, rekeiovfjievov B* en o~K\rjpov Kara rr\v

erravdaracriv Kal rerpvrrr)/j,evov TrpoaefK^epe^

rporfov TLVCL TOUT' ecTTt Kal Tavpov K<j)a\fj, Trepi-

Karayvv/jLevov Be ev&oOev e^et TTU/J^O? e'Xaa*?

tVo^ue?. <f)vei Be Kal TOV VTT* evitov

irl\ov rovro 8' eVrt afyaiplov epiwBes

7Tpl TTVpljVlOV <TK\r)pOT6pOV 7T6^)f/C09,

TTyOo? TOU? Xu^of?' Kaicrai yap ^raXai?, uxnrepKal rj /jueXaiva KTJKLS. <f)vei Be KOL erepov crfyaipiov

KOfMjv e^ov, ra /j,ev aXXa a^pelov, Kara Be rrjv

eapivrjv wpav errifiaTrrov %fXa> fjLe\ir^pw Kal Kara

rr)v a<j)rjvKal Kara rrfv yevaiv.

Tlapafivei B' evBorepa) rtjs rwv paftBwv fiacr^a-XtSo? erepov acfraipiov afjuo-^ov rj Kal

KOL\OJJLI,O")^OI>

tBiov Kal rroiKiKov TOU? [lev 'yap eTravecrrrfKoras

o/i^aXoi'5 erriXeitKovs rj errecmyfJLevov^ e^et yueXa-

vas TO B* ava pecrov KOKKoftacpes Kal \au7rpovdvoiyoftevov S' earl peXav Kal errlcrarrpov . arrdviov

Be Trapa(f)vei, Kal \i6apiov Ki&crripoetBes eV/

7r\eiov. eri S' aXXo rovrov o-Traviairepov (j)v\\i-

KOV a-v/jLTr7ri\r)/jLvov 7rp6p,r)Kes afpaipiov. errl Be

rov (j>v\\ov (j)VL Kara rrjv pd%iv a<j)aipiov \CVKOV

Biavye? vBarwBes, orav drra\6v 17* rovro Be Kal

JTruprjvos ^Aaaj IffotyvfS conj. W. j irvprjvos t\a(a flpov<pwr)v

UMV ; Trvpriva (Xafa tlpov^lfv Aid.2

irepl Trvp-fjviov ffK\T)p&rfpov I conj. ; trepl wprivlov ffK\ijpoTriTa

U ; irtpl irvpyvlov (TK\rip6Tspov M ; irtpnrvpTjviov ffK\r]porepovVAld. W. prints the reading of U. For vl\os see Index.

200

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. vn. 4-5

other black resinous gall. Again it has another

growth, like a mulberry in shape, but hard anddifficult to break

;this however is not common. It

has also another growth like the penis in shape,which, when it is further developed, makes a hard

prominence and has a hole through it. This to a

certain extent resembles also a bull's head, but, when

split open, it contains inside a thing shaped like the

stone of an olive. 1 The oak also produces what somecall the 'ball

'

; this is a soft woolly spherical object

enclosing a small stone which is harder,2 and men

use it for their lamps ;for it burns well, as does the

black gall. The oak also produces another hairyball, which is generally useless, but in the springseason it is covered with a juice which is like honeyboth to touch and taste.

3 Further the oak produces right inside the axil 4

of the branches another ball with no stalk or else 5

a hollow one;this is peculiar and of various colours :

for the knobs which arise on it are whitish or black

and spotted,6 while the part between these is brilliant

scarlet ; but, when it is opened, it is black androtten. 7 It also occasionally produces a small stone

which more or less resembles pumice-stone ; also, less

commonly, there is a leaf-like ball, which is oblongand of close texture. Further the oak produces on the

rib of the leaf a white transparent ball, which is

watery, when it is young ; and this sometimes con-

8 Plin. 16. 29.4

&/5oTepo> . . . /uo<rxa^5os conj. R. Const. ; ivTepiuvrji TUV

poiruv paaxaXiSas UAld. Plin., I.e., gignunt et alae ramorumeius pilulas.

5^ ins. St.

6Plin., I.e., nigra varietal e. dispersa.

7iiritTaTrpov ; Plin., I.e., has apertia amara inanitas est

whence iiriniKpov conj. Sch.

2OI

THEOPHRASTUS

eviore evBbv ia%ei. re\eiovfj.i'oi> Be

pvverai fCijKiSo^ /j.iKpds Xeta? rpoTrov.

e 'H /lev ovv Bpvs rocravra (frepei Trapa rbi*

Kapirov. ol yap /jLVKrjres djrb rwv pi^wv teal

Trapa ra? pia<; fyvo/Jievoi Koivdi real krepwv eltriv.

wcravTa)? 8e tealrj lia m teal jap avrtj

teal eV aXXoi?* a\X* ov$ev rjrrov, wcnrep

7r\LcrTO(j)6pop ecrriv el Be <y Brj KaO*'

<f>epi fjLe\i teal /xeXtrra?, ert

ovv real 6 /neXircoSr)? OVTO? ^;uXo9 etc rov depos

7rl ravry fjiakiara Trpocri^eiv. (/>acrt &e xal orav

KaratcavOr) yivecrdat, \Lrpov ei; avrfjf. ravra

jjievovv IBia TT}? Spvos.

VIII. TIdvTwv Be, wcnrep e\e^dtj, rwv BevBpaiv

d)? KaO* 6Kaa"rov 76^09 \a(3elv Bia(j)opal

elfflV T) fjLV KOIVT] TTCKTIV, T) BiaipOVCTt, TO 91]\V

TO cippev, u)i> TO pev Kapirofyopov TO Be a/

7TL TIVWV. ev ol$ Be a/jL<pco fcap7ro(f)6pa TO Orfkv

ocroi ravra Ka\ovaiv appeva, Ka\ovcri yap rives.

Trapa7r\r)(Tia S'17 roiavrtj Bia(f>opa Kal &>9 TO

&ir)pr)rai Trpbs TO aypLOV. erepa Be tear'

avrwv rwv o/ioyevwv virep oov \Kreov aif V\>^/ l\

a-vvefi<paivovras tcai, ras tota9 [lopfpas TCOI/

(fiavepwv /eal

1 Plin. 16. 31. a Hes. Op. 233.* Plin. 16. 16. * \tK-rt9v add. Sch.

202

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. vn. 5-vm. i

tains flies : but as it develops, it becomes hard, like a

small smooth gall.

Such are the growths which the oak produces as

well as its fruit. For as for the fungix which grow

from the roots or beside them, these occur also

in other trees. So too with the oak-mistletoe ;

for this grows on other trees also. However, apartfrom that, the oak, as was said, produces more thingsthan any other tree ; and all the more so if, as

Hesiod 2says, it produces honey and even bees;

however, the truth appears to be that this honey-like

juice comes from the air and settles on this morethan on other trees. They say also that, when the

oak is burnt, nitre is produced from it. Such are

the things peculiar to the oak.

Of' male ' and 'female.

'

in trees : the oak as an example ofthis and other differences.

VIII. 3Taking, as was said, all trees according to

their kinds, wre find a number of differences. Com-mon to them all is that by which men distinguishthe ' male 'and the '

female,' the latter being fruit-

bearing, the former barren in some kinds. In those

kinds in which both forms are fruit-bearing the' female

'

has fairer and more abundant fruit;how-

ever some call these the ' male'

trees for there

are those who actually thus invert the names.

This difference is of the same character as that

which distinguishes the cultivated from the wild tree,

while other differences distinguish different forms of

the same kind ; and these we must discuss,4 at the

same time indicating the peculiar forms, where these

are not 5 obvious and easy to recognise.

5/iij conj. St.; /djre Ald.H.

203

THEOPHRASTUS

2 A/3^0? Brj yevrj ravrtjv <ydp ^d\iara Biaipovai'Kal evioi ye evQvs rrjv aev i^/JLepov rcaXovcri rrjv 8'

dypiav ov rfj y\VKi>rr)ri rou Kaprrov BiaipovvreveTrel y\vKvraros ye 6 TT)? (^TJJOV, ravrijv 8'

dypiav iroiovcnv' d\\a rq> /j,a\\ov eV TO?? epya-

crt/zoi? (f)i>ea-0ai real TO ^v\ov %iv \eiorepov,

TTJV & tyri^ov Tpa%v /cal ev Tot? opeivols

fjiev ovv ol /j,V rerrapa TTOLOVCTIV ol Be

BiaXXdrrovcri, 8' evia Tot? 6v6/j,acrii>, olov rrjv

(frepovcrav ol /JLev rj^piSa Ka\oi>vres ol

. 6/iotw? Se real eV a\\wv. &>? 8'' \ > "T ? C- *> / ?> \ \ >/c-

ot Tre/ot TT)I^ letT?!* oiaipovai, Tab ecrrt, ra eibij-

ol Be ev0v(j)\oiov fca\ov(Tii'. KapTTLfjLa fjiev Trdvra-

'y\VKVTara B ra T/)? (frrjyov, KaOdirep eiprjTai,

real Sevrepov ra T/}? ?}yLteptSo?, eireira T^? 7r\arv-

(f)i>\\ov, teal reraprov 77 d\i$>\oios t ecr^arov Be

3 Kal micporarov rj aljiXw^r. ov% arcaaai Be

ev Tot? yevecnv aXX' evi'ore Kal micpai,

77 (^77709. Bia<pepoucri Be Kal Tot?

Kal Tot? a"%ijfjta(Ti Kal TO?? ^pw^acrirwv fta\avu>v. iBiov Be e^ovaiv ij

re (friyyos Kal

rj d\i<J)\oio<;' dfjifyorepai yap TrapaXiOd^ovaiv ev

TO?? appeal Ka\ov/jLevois et; aKpwv rwv /3a\dva)v

eKarepwOev, al /j,ev TT/JO? rw Ke\v<^et at Be

1 Plin. 16. 16 and 17.2 See Index, Spvs and r)/j.epls. i)p.fpls, lit. 'cultivated oak.'8 Plin. 16. 20.

204

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. vm. 2-3

1 Take then the various kinds of oak ;for in this

tree men recognise more differences than in anyother. Some simply speak of a cultivated and a wild

kind, not recognising any distinction made by the

sweetness of the fruit ; (for sweetest is that of the

kind called Valonia oak, and this they make the wild

kind), but distinguishing the cultivated kind by its

growing more commonly on tilled land and havingsmoother timber, while the Valonia oak has roughwood and grows in mountain districts. Thus some

make four kinds, others five. They also in some

cases vary as to the names assigned ;thus the kind

which bears sweet fruit is called by some hemeris,

by others 'true oak.' So too with other kinds.

However, to take the classification given by the

people of Mount Ida, these 2 are the kinds : hemeris

(gall-oak), aigilops (Turkey-oak),' broad-leaved

'

oak

(scrub oak), Valonia oak, sea-bark oak, which some

call '

straight-barked'

oak. 3 A11 these bear fruit;

but the fruits of Valonia oak are the sweetest, as has

been said ; second to these those of hemeris (gall-oak),

third those of the 'broad-leaved' oak (scrub oak),fourth sea-bark oak, and last aigilops (Turkey-

oak), whose fruits are very bitter. 4 However the

fruit is not always sweet in the kinds specified as

such 6; sometimes it is bitter, that of the Valonia oak

for instance. There are also differences in the size

shape and colour of the acorns. Those of Valonia

oak and sea-bark oak are peculiar ; in both of these

kinds on what are called the ' male'

trees the acorns

become stony at one end or the other ;in one kind

this hardening takes place in the end which is

4 Plin. 16. 19-21.8

oi/x More conj. W.; text defective in Ald.H.

205

THEOPHRASTUS

r?} crapKi. 6V o Kai ufyaipeOevTWV ouoia

yiverai KoiXwaara T049 eVl TWV ^wwv.4 Aia</>e/90fcri Be Kai rot? <uXXo9 KCU rot? areke-

KOI T/} o\rj

jap 7; (pvreia Kai eTrecrrpa/^/jLevrj KOL

?, wcrre o^w&ij KOL /3pa%iav ryive-' TO Se %v\ov la"%upov {iev acrOevtcrTepov Be

cf)7]yov' TOVTO yap la-yvpoTaTov KOL acraTre-

(TTCLTOV. OUK opOo(j)Vj^ Be ovB' avTrj aXX' ?;rroi/

ert r^9 rj/JiepiBos, TO 8e (TTeXe^o? Tra^vrarov, wcneKai TYJV o\7]v [jLOpfyrfV (3pa~)(elav eivar /cal yapr; (j)vreia irepiKO/jLOs Kai ravrrj KOL OUK et? opOov.

r]Be alyi\w^r opOofyveaTd'Tov KOL v~^rri\orarovi \et6rarov Kai TO %v\ov et? /i,7}/co? Lcr^vporaroi'.

(frverai Be ev TO?? epyaainois TJ airavlw^.

'H Be 7r\aTi>(f)vX\os Bevrepov opOofyvta Kai

, TT^O? Be rrjv ^pelav rrjv OLKoBo/^LK^ yel-

i]v a\.i(f)\oiov, <fyav\ov Be Kai et? TO

Kaietv Kai avOpuKeveiV, waTrep Kai TO TT)? aXt-

cj)\oiov, Kai 0pi7ri]BecrTaTOv uer* eKelvrjv' i] yap

aXt(/)Xoio? Tra^u /JLev e^ei TO o-TeXe^o? yavvov Be

/cal Kol\ov eav e^rj Tra^o? a>? eVt TO 7ro\v, Bi

o Kai a^pelov ei? Ta? OLKoBo/jids' ert, Be a-^Trerai

Ta^tcrTa* Kai yap evvypov eari TO BevBpov Bi' o

Kai Koi\rj yiverai. (fracrl Be Tives ovB* e

elvau [Movrj. \eyovcrtv a>? Kai Kepavrat aovai yivovrat, KaiTrep /i|ro?

OVK e

1i.e. at the '

top' end ; irp}>s : ? iv, irp^s being repeated bymistake.

2Cww*' MSS.; wS>v conj. Palm. * Plin. 16. 22.

206

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. vm. 3-5

attached to the cup, in the other in the flesh itself. 1

Wherefore, when the cups are taken off, we find a

cavity like the visceral cavities in animals. 2

3 There are also differences in leaves trunk timberand general appearance. Hemeris (gall-oak) is not

straight-growing nor smooth nor tall, for its growthis very leafy

4 and twisted, with many side-branches,so that it makes a low much-branched tree : its timberis strong, but not so strong as that of the Valonia

oak, for that is the strongest and the least liable to

rot. This 5 kind too is not straight-growing, even less

so than the hemeris (gall-oak), but the trunk is verythick, so that the whole appearance is stunted ; for

in growth this kind too is very leafy4 and not erect.

The aigilops (Turkey oak) is the straightest growingand also the tallest and smoothest, and its wood, cut

lengthways, is the strongest. It does not grow ontilled land, or very rarely.The ' broad-leaved

'

oak (scrub oak)6 comes second

as to straightness of growth and length of timber to

be got from it, but for use in building it is the worstnext after the sea-bark oak, and it is even poor woodfor burning and making charcoal, as is also that of

the sea-bark oak, and next after this kind it is themost worm-eaten. For the sea-bark oak has a thick

trunk, but it is generally spongy and hollow whenit is thick

;wherefore it is useless for building.

Moreover it rots very quickly, for the tree containsmuch moisture

;and that is why it also becomes

hollow ; and some say that it is the only7 oak which

has no heart. And some of the Aeolians say thatthese are the only oaks which are struck by light-

4i.e. of bushy habit. 6

avrrj conj. Sch.; avr^i UAld.Plin. 16. 23 and 24. 7

rfvy conj. St.; p&m\v Ald.H.

207

THEOPHRASTUS

rwv A.lo\ea)V rives, ovBe 7T/oo? TO, lepa %pwvrairot? v\ois. Kara p,ev ovv ra ^v\a real ra9

o\a? /jiopcfras ev rovrois at Biacfropai.

tf K?7/aSa9 Be rrdvra(frepei,

ra yevr], /JLOVTI Be e/9

ra Bep/jLara ^prjai/nrjv rj rj/jiepis. rjBe r?}? alyi-

teal rr}<? 7r\arv(j)vX\ov rfj fjiev o-v/ret irapo-

rfj rfjs rj/jtepiBos, rr\rjv \eiorepa, a^pelos Be.

KOI rrfv erepav rrjv p,i\aivav y ra epiao Be Ka\ovai Tii/e? fydcrKov OJJLOIOV

rot? pa/ctot? T) alryiKw^ jjiovrf <$>epei iro\iov KOI

rpa%v' fcal yap Trrj^vaiov KaraKpep,dvvvrai,

icaOdrrep rpv%o<; nOoviov fiaicpov. (pverai Be

rovro etc rov <f)\oiov tcai OVK etc T^? /copvvrjs

06cv 77 /3aXa^o?, ovB* e o<f)0a\/j,ov aXX' ex rov

7T\ayiov rwv avu>6ev o^wv. T)8' aXt^Xoio? erri-

/j,\av rovro (pvei Kal (3pa%v.

1 Ot fj,evovv e/c TT}? "18^? OI/TO)? Biaipovo-iv. ol

Be Trepl Ma/ce8o^ia^ rerrapa yevrj TTOIOVCTIV,

ervfjioBpvv f) ra? 7\u/teta?, rr\arv(^v\\ov rj ra?

micpds, <f>r)ybv fj ra? crrpoyyvXas, aa-rrpiv ravrrjv

Be ol fJiev aKaprrov oXco? ol Be (>av\ov rov tcaprrov,

w<7T fjiiiBev ecrOieiv ^wov 7T\r)v to?, Kal ravrrjv

orav erepav fjirj )($' fcal ra 7ro\\a \a[jifBdvecr6ai

7repiK(f)a\aia. ^o^Oripa Be Kal ra %v\a' rre\e-

1 Plin. 16. 26.*

tyaffKOv . . . paitiots conj. Sch. ({>ai<lois Salm. ): <f>d(TKos $/JLOIOS

TO?? ftpaxfiois UP2 ; <f>dffKoi> 6/xotuis rois &pay\iois Ald.H. Plin16. 33, c/. 12. 108 ; Diosc. 1. 20; Hesych. t.v. Qdvieos.

*rpaxv conj. W.; fipaxv UP. *

Kopvvns. cj. 3. 5. 1.

208

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. vin. 5-7

ning, although they are not lofty ;nor do they use

the wood for their sacrifices. Such then are the

differences as to timber and general appearance.1 All the kinds produce galls, but only hemeris

(gall-oak) produces one which is of use for tanninghides. That of aigilops (Turkey-oak) and that of the' broad-leaved

'

oak (scrub oak) are in appearancelike that of hemeris (gall-oak), but smoother and use-

less. This also produces the other gall, the black

kind, with which they dye wool. The substance

which some call tree-moss and which resembles rags2

is borne only by the aigilops (Turkey-oak) ;it is grey

and rough3 and hangs down for a cubit's length, like

a long shred of linen. This grows from the bark and

not from the knob 4 whence the acorn starts ;nor

does it grow from an eye, but from the side of the

upper boughs. The sea-bark oak also produces this,

bat it is blackish 5 and short.

Thus the people of Mount Ida distinguish. But

the people of Macedonia make four kinds,'true-oak,'

or the oak which bears the sweet acorns, Abroad-

leaved' oak (scrub oak), or that which bears the

bitter ones, Valonia oak, or that which bears the

round ones, and aspris6(Turkey-oak);

7 the last-

named some say is altogether without fruit, some

say it bears poor fruit, so that no animal eats it

except the pig, and only he when he can get no

others, and that after eating it the pig mostly

gets an affection of the head. 8 The wood is also

wretched ;when hewn with the axe it is altogether

5xlfj.e\av rovro <f>vet conj. Seal.; eirt/i. rovro <pv<rd U; CTT)

\iav TOVTO <(>vei MVAld.6 See Index. 7 Plin. 16. 24.8

TTfpiKecpaXaia : apparently the name of a disease.

209

THEOPHRASTUS

/Jiev 6'A,o)9 d^pela' KaTap/jyvvrai yap teal

a7T\Krjra Be fteXria), St' o teal OVTW

jJLoj^Oiipd Be Kal e/9 Kavcrtv KOL els

avOpaKeiav d^pelos 'yap oXw? o avOpa^ Bid rb

TnjBdv teal a~iriv0rfpi^iv 7r\rjv rot? xa\KevcrL.Be ^pyjcri/jLcorepo^ rwv aXhtov Bia jap TO

aOai, orav Travcn^raL ^ucrooyae^o?, 0X1709ava\i<TKTai. [TO Be T% d\i(f)\oiov xprjcrifjiov et?

Tot/9 ci^ovas IJLOVOV Kal ra TOtaOTa.] Bpvosovv Tavras TTOLOIKTL T9

IX. Twy Be a\\(ov eXarrou?' teal cr^eBbv rd

ye TrXelcrra Biaipovcn appevi Kal 6i]\ei, K

eipyrat, 7T\rfV O\LJWV wv ecrri Kal rj

Trev/crjs yap TO fiev "ifjiepov Trotovcri TO 5' aypiov,r^>> / ? s / -v " 5>^^ v'TC''

>;9 o aypias ovo yevi]' tcaXovcn. ce TTJV [lev ibaiav

Be 7rapd\.iav TOVTWV Be opdorepa teal

repa teal TO (j)i>\\ov e\ovcra Tra^vrepov ij

'

TO Be cf)i>\\ov \e r

JTTOTpov teal d/jLevrjvorepov TJ

irapdXia teal \eiorepov TOV (f)\oibv Kal et9 ra

Bep/jLara ^p^cn^ov i]Be erepa ov. Kal TMV

o-rpofifacov 6 fiev T^9 Trapa\ias <TTpoyyv\os re

Aral Bia%dcrK(i)v Ta^ew9, o Be T?}9 'ISata9

KOI *U)O<) Ka TTTOV UCTKCOV &>9 OLV

dypio)Tepos' TO Be v\ov Icr^vpoTepov TO T7/9

7rapa\ias' Bel yap KOI ras TOiavra?

1 Plin. 16. 23.2 rb 5f . . . Tojauro : this sentence seems out of place, as

oA/^Aoioi was not one of the 'Macedonian' oaks mentionedabove (Sch. ).

210

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. vm. y-ix. i

useless, for it breaks in pieces and falls asunder;

if it is not hewn with the axe it is better, where-fore they so use it.

l It is even wretched for

burning and for making charcoal;

for the charcoal

is entirely useless except to the smith, because it

springs about and emits sparks. But for use in the

smithy it is more serviceable than the other kinds,

since, as it goes out when it ceases to be blown, little

of it is consumed. 2 The wood of the sea-bark oakis only useful for wheel-axles and the like purposes.Such are the varieties of the oak 8 which menmake out.

Of (he differences injira.

IX. 4The differences between other trees are fewer;for the most part men distinguish them merelyaccording as they are ' male

'

or '

female,' as has been

said, except in a few cases including the fir;for in this

tree they distinguish the wild and the cultivated 5

kinds, and make two wild kinds, calling one the 'fir

of Ida' (Corsican pine6)the other the 'fir of the

sea-shore'

(Aleppo pine) ;of these the former is

straighter and taller and has thicker leaves,7 while

in the latter the leaves are slenderer and weaker,and the bark is smoother and useful for tanninghides, which the other is not. Moreover the cone of

the seaside kind is round and soon splits open, while

that of the Idaean kind is longer and green anddoes not open so much, as being of wilder character.

The timber of the seaside kind is stronger, for onemust note such differences also between trees of the

3 T. describes vpivos oyuAa, and <pf\\65pvs in 3. 16,

<j>e\\As in 3. 17. 1.

4 Plin. 16. 43. 6 Stone pine. See Index.6 Plin. 16. 48. '

<pt\\ov W. conj.; tf\ v UMVP.

21 I

THEOPHRASTUS

rayv crvyyevwv yvwpi/.toi yap Bia rrjv

2 'Qpdorepov Be Kal rraxyrepov, wcrrrep

ij 'IBaia, Kal rrpos TOVTOIS mrrcoBearepov oXco? TO

BevBpov, /jLe\avrepa Be rrirrTj Kal y\vKvrepa Kal

\erfrorepa Kal evwBearepa, orav rj wjurj' e^frrj-

delaa Be '%eipu>v eKftaivei Bia TO rro\vv e^eiv rov

oppov. eoiKacn B' arrep ovroi Biaipovffiv ovouaaiv

ol a\\oi Biaipeiv ry appevt, Kal 6^\ei.

'I S' ol rrepl \\aKeBoviav Kal aKaprrov ri yevos

o\o)? elvat rrevKrjS, Kal TO fiev appevre Kal <TK\ripo<$>v\\orepov, TO Be 0r)\v

(Trepov, Kal ra (f)i>\\a \irrapa Kal drra\a

KK\i/jLva jjba\\ov ex lv ' TL & ra v\a T^?

appevos rrepif^rjrpa Kal o~K\tjpa Kal ev Tat?

o-rpe<f>6{j,eva, TT}? Be OrjXeia? evepya Kal

Kai /j,a\aKU)Tepa.

3 ^veBov Be Koivn Tt? 77 Bt,a<bopa rcdvrwv rwv/v *

dppevwv Kal 0q\eL(ov, &>? ol v\or6fioi (fracriv. arrav

yap TO appev rfj TreXe/cr/cret Kal ftpa'xyrepov

/jLa\\ov Kal Bvaepyorepov Kal

/jL\dvrepov, TO Be OrjKv

errel Kal rrjv alyiBa rfyv Ka\oup,ev^v 77 6ift

%l' rovro 8' ecrrl TO eyKapBiov

conj. R. Const. ; ayytlasv UAld. ; iyyeluv M.VmBas.

2yvupifj.oi conj. R. Const.; yv(t>pt/j.os UAld.H. ; yvupi/j.0.

conj. W.3opOdrfpov conj. R. Const.; o^vrtpov UMVAld.

*fj.(\avTfpa . . . (v<i)8fffTpa conj. W.; fif\dvrfpai $c IT/TTTJ

KO.} y\vKvTpai Kal \tirT6rfpai teal evwSfffrtpai UMV; f*(\ai>Ttpa

212

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. ix. 1-3

same kind,1 since it is by their use that the different

characters are recognised.2

The Idaean kind is, as we have said, of straighter3

and stouter growth, and moreover the tree is

altogether more full of pitch, and its pitch is blacker

sweeter thinner and more fragrant4 when it is

fresh ; though, when it is boiled, it turns out

inferior,5 because it contains so much watery matter.

However it appears that the kinds which these

people distinguish by special names are distinguished

by others merely as 'male' and ( female.' The

people of Macedonia say that there is also a kind of

fir which bears no fruit whatever, in which the

'male' 6(Aleppo pine) is shorter and has harder

leaves, while the ' female'

(Corsican pine) is taller

and has glistening delicate leaves which are more

pendent. Moreover the timber of the ' male'

kindhas much heart-wood,

7 is tough, and warps in joinerywork, while that of the ' female

'

is easy to work,does not warp,

8 and is softer.

This distinction between ( male'

and ' female'

may, according to the woodmen, be said to be commonto all trees. Any wood of a ' male

'

tree, when onecomes to cut it with the axe, gives shorter lengths,is more twisted, harder to work, and darker in

colour;while the ' female

'

gives better lengths.For it is the ' female

'

fir which contains what is

called the aigis9

; this is the heart of the tree;the

6e Kal y\VKVTepa xal Xeirrorepa Kal euwSeerrepa Aid. \eirTorepa,? less viscous.

6cf. 9. 2. 5 ; Plin. 16. 60. 6 Plin. 16. 47.

7irepi/j.rjrpa conj. R. Const. : SO Mold, explains ; irpifj.r)rpia

UMV. cf. 3. 9. 6.

8a<TTpa#7J conj. R. Const.; 6t<rrpa$7j Aid.

9aiVSa : cf. 5. 1. 9

;Plin. 16. 187.

213

THEOPHRASTLIS

atriov Be on arrevKorepa Kai fjrrov evBaBos

\eiorepa fcal euKreavwrepa. yiverai Be ev rot?

fieyeOos e\ovcn ruv BevBpaiv, orav eKTreaovra rrepi-

aarrf} ra \evKa ra KV/C\M. rovrwv yap Trept-

Kal Kara\i(j)0eLar]^ rrj<; ^ijrpa^ etc

TreXe/caraf ecrrt &e ev^povv acfro&pa Kal

\eTTToivov. o &e ol Trepl Tr)i> "ISrjv SaSovpyol

crvKiv, TO eV lyiyvbfJLevov ev rat?

epvQporepov TTJV ^potav TT}? $a86s, ev rot? appecriv

/AaXXov Sua'wSe? 5e TOVTO Kal OVK

Kaierai aXA,' aTTOTrijSa OLTTO rou

ovv ravra yevrj TroiovcnVy

re Ka aypiov, Ka T?? arypias cppev re

6i]\eiav Kal rpirrjv rifv aKaprrov. ol Be rrepl

av ovre rrjv d/capwov \eyovo~iv ovre

rrevKrjv, a\\a mrvv eivai <j>acri' Kal yap TO

e/jifapeararov elvai rfj rrirvl Kal e

re \errrorTjra Kal TO /ueye^o? Kal ev

epyaaiais ravro TO v\ov TO yap rijs rcevKi^ Kal

rra\vrepov Kal \eiorepov Kal v^nj\6repov elvai'

Kal ra (>v\\a rrjr /.lev rrevKrjv e%eiv rroXXa Kal

\Lrrapa Kal /3a6ea Kal KeK\L^eva, rijv Be

Kal rrjv Ka)i'0(j)6pov ravrr)i> o\lya re Kal av

arepa Kal 7re(j)ptK6ra /JLCL\\OV <afjufxa Be

en Be rrjv rrirrav efi^epearepav

: evxTTiSovcaTtpa conj. R. Const, cf. 5. 1. 9 ;

but text is supported by Hesych. 8.v. iQvK.-rta.vov.

2 I omit Kai before ra3 Plin. 16. 44.

214

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. i.\. 3-4

reason being that it is less resinous, less soaked with

pitch, smoother, and of straighter grain.1 This aigis

is found in the larger trees, when, as they have fallen

down, the white outside part2 has decayed ;

whenthis has been stripped off and the core left, it is

cut out of this with the axe;and it is of a good

colour with fine fibre. However the substance

which the torch-cutters of Mount Ida call the '

fig/3

which forms in the fir and is redder in colour than

the resin, is found more in the ( male'

trees ; it has

an evil smell, not like the smell of resin, nor will it

burn, but it leaps away from the fire.

4 Such are the kinds of fir which they make out,

the cultivated and the wild, the latter including the' male

'

and the ' female'

and also the kind which

bears no fruit. However the Arcadians say that

neither the sterile kind nor the cultivated is a fir,

but a pine ; for, they say, the trunk closely resembles

the pine and has its slenderness, its stature, and the

same kind 5 of wood for purposes of joinery, the

trunk of the fir being thicker smoother and taller;

moreover that the fir has many leaves, which are

glossy massed together6 and pendent, while in the

pine and in the above-mentioned cone-bearing tree"

the leaves are few and drier and stiffer; though in

both the leaves are hair-like. 8Also, they say, the

pitch of this tree is more like that of the pine ; for

4 TavTo. yevn conj. R. Const, from G ; ravrd ye UMVAlcl. ;

Plin. 16. 45-49.5 ravr}) conj. W.; avrb Aid.B a0e'a : Sacre'a conj. R. Const, cf. 3. 16. 2.

7 i.e. the cultivated irevK-n (so called). T. uses this peri-

phrasis to avoid begging the question of the name.8

&/j.<f)(a 8e rpix- ins. here by Sch. ; in MSS. and Aid. the

words occur in 5 after -n-irruSfffrfpov.

215

THEOPHRASTUS

real jap Trjv TTLTVV e^eiv 6\ijyjv re

TTifcpdv, wcnrep KOI TTJV Kwvo<$opov, rrjv Be TrevKr)v

evwBr) KOI 7ro\\rjv. (frverai 8' eV p,ev rfj 'ApKaBiarj TUTf? 0X1777 Trepl Be rrjv 'HXeiai> TroXX*;. OVTOI

jjikv ovv 6'Xft) TO) <yevei, $iap(f)icr/3r)TOV(Tiv.

'H 8e TTtru? Bo/eel T?)? irev/crj^ KOI oiafyepeiv TW

\L7Tapwrepa re et^ai /t:ai \7rro(f)V\\orpa Kal TO

/jieyeOos eXdrrcov Kal rjTrov opOo^vi]^' en Se rov

KMVOV eXarro) (frepetv Kal rretypiKora /uaXXot' Kal

TO Kcipvov 7riTT(i)Se(TTpov Kal TO, v\a \evKOTepaKal 6/uLOiOTepa Trj eXaTrj Kal TO b\ov ciTcevKa.

St,a<j)opai> 8' e^et Kal TavTtjv /jLeja^rjv TT/OO? TY]V

rrevK^v TTEVK^V fjbev jap TriKav0ei(rwv TWV pi^wvOVK dva/3\a(TT(iveiv, Trjv TTITVV Se fyaai lives ava-

ft\aa-T(iviv, wcrrrep Kal ev Ae<r/3a> e/JLTrpriffOevTO^

TOV Tlvppaiwv opovs TOV TTLTVW&OVS. voffTj^a 8e

rat? TrevKais TOIOVTOV TI \ejov(Tt, crvfjiftaiveiv oi

Trepl Trjv "I&rjv WCTT ', OTav/JLTJ fjiovov TO

aXXa Kal TO e%u> TOV (JTeXe%of? evBabov

TijviKavTa MffTrep dTroTrvijeaQai. TOVTO Be avTO-

/j,aTov crv/jifiaivei 81 evTpofyiav TOV SevSpov, &>? ay

Ti? eLKacreiev o\ov jap jiveTai Sav Trepl fJLev ovv

TlfV TreVKTjV I&IOV TOVTO 7Ta$O?.

'EXar?; 8' eGTlvrj jjiev apprjv f) Be 0ij\eia, Bia-

<f)opa<? 6' e^ovaa rot? (^uXXot?* o^vTepa jap Kal

KevTr}TiKu>Tepa TO, TOV appevos Kal eVecrT^a/zyu.ei/a

/xaXXoz/, Bi o Kal ovKoTepov TTJ oifrei fyaiveTai TO

BevBpov o\ov. Kal TU> v\a)' \evKOTepov jap Kal

/na\aKO)Tepov Kal evepjecrTepov TO TT}? drfXeias Kal

1-KiKpav con}. R. Const, from G ; /j-ixpav VAld.

3 KO! "ra.vTi]v ftfyd\ijv -rrpbs conj. Sch.; Kal rrjv

UMV; /Hfy3.\r]V TTpbs Aid.

2l6

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. ix. 4-6

in the pine too it is scanty and bitter,1 as in this

other cone-bearing tree, but in the fir it is fragrantand abundant. Now the pine is rare in Arcadia,but common in Elis. The Arcadians then dispute

altogether the nomenclature.

The pine appears to differ also from the fir in

being glossier and having finer leaves, while it is

smaller in stature and does not grow so straight ;

also in bearing a smaller cone, which is stiffer andhas a more pitchy kernel, while its wood is whiter,more like that of the silver-fir, and wholly free from

pitch. And there is another great difference 2

between it and the fir ; the fir, if it is burnt downto the roots, does not shoot up again, while the

pine, according to some, will do so;

for instance

this happened in Lesbos,3 when the pine-forest of

Pyrrha4 was burnt. The people of Ida say that the

fir is liable to a kind of disease;

when not only the

heart but the outer part of the trunk becomes glutted5

with pitch, the tree then is as it were choked. This

happens of its own accord through the excessive

luxuriance of the tree, as one may conjecture ;for

it all turns into pitch-glutted wood. This then is an

affection peculiar to the fir.

15 The silver-fir is either ' male'

or '

female,' andhas differences in its leaves 7

; those of the 'male*are sharper more needle-like and more bent ; where-fore the whole tree has a more compact appearance.There are also differences in the wood, that of the' female

'

being whiter softer and easier to work,3 ev ht<T&c!> conj. W. from G, and Plin. 16. 46 ; fls At(r0ov

MSS.4 On the W. of Lesbos, modern Caloni. c/. 2. 2. 6 ; Plin. I.e.6

c/. 1. 6. 1 ; Plin. 16. 44.6 Plin. 16. 48. 7

c/. 1. 8. 2.

217

THEOPHRASTUS

TO o\ov crTe'Xe^o? ev^fcearepov TO 8e TOV appe-ro? 7roLKi\(i)Tepov /cat 7ra%VTpoi> Kal a-K\rjp6rpoi'KOL 7Tpi/iM1TpOV fJL(JL\\OV 6'Xft>? & <f)aV\OTepOV Tr]l>

O-^TLV. eV e TV) KCOVM TO> yLtey TOU appevos ecrn

tcdpva oXi/ya eVt TOU axpov, TW 8e T?)?

ov&ev, ft)? ot eV Ma/ceSoi^ta? eXeyov.TO (f)i>\\ov /cal eir eXarrov,

elvai 0o\oei$Tj Kal TrapofjiOiov /j,d-,. "T> f/

\Larra Tat? iJoteoTttu? Kvveaw TTVKVOV oe OUTO>?

Siievai J<i@' verov.

TO Sev&pov Ka\ov Kal <yap 7;

t'Sta Tt?, (OdTrep eipyjrai, Trapa Ta? a'XXa? /cat

e^ovcra' TW e fieyedet /^eya Kal TroXi) T/)?

7 Aiatyepei Se Kal Kara TO %v\ov ov [JUKpov TO

l /mXa/coi>

TO Se TT)? TrevKr)s 8rt8coSe? /cat /3apv Kal

(7K\rjporepov<; 8' 7; e'Xar?;, o-^eSot' Se

&)? eiTrelv (TK\i]poTepov<;, TO Se v\ov

6'Xct)? 5e ot o^ot irvKvoTarot Ka

10,101 /AOVOV ov Stac^az'et? e'XaT?;? /cat 7Tu/c>;? /cat

Se/? /cat yuaXto~Ta Sidcfropoi TOV

, fiaXKov e T?'}? e'XaTT;?. e'^et Se, cocrTrep 7;

Kalt] \dnj TO \VKOV \ovarcrov

conj. \V. ; irKa.'TVTfpov Aid.2 Plin. 16. 48 and 49. 3 For the tense see Intr. p. xx.4

<pv\\ov, i.e. the leafy shoot. Sell, considers fyv\\ov to

be corrupt, and refers the following description to the cone ;

W. marks a lacuna after <t>v\\ov. Pliny, I.e., seems to haveread (}>v\\ov, but does not render /ml t-rr' (\arrov . . . Ki/i/e'ais.

The words /cal eV tXarrov can hardly be sound as they stand.

For the description of the foliage c/. 1. 10. 5.

218

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. ix. 6-7

while the whole trunk is longer ; that of the ' male'

is less of a uniform colour thicker 1 and harder, has

more heart-wood, and is altogether inferior in appear-ance. In the cone 2 of the ' male

'

are a few seeds at

the apex, while that of the 'female,' according to

what the Macedonians said,3 contains none at all.

The foliage4 is feathered and the height dispropor-

tionate so that the general appearance of the tree

is dome-like,5 and closely resembles the Boeotian

peasant's hat 6; and it is so dense that neither snow

nor rain penetrates it. And in general the tree has

a handsome appearance ; for its growth is somewhat

peculiar, as has been said, compared with the others,it being the only one which is regular, and in stature

it is large, much taller than the fir.

7 There is also not a little difference in the wood :

that of the silver-fir is fibrous 8 soft and light, that of

the fir is resinous heavy and more fleshy. The fir

has more knots,9 but the silver-fir harder ones

;

indeed they may be said to be harder than those of

any tree, though the wood otherwise is softer. Andin general the knots of silver-fir and fir are of the

closest and most solid 10 texture and almost n trans-

parent : in colour they are like resin-glutted wood,and quite different from the rest of the wood

; andthis is especially so 12 in the silver-fir. And just as

the fir has its aigis,13 so the silver-fir has what is

5floXoeiSr} conj. Seal.; 07jAoei57j U (erased) ; 6ri\ottS(t MV;

ui concamtratwni imitetur G ; ? 8o\toei5rj ; in Theocr. 15. 39.

doXia seems to be a sun-hat.6 Kvveais : cf. Hesych. s.v. Kvvrj Boiwrfa, apparently a hat

worn in the fields.7

cf. 5. 1. 7.8

cf. 5. 1. 5.'

cf. 5. 1. 6.10

cf. 5. 1. 6, KtparuSets.n ov ins. Sch.

12fj.a\\ov 8e conj. W. ; /j.a\\ov *) Aid.

13cf. 3. 9. 3.

219

THEOPHRASTUS

Ka\ovfJ.evov, olov avTicrrpocfrov rfj alyiBi, 7r\r)i> TO

fjiev \evKov ?;8' alyl<? ev%pa)<; Bia TO evBaBov.

7TVKVOV Be Kal \VKOV ryiVeTCLL KCLi KO\OJ> K TWV

pcov 7/877 BevBpwv aXXa (nrdviov TO

V, TO Be TV^OV Sai^tXe?, e'^ ov Ta re TWV

v TfLvaKia TTOIOVGI teal TO, ypa/j,/j,aTeia ra

ra 8' ecrTrouSacr/zeVa e/c TOV fteXTiovos.

Ol Be rrepl 'Ap/caBiav afJbfyoTepa /cdXovcriv

al<yiSa teal TTJV rr}? TrevKf]^ /cal TTJV T?}? eXar?;?,

KOL elvai Tr\elw Trjv Tr)S eXar^? d\\a KaXXiw Tr]v

T/}? irevicw elvai <yap TT}? fiev eX-arr;? TTO\\IJV Te

l \eiav KOI Trv/cvtfv, T?)? Be Treu/cry? o\L>yr]v, TTJV

ovaav ov\OTepav /cal la"\ypoTepav Kal TO

o\ov fca\\io). OVTOI fj-ev ovv eoi/cacri rot9 ovofiacri

Biacfrwvelv. rj Be eXar?; raura? e^et Ta? Bia<po-

7T/30? TTJV TrevKiyv /cal CTL TTJV Trepl TTJV a'yu-

LV, ?}v trpoTepov eirrofiev.

X. 'O^u>7 BJ

OVK e^ei Biacfropa? aXX' CCTTI /JLOVO-

opdofyves Be /cal \elov Kal avo^ov Kal vra'^o?

e^ov o"%eBbv i'(rov Trj eXaTrj' /cal Ta\\a

Be TfapofiOLOv [TC] TO BevBpov %v\ov Be

laXypov evivov Kal <f>\oiov \eiov /cal

\ov 8' ao"%iBS rrpo/jL'rjKeo'Tepov aTriov Kal eVa-

a/cpov, pt^a? OUTC TroXXa? OVTC

d0ov<;' o Be /capTTOs Xeto? /SaXa^foS?;? eV

1

cf. Eur. LA. 99; Hipp. 1254.2 ra 8' conj. 8cal. ; Kal Aid.s

irevK-ns conj. Seal, from G ; ^Xartji Aid.4

fAaTTjs conj. Seal, from G ; ITCUKTJS Aid.

22O

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. ix. y-x. i

called its white '

centre/ which answers, as it were, to

the aigis of the fir, except that it is white, whilethe other is bright-coloured because it is glutted with

pitch. It becomes close white and good in trees

which are of some age, but it is seldom found in goodcondition, while the ordinary form of it is abundantand is used to make painters' boards and ordinary

writing tablets,1superior ones being

2 made of thebetter form.

However the Arcadians call both substances aigis,O *

alike that of the fir 3 and the corresponding part ofthe silver-fir,

4 and say that, though the silver-fir

produces more, that of the fir is better;for that,

though that of the silver-fir is abundant 5 smooth and

close, that of the fir, though scanty, is compacterstronger and fairer in general. The Arcadians then

appear to differ as to the names which they give.Such are the differences in the silver-fir as com-

pared with the fir, and there is also that of havingthe amphauxis,

6 which we mentioned before.

Oj beech, yew, hop-hornbeam, lime.

X. The beech presents no differences, there beingbut one kind. It is a straight-growing smooth andunbranched tree, and in thickness and height is

about equal to the silver-fir, which it also resemblesin other respects ; the wood is of a fair colour strongarid of good grain, the bark smooth and thick, theleaf undivided, longer than a pear-leaf, spinous at the

tip,7 the roots neither numerous nor running deep ;

the fruit is smooth like an acorn, enclosed in a shell,

8iroAAV conj. Gesner

; ot\r)i> UmBas.; tfArjv MVAld.6

cf. 3. 7. 1.

7i.e. mucroriate. cf. 3. 11. 3.

221

THEOPHRASTUS

7r\rjv [OL/C] dvaKavdfi) teal Xetft), Kal oi>% GO? 17

Biocr(3d\avo<$ aKavdwBei, 7rpocre/J,(f)pr)<s Be fcal

Kara y\VKvrrjra /cal Kara rov %v\bv eKeivw.

<yii'erat, Be Kal ev rw opei Xeu/c?;, r; real ^pija-t/jLOV

e%l TO %V\OV 7T/90? TToXXa' /tat 7/3 7T/509 d/JLa%-

ovpjiav /cal TT/PO? K\Lvo r

wi]'^iav /cat et? Sitypovp-

<yiav Kal et9 Tpairetyav teal et? vavTnyyiav ?} 8' eV

rot? TreStot? /Lie\aii'a Kal d^pr)a"ro^ TT/^O? raura 1

TOI> 8e KapTrov cloven 7rapa7r\tfaiov.2 Movoyevrjs Se /cal r; /ztXo?, opdofivrjs Se Kal

Kal o/zota

TO <f)V\\ov e%ei rf) e\drrj } \i7rapc-)Tpov Be

ua\aKc*)Tpov. TO Se v\ovr]

aev ei; 'Ap/c

[j,e\av Kal fyoiviKovv, 1]8' e'/c TT}? "IS?;? l^a

cr(f)6Bpa Kal O/JLOIOV rrj KeSpw, &L o Kal TOL/? TTOJ-

? fyacnv e^ajraTav a>? KeSpovtt'at Kap&iav, orav o <p\OLO<?

Be Kal rov (f)\oibv e)(eLV Kal ryl TW xpcoaan rfj KeBpy, /at^a? Be uiKpds Kal

Xe-Trra? Kal eVtTroXatou?. arrdvLov Be rb BevBpov

rrepl r^v "IBrjv, rrepl Be MaKeBoviav Kal 'ApKaBiavTTO\V' Kal Kaprrov (frepei crrpoyyv\ov (JUKpCo yuei^co

Kvduov, rw xpd)/jiarL B' epvOpbv Kal /j.a\aKov

(fiacrl Be rd /j,ev \6(f)ovpa edv <>dyrj r&v <fcv\\wv

drro0vi]<JKeiv, rd Be /jLrjpVKd^ovra ovBev rrda^eLv.rov Be Kaprrbv ecrOSovai Kal rwv dvBpMrrwv rives

/cal e&rtv r)Bv<$ Kal d

being otherwise used of a prickly case, such as

that of the chestnut. irXV O.VO.K. Kal Ae/w conj. W.; TrAVOVK b.va.Ko.vQ<joi Kal \eiwi U ; TTATJV OVK iv inxavdy M VAld.

222

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. x. 1-2

which is however without prickles1 and smooth, not

spinous,2 like the chestnut, though in sweetness and

flavour it resembles it. In mountain country it also

grows white and has 3 timber which is useful for

many purposes, for making carts beds chairs and

tables, and for shipbuilding4

;while the tree of the

plains is black and useless for these purposes ; but

the fruit is much the same in both.5 The yew has also but one kind, is straight-

growing, grows readily, and is like the silver-fir,

except that it is not so tall and is more branched.

Its leaf is also like that of the silver-fir, but glossierand less stiff". As to the wood, in the Arcadian yewit is black or red, in that of Ida bright yellow and

like prickly cedar; wherefore they say that dealers

practise deceit, selling it for that \vood : for that it is

all heart, when the bark is stripped off; its bark also

resembles that of prickly cedar in roughness and

colour, its roots are few slender and shallow'. Thetree is rare about Ida, but common in Macedonia andArcadia

;it bears a round fruit a little larger than a

bean, which is red in colour and soft; and they say

that, if beasts of burden eat of the leaves they die,

while ruminants take no hurt. Even men sometimes

eat the fruit, which is sweet and harmless.

conj. R. Const.; aKavdu^T] Ald.H.*

\fvK^] $) Kal conj. W. ; Aeu/oft re KO) Ald.H.4

c/. 5. 6. 4 ; 5. 7. 2 and 6.5 Plin. 16. 62. (description taken from this passage, but

applied to fraxinus, apparently from confusion betweenand (j.\ia).

8c/. 2. 7. 4 n.

223

THEOPHRASTUS

3 'E(TTi O6 Kai1) bffTpVS [AOVOClOt]

1

?, TfV Ka\OV<Ti

Tives offTpvav, o/jLO^ves Trj 6va Trj T

TW (fc\oiq)' (>v\\a Be aTTtoeiBrj TU>

7roXX&> Kal els ou avvT)y/j.eva Kal

>, 7ro\v'iva Be, airo TT}?

TWV a\\a)V Tr\eupoeiB(t)$'Vawv eTL Be eppVTiBco/jLeva KaTa

Ta? lva<$ Kal xapay/jLov e")(ovTa KVK\U> XeTTTOf TO

Be %v\ov &K\r)pov Kal a^povv, K\evKovBe fJLLKpov Trpo/jLaKpov ofjioiov KptOfj %av66v piBe exei fJ-T(*)povs' evvBpov Be Kal (frapayycoBes.

\eyeTai Be co? OVK erriTijBeLov et? ol/ciav eicrfye-

peiv &vcr6avaTelv yap <f>ao~L Kal BvaTOKeiv ov

av y.

4 TT)? Be (piXvpas i] fj,ev apptjv e'crTt 7; Be 6i]\eia'

Biaffrepovcri Be Trj /JLOp<f)f) Trj o\rj Kal Trj TOV %v\ov Kal

TO> TO }j,ev elvai KdpTn^ov TO 8' aKapTrov. TO p,ev

yap Trjs appevos %v\ov GK\ripov Kal %av6ov Kal

o^wBeo-Tepov Kal TCVKVoTepov eo~ri t CTI B* evaiBe-

GTepov, TO Be T;)? 6r]\elas \evKOTepov. Kal 6

TT}? /j,ev appevos Tra^vTepos Kal rrepLaipeOels

7)9 Bia TIJV o~K\r)poTr)Ta, Trjs Be 0rj\eia<; XeTT-

Ka evKajLTns, e ov Ta? KiaTas TTOLOVULV

Kal TI /AW aKapiros Kal avavOrjs, rjBe 0jj\eia

Oos %(, Kal Kaprrov TO /j,ev avdos Ka\v-

Trapa TOV TOV (j)v\\ov ^iayov Kal rrapa

1cf. 1. 8. 2 (offrpvis), 3. 3. 1

;C.P. 5. 12. 9 (oarpvn) ;

Plin.

13. 117.2

/if'rrjs . . . Kararfifovffwv conj. Sell.; ^e'crTjj 7rAupoet8<ijTWV &\\ui> fvOftuf Kal fjLfyd\T]i> KaraTftyovffu>v Aid. C/. 1. 10. '2 ;

3. 17. 3.

224

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. x. 3-4

The ostrys (hop-hornbeam),1 which some call

oslrya, has also but one kind : it is like the beech in

growth and bark; its leaves are in shape like a pear's,

except that they are much longer, come to a sharppoint, are larger, and have many fibres, which branchout like ribs from a large straight one 2 in the

middle, and are thick ; also the leaves are wrinkled

along the fibres and have a finely serrated edge ; thewood is hard colourless and whitish ; the fruit is

small oblong and yellow like barley ;it has shallow

roots ; it loves water and is found in ravines. It is

said to be unlucky to bring it into the house, since,wherever it is, it is supposed to cause a painfuldeath 3 or painful labour in giving birth.

4 The lime has both ' male'

and ' female'

forms,which differ in their general appearance, in that ot

the wood, and in being respectively fruit-bearingand sterile. The wood of the 'male' tree is hard

yellow more branched closer, and also more fragrant5

;

that of the 'female' is whiter. The bark of the' male

'

is thicker, and, when stripped off, is un-

bending because of its hardness;that of the 'female

'

is thinner 6 and flexible ; men make their writing-cases 7 out of it. The ' male

'

has neither fruit nor

flower, but the ' female'

has both flower and fruit;

the flower is cup-shaped, and appears alongsideof the stalk of the leaf, or alongside of next year'i

3 SvffBava.Tf'tv I conj. ; SvvOdvaTov P2Ald. ; SwOavaTav conj.Sch. , but SvaQavaTav has a desiderative sense.

4 Plin. 16. 65.5 6T< 5' fv(i>5. inserted here by Sch.; cf. Plin., I.e. In Aid.

the words, with the addition T& TTJS 07]\etas, occur afterVOlOVfflV.

6\eTTr6repos conj. Scb ; \euK6rfpos Aid.

7cf. 3. 13. 1 ; Ar. Vesp. 529.

225

THEOPHRASTUS

vewra /c%pvv e< erepovBe orav rj /ca\v/ctoBes, eKKa\vrcrop,evov Be ejri

5 Oov TI Be avdrj<ris dfjia rot? rj/jiepoi^. 6 Be

(rrpoy<yv\o<; Trpofjiaicpos rj\i/cos Kva^io^ o/zoto?

rov KITTOV, rywvias e^cov 6 dSpos irevre olov Iv&v

KOL et? 6v avva^o^ei'wv 6 Be

dBiapOporepos' &iaKvi^oiJ,evos Be 6 uBposarra KOL Xevrra o-Trepfjidria rfKiKci /cal

6 TJ}? dBpa(f)dt;vo<>. TO Be (frvXkov /cal 6 ^>\ofO9

rjBea KOI j\VKea' rrjv Befiop<l>r)V KiTT&Bes TO

, 7T\r)i> CK Trpoaaywyrjs /jidXXov 77 Trepi-

/card TO Trpbs TWfJLia"%(p /cvprorarov,

d\\d /card necrov et? o^urepov rrjv

e%ov /cal fjia/cporepov, ercovKov Be KVK\M /cal /ce%a-

pa<yiJLevov. ^rpav 6' %ei TO %v\ov jjuicpdv /cal ov

TTO\V iia\aKQ)repav rov aXXov /jLa\a/cbv <ydp /cal

TO

XI. T?}? Be crfavBd/jLVOV, KaOdrrep eiTro/jLev, Buo

yevrj rroiovcriv, ol Be rpia' ev JJLEV Br) rw rcoivw

rrpoaa'yopevovai crfyiv&ajjLvov, erepov Be ^vyiav,

rpirov Be KKivorpo^ov, a>? ol rrepl ^rdyeipa. Bia-

(fropd B" earl TT)? %wyia<? /cal TJ}? a(f)vBd/j,i>ov ori

1} [lev afyevBaiJivos \evicov e^eu TO %v\ov /cal

evivorepov, i]Be uyia %avOov /cal ovXov TO Be

(j)v\\ov evjjLeyeQes d^w, ry a-^icrei, ofjiotov ra>

1

c/. 3. 5. 5. and 6.3

SiUKVi^oufvos : Siaffxt&Hfos, 'when split open,' conj. W.'

c/. 1. 12. 4; C.P.Q. 12. 7.4

3. 3. 1.

6irpo<rayopfvovfft conj. VV. from G ; TrpoffayoptveTat Aid.

226

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. x. 4-xi. i

w;nter-bud l on a separate stalk;

it is green, whenin the cup-like stage, but brownish as it opens ; it

appears at the same time as in the cultivated trees.

The fruit is rounded oblong as large as a bean,

resembling the fruit of the ivy ; when mature, it

has five angular projections, as it were, made by

projecting fibres which meet in a point ; the im-

mature fruit is less articulated. When the maturefruit is pulled to pieces,

2it shows some small fine

seeds of the same size as those of orach. The leaf andthe bark 3 are well flavoured and sweet ; the leaf is

like that of the ivy in shape, except that it rounds

more gradually, being most curved at the part next

the stalk, but in the middle contracting to a sharperand longer apex, and its edge is somewhat puckeredand jagged. The timber contains little core, whichis not much softer than the other part ; for the rest

of the wood is also soft.

Of maple and ash.

XI. Of the maple, as we have said,4 some make 5

two kinds, some three;one they call by the general

name '

maple,' another zygia, the third klinolrokhos 6;

this name, for instance, is used by the people of

Stagira. The difference between zygia and mapleproper is that the latter has white wood of finer

fibre, while that of zygia is yellow and of compacttexture. The leaf 7 in both trees is large, resem-

bling that of the plane in the way in which it is

6K\iv6rpoxov Aid. ; ic\n>6ffTpoxov U ; Ivdrpoxov conj. Salm.

from Plin. 16. 66 and 67, cursivenium or crassivenium. Sch.

thinks that the word conceals y\?i>os ; c/. 3. 3. 1 ; 3. 11. 2.

7<(>v\\ov conj. R. Const. ; v\ov UMVAld.H.G.

22

THEOPHRASTUS

TT}? rr\ardvov reravov \errrorepov Be teal dcrapteo-

repov teal /j.a\atea)repov Kal Trpo/jirjKecrrepov ra Be

6'Xa T' et? 6v crvviJKOvra KOI ov% ovra)

y aXX' uKocrLBearea' ov rro\viva Be

to? Kara

Tpa%i>Tepov TOV TT}? (f)i\vpas, VTTOTreXiov Tra^vv KOI

6 TT}? TTLTVOS KOI d/ca/j,7rf)'

o\ijai teal /LLerewpoi, teal ou\at a^ebov al

2 Kal al TT}? av0fjs teal al TT}? Xef/CT}?. yiverai Be

/jLciXuTTa eV Tot? efivSpois, oo? 01 Trepl Trjv "[Sijv Xe-

ryov(Tt,t teal ecrTi cnrdviov. Trepl a^ou? be ovtc ySecravTOV Be tcapjrbv ov \iav fiev irpo^Kf], Trapo/ioiov Be

TM 7ra\iovpw Tt\r)V Trpofit-jKecrTepov. ol B' ev rto

'OXu/^Trw rrjv p.ev vytav opeiov fjia\\ov, Tifv Be

<r(f)i>Ba/u.i>ov teal ev Tot? TreStot? (frvea-Oai- elvai Be

rrjv fiei' ev ry opei (pvo^ievrjv av0rjy teal ev^povvteal ov\rjv teal crrepedv, rj teal TT/JO? TO, 7ro\VTe\fjr(t)v epywv xpwvrai, rrjv Be jreBeivijv \evterjv re

teal jjiavorepav teal r^rrov ov\r)v tea\oi)(ri S' avrrjvevuji y\etvov, ov a^evBa/jLVOv. . . . teal TT}? appevos

ov\6repa ra v\a a-vvearpa/jif^eva, teal ev r<pTreBiw ravryv (f)veo'0ai /jLa\\ov /cal /3\aardveiv

TTpwtrepov.a "Ecm Be teal yueXta? 76^7 Bvo. rovrcov 8'

T;

/uiev vtyr)\r) teal etyzTJ/o;? earl TO v\ov c^ovcra\evKov teal evivov Kal /j,a\aKd)repov Kal dvo^o-

1 rtravkv : cf. 3. 12. 5 ; 3. 15. 6.2crxWafl' conj. R. Const, from G; <rx^a^' Aid. Cam.;

<r^TJ^a0' Bas., which W. reads.3 gAa : ? oAws.4

i.e. do not run back so far.5 TroAinVa conj. R. Const.; iro\v- iva&t Aid.; iroAu- 'iva 8f M.

228

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xi. 1-3

divided ; it is smooth,1 but more delicate, less fleshy,

softer, longer in proportion to its breadth, and the

divisions'

2 all 3 tend to meet in a point, while theydo not occur so much in the middle of the leaf,

4

but rather at the tip ; and for their size the leaves

have not many fibres. 5 The bark too is somewhat

rougher than that of the lime, of blackish colour

thick closer 6 than that of the Aleppo pine. and stiff;

the roots are few shallow and compact for the most

part, both those of the yellow and those of the white-

wooded tree. This tree occurs chiefly in wet ground,7

as the people of Mount Ida say, and is rare. Aboutits flower they did 8 not know, but the fruit, they said,

is not very oblong, but like that of Christ's thorn,9

except that it is more oblong than that. But the

people of Mount Olympus say that, while zygia is

rather a mountain tree, the maple proper grows also

in the plains ; and that the form which grows in the

mountains has yellow wood of a bright colour, whichis of compact texture and hard, and is used even for

expensive work, while that of the plains has white

wood of looser make and less compact texture. Andsome call it gleinos

10 instead of maple.....n Thewood of the ' male

'

tree is of compacter texture andtwisted

; this tree, it is said, grows rather in the

plain and puts forth its leaves earlier.12 There are also two kinds of ash. Of these one is

lofty and of strong growth with white wood of goodfibre, softer, with less knots, and of more compact

con]. Seal, from G ; irvpcaTtpov UAld.7

<f>v5pois : v(pv8pots conj. Sch. cf. vcpa^os,8

cf. 3. 9. 6 n.; Intr. p. xx. 9cf. 3. 18. 3.

10cf. '3.3.1-, Plin. 16. 67.

11 W. marks a lacuna : the description of the ' female '

tree seems to be missing.12 Plin. 16, 62-64.

229

THEOPHRASTUS

Tpoi> Kal ov\orepov ?; Be rarreivorepa Kal fjrrov

euav{;i]<; Kal rpa^vrepa Kal (TK\i]porepa real %av-

Oorepa. ra Be <pv\\a rco /jiev a^/j/jLart BafivoeiB)"),

7rXaTf(/>uXXof Sa^y?;?, et? o^vrepoi' be avvqyueva,

fj,bv Be riv e^ovra KVK\U> teal e

' TO B o\ov, ovrep ^LTTOL Ti? av

olov Iva Kara <yovv Kal crv^vyLav TCL

Kal eirl T?}? OLIJS. ecm Be

/3pa%ea ra yovara Kal at &vvyiat TO 7r\

, TWV 8e T/}S" XCVKIJS Kal /naKpaKal ra Ka0

y

eKacrTov (f)v\\a aaKporepaKal (TTei'orepa, T^V Be ^poav TrpaacoBij. (f)\oioi>

Se \elov e^L, KaTrvpov Be Kal \67rroi> Kal r/;

4 %pOa TTVppOV. TTVKVOppi^OV &6 Kttl TTa'^Vppl^OL'Kal fjLeTzwpov. Kapirov Be 01 uev Trepl rrjv "IB^v

> r ^ / /-) >' > 5-' ' /] >' 51* '

ov% vTre\afjLpavov e^eiv ovo avuos" e%ei o ev

\oj3w XeTTTw Kapirov Kapvrjpov a>? TMV d/j,vy8a-

\wv viroTUKpov rfj ryeucrei. (frepei Be Kal erep'drra olov fipva, Kaddrrep r) BcKpvrj, TrX?/^ <7Ti(f)p6-

repa' Kal eKacrrov Kad' auro atyaipoeiBes, aicnrepra rcov 7r\ardi>u>v rovrwv Be ra uev Trepl roi>

Kapirov, ra 8' drrriprrifjLeva TroXi;, Kal raOVTW. (pverai Be r) fiev Xeta Trepl raudX-iara Kal etyvBpa, rj

Be rpa^ela Kal Trepl rd

Kal TrerpcoBij. eviot, Be Ka\ovcri Ti)V fJLev /jie\iav

1

ov\6repov : a.vov\&T-(pov W. from Sch.'s conj.; &vov\o<;

does not occur elsewhere, and T. uses /j.av6s as the oppositeof oSAos.

2 i.e. instead of considering the leaflet as the unit. Forthe description cf. 3. 12. 5; 3. 15. 4.

230

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xi. 3-4

texture l;the other is shorter, less vigorous in growth,

rougher harder and yellower. The leaves in shapeare like those of the bay, that is, the broad-leaved

bay, but they contract to a sharper point, and theyhave a sort of jagged outline with sharp points.The whole leaf (if one may consider this as'2 a ' leaf

'

because it is all shed at once) grows on a singlestalk ;

on either side of a single fibre, as it were,the leaflets grow at a joint in pairs, which are

numerous and distinct, just as in the sorb. In someleaves the joints are short 3 and the pairs fewer in

number, but in those of the white kind the joint is

long and the pairs more numerous, while the leaflets

are longer narrower and leek-green in colour. Also

this tree has a smooth bark, which is dry thin and

red in colour. The roots are matted stout and

shallow. 4 As to the fruit, the people of Ida supposedit to have none, and no flower either

;however it

has a nut-like fruit in a thin pod, like the fruit of

the almond, and it is somewhat bitter in taste. Andit also bears certain other things like winter-buds,as does the bay, but they are more solid,

5 and eacli

separate one is globular, like those of the plane ;

some of these occur around the fruit, some, in fact

the greater number,6 are at a distance from it. Thesmooth kind 7

grows mostly in deep ravines and dampplaces, the rough kind occurs also in dry and rocky

parts. Some, for instance the Macedonians, call the

8Ppaxea conj. Seal, from G ; rpaxfa. UAld.H.

* Bod. inserts ov before pereupov ; cf. 3. 6. 5. (Idaeanaccount. )

sffrtfpporepa conj. Dalec. ; ffTpv<pv6Tepa MSS.

' TrAetffTa conj. R. Const. ; irXe/cra UMVAld.7 Cf. Plill., I.C.

231

THEOPHRASTUS

Be /3ov/j,e\iov, wcrTrep ol Trepl

6 /j.elov Be Kal fiavoTepov ?; fiou/jieXios, Bi' o Kal

?]TTOV ov\ov. (frvaei Be TO uev ireBeivov KOI rpa^v,TO S' bpeivov real \e1ov ecm $6 r) /JLCV ev Tot?

opecn (fivo/jLvii ev^povs KCU \aa KCLI cnepea KCLI

ry\ia"Xpa, 7;8' eV TW TreStw a^pov^ KOI fjiavrj /cal

Tpayeia. (TO 3' o\ov &>? elirelv ra SevSpa otra

/col eV TW TreStw /cat eV TW opet (frverai, ra /JLCV

opeiva ei>xpod Te /cat crrepea KOI \ela yiverai,

KaOajrep o^vrj TTTeXea Ta a\\a' ra Be ireSeiva

fjiavorepa real a^povaiepa /cal ^eipw, 7T\rjv OLTTLOV

teal yu-T^Xea? KOI d%pdSo<>, a>? ol irepl rov "O\v/j,7rov

<>acri' Tavra 8' ev TCO ire&lw KpeLrrw KOI TW

teal TO?? %v\oi<>' ev [lev yap TO> opei

KOI dKav0a)Set<; /cal oa)Se? elcriv, ev

iw Xeiorepoi Kal yuet^ou? /cal Toy Kapirov

<y\VKvrepov Kal crapKcoBearrepov' jAeyeflei, Be alel

XIT. Kpaveia? 5e TO pev appev TO Se 6i]\v,

Brj Kal 0Tj\VKpavelav Ka\ov(Ttv. e^ovcn Be

(pv\\ov [Jiev dfjLvyBdXf) O/JLOLOV, TT\TJV \nrwBecrTepovl 7ra%vTpov, <f)\oibv 8' IvwBij \ejrTov TO Be

? ov 7ra%v \iav, d\\a Trapafyvei pd/3Bov$

a<yvo<$' eXaTTOV? Ber) 6r)\VKpaveia Kal

6a/jLV(i)BeaTepoi> <TTIV. TOL/? Be 6'bu9

rfj ayvy Kal Kara Bvo Kal

1c/. Plin.

,I.e.

,and Index.

2/U6i(,*oj> Se Kal navtirepov conj. W. from G

; fj..5e nal

MVU (V ^uaK^Tfpov) ; p.fifai> 5e Kal paKpoTtpa Ald.H.

232

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xi. 4 xn. i

one ' ash'

(manna-ash), the other ' horse-ash l'

(ash)The * horse-ash

'

is a larger and more spreading2

tree, wherefore it is of less compact appearance.It is naturally a tree of the plains and rough, while

the other belongs to the mountains and is smooth 3;

the one which grows on the mountains is fair-coloured

smooth hard and stunted, while that of the plains is

colourless spreading and rough. (In general one

may say of trees that grow in the plain and on the

mountain respectively, that the latter are of fail-

colour hard and smooth,4 as beech elm and the

rest;while those of the plain are more spreading,

of less good colour and inferior, except the pear

apple5 and wild pear, according to the people of

Mount Olympus. These when they grow in the

plain are better both in fruit and in wood;for on

the mountain they are rough spinous and muchbranched, in the plain smoother larger and with

sweeter and fleshier fruit. However the trees of the

plain are always of larger size.)

Of cornelian cherry, cornel, 'cedars,' medlar, thorns, sorb.

XII. Of the cornelian cherry there is a ' male' and

a 'female' kind (cornel), and the latter bears a corre-

sponding name. Both have a leaf like that of the

almond, but oilier and thicker;the bark is fibrous and

thin, the stem is not very thick, but it puts out side-

branches like the chaste-tree, those of the ' female'

tree, which is more shrubby, being fewer. Both

kinds have branches like those of the chaste-tree,

3 xal rpaxv . . . AeTo>/ conj. Sch.; Kal Kelov . . . rpaxv Aid.4 AeTa conj. Mold.; Xevwa Ald.G.5^Ae'ay conj. Seal., cj. 3. 3. 2 ; ^\(as UMAld.H.

233

THEOPHRASTUS

ro Be %v\ov TO ^ev T/}?

aKapBiov Kal (TTepeov 6\ov, O/JLOIOV KepaTL TIJI*

Kal TV)V ivyvv, TO Be TT}? 6)]\VKpavia<;

e^ov Kal /j,a\aKtoTpov teal KoiXaivo-

2 fievov i b Kal dy^pelov e/9 TO, LLKOVTICL. TO

rov appevos BaiSetca /JLuXiaraTWV crapLcrawv ?; /zeytcrT^' TO yap o\ov

i;i^09 OVK Lcr^ei. (fracrlS' 01 [icv ev Tfj*ISr} Tp

TO /j,ev appev atcapirov elvai TO Be 0~i\v Ka8' o /ta/OTTo? e^et TrapaTr\i]cnov e\da, KOI

oe O\JLOLOI>

TU> TT)? e'Xaa?, KOL diravOet Be teal KaprroffiopeiTOV aVTOV TpOTTOV Tfp % eW? /UCT^OU TT\LOV^

-){6iv, o")(Bov Be

ol S' ev MaKeBovia Kaprro^opelv fjiev dj

TOV Be Trj<f $?;Xeia9 ajBpwTOV elvai' ra? pifas B'

6/iota? e^et rat? dyvois la%vpd<; Kal dvw\e6povs.Be Kal irepl TCI etyvBpa Kal OVK ev rot?

fjiovov (fiveTai Be Kal drro (TTrep/jLaTos Kal

aTrb rrapacrTrdBos.

KeBpov Be ol /JLCV fyavtv elvai BLTTTJV, TTJV fj.ev

AvKiav Trjv Be ^OLVIKTJV, ol Be /JLOVoetBij, Kaddrrepol ev TTJ "iBrj. rrapofjioiov Be TTJ dpKevOw, Biacfrepei

Be {idXiaTa TU> <pvX\(p' TO /j-ev ydp r^9 KeBpov

aK\Tjpbv Kal ov Kal aKavOwSes, TO Be TTJS dpKevdovfjiaXaKGOTepov BOKCL Be Kal v^rjXotyvecrTepov elvai

rj apKv6o<?' ov /JirfVa\X* evLOi <ye ov Biaipovcn

1 The Idaeans are evidently responsible for this statement.T. himself (3. 4. 3) says the fruit is inedible.

2 But (1. 11. 4) only certain varieties of the olive are said

to have this character : the next statement seems also incon-

sistent with 3. 4. 3. Perhaps T. is still reproducing his

Idaean authority.

234

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xn. 1-3

arranged in pairs opposite one another. The woodof the 'male' tree has no heart, but is hard through-out, like horn in closeness and strength ; whereas

that of the ' female'

tree has heart-wood and is softer

and goes into holes;wherefore it is useless for

javelins. The height of the ' male'

tree is at mosttwelve cubits, the length of the longest Macedonian

spear, the stem up to the point where it divides

not being very tall. The people of Mount Ida

in the Troad say that the ' male'

tree is barren,but that the ' female

'

bears fruit. The fruit has a

stone like an olive and is sweet to the taste and

fragrant1

; the flower is like that of the olive, and the

tree produces its flowers and fruit in the same manner,inasmuch as it has several growing from one stalk,-

and they are produced at almost the same time

in both forms. However the people of Macedonia

say that both trees bear fruit, though that of the( female

'

is uneatable, and the roots are like those of

the chaste-tree, strong and indestructible. This tree

grows in wet ground and not only3 in dry places ;

and it comes from seed, and also can be propagatedfrom a piece torn off.

4 The '

cedar,' some say, has two forms, the Lycianand the Phoenician 5

;but some, as the people of

Mount Ida, say that there is only one form. It

resembles the arkeuthos (Phoenician cedar), differing

chiefly in the leaf, that of ( cedar'

being hard sharpand spinous, while that of arkeuthos is softer : the

latter tree also seems to be of taller growth. How-ever some do not give them distinct names, but call

3n&vov ins. R. Const, from G.

4 Plin. 13. 52. See Index /ce'Spos and apitevOos.6

4-otfiK^y : QOIVIKIKTIV conj. W. cf. 9. 2. 3 ; Plin. I.e.

2 35

THEOPHRASTUS

rot? bvbp.a(Tiv aXX' a^w Ka\ov<ri

Trjv KeBpov o^v/feBpov. b^coBrj

ra rd

jJLLKpClV Ka TTVKVrjV KOI OTCLV KOTTr) TCL^l)

Heviiv rjBe KeSpos TO TT^ICTTOV ey/cdpBiov KOL

dcraTres, epudpofcdpSia S*a/jL<f)a)' teal 77 p,ev TT}?

4 Ke8pov ei}a>&?7? 77Se TT}? erepas ov. /capTrbs 3'

6 yuei^ TJ}? KeSpov %avOo<$ fivprov /xeye^o? e'^coi>

?/9 ?;Sz;9 ea6lea6ai. o Se rr}? dp/cevdov rad\\a O/JLOLOS, //.eXa? Se /cal ffrpvfyvos xal

WCT7T6/0 a/3y3WTO?' Sia/jLV6L 8' Ct? eVlCLVTOV, eWorav a'XA.o? eiri^vy o Trepvaivos dTroTTLTrrei

Se oi eV 'ApfcaSia \i<yovcn, rpeis apare irevcTLVov OVTTO) ireirova KOI

TOV ITPOTTepvcrLVOV 77877 'jriirova KOI

teal rpiTov TOV veov vTrotyaivei. e(f>rjBe

/cal Ko/jiicrai TOU? opeoTimovs avrw dvavOels af

rbv Be (f)\oLov O/JLOLOV e^ei KWirapiTTW rpa^vrepovBe' pifas Be fjiavas d^orepat KCU eViTroXatou?.

(pvovrat Trepl rd 7rerpa)Bij Kal %ei/jLepia real TOUTOU?

TOU? TOTTOU?

5 MecT7rtX77? 8' earl rpia yevrj, dv0r)Ba)V crara-

veios dv6r)BovoeiBrjs, w? ol Trepl rrjv "]Bt]v Biai-

povcri. (frepei Be 77 /j,ev (rardveios rbv fcapirbv

fjuei^ci) Kal \euKorepov Kal %avv6repov Kal TOV?

TTVprjva? eyov-ra fjLa\aKforepov<;' al S' erepai

Trjv Kf5poi> U; TT. rbv KfSpov M ; Aid. omits the

article ; Trapaffrj/J-acria /ce'Spou conj. W.2

fi-hrpav conj. Sch.; ^aAXoi/ UMVAld. Plin., 16. 198, sup-

ports /j-firpav : he apparently read /j.-f]Tpav 5' ^ ^ei' d.

236

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xn. 3-5

them both 'cedar/ distinguishing them however as' the cedar

' l and '

prickly cedar.' Both are branchingtrees with many joints and twisted wood. On the

other hand arkeuthos has only a small amount of

close core,2which, when the tree is cut, soon rots,

while the trunk of ' cedar'

consists mainly of heart

and does not rot. The colour of the heart in each

case is red : that of the ' cedar'

is fragrant, but not

that of the other. The fruit of ' cedar'

is yellow,as large as the myrtle-berry, fragrant, and sweet

to the taste. That of arkeuthos is like it in

other respects, but black, of astringent taste and

practically uneatable;

it remains on the tree for a

year, and then, when another grows, last year's fruit

falls off. According to the Arcadians it has three

fruits on the tree at once, last year's, which is not

yet ripe, that of the year before last which is now

ripe and eatable, and it also shews the new fruit.

Satyrus3 said that the wood-cutters gathered him

specimens of both kinds which were flowerless. Thebark is

4 like that of the cypress but rougher. Both 5

kinds have spreading shallow roots. These trees

grow in rocky cold parts and seek out such districts.

6 There are three kinds of mespile, anthedon

(oriental thorn), sataneios (medlar) and anthedonoeides

(hawthorn), as the people of mount Ida distinguishthem. 7 The fruit of the medlar is larger palermore spongy and contains softer stones ; in the other

irvKvi]v ; but the words KCL\ '6rav . . . crjjTro/ievrjv (which P. does

not render) seem inconsistent. ? ins. ov before raxv Sch.3

? An enquirer sent out by the Lyceum : see Intr. p. xxi.4

x t conj. W. ;eSJ/eet Aid.

6a^JrepoJ conj. W. ; a/j.(f)orepas U; ajjuporepovs Aid. H.

6 Plin. 15. 84.i

cf. C.P.2. 8. 2; 6. 14. 4; 6. 16. 1.

237

8

THEOPHRASTUS

eXarrw re TI KCU evwSecrrepov KOI arpv(j)i'6repoi ,

ware SvvaaOai TrXeiO) ^povov Orjcravpl^eaOai.

TrvKvoTepov Be teal TO %v\ov TOVTWV teal %av6oTepov,ra S' aXXo. O^JLOIOV. TO S' avOos Traawv OJULOLOV

d/jivyB(i\rj, TT\^V OVK epvOpov warrep eKeivo aXX'

7^XwyooT6/)o^....... /jieyedei /j^eya TO SevSpovteal TrepiKojuiov. <f)v\\or &e TO [lev eVt ......TroXfo-^iSe? Se Kal ei> a/cpro creXtz/oeiSe?, TO 8'

tVl TWV TToXaiOTepcov TroXucr^tSe? atyo&pa KOL

\eTTTOTepov o~e\ivov Kal rrpo^Kea-Tepov Kal TO

o\ov Kal TCL G%i(TfjLaTa, TrepiKe^apayiJLevov 5e

S' e%et \GTTTOV (JbaKpov rrpo TOV

Be TO SevBpov Kal jSaOvppi^ov- SL o Kal %p6movKal Svaa)\e0pov. Kal TO %v\ov e^ei TTVKVOV Kal

6 (TTepeov Kal daarre^. (f)i>6Tai Se Kal O-TTO

Kal diro TrapacrTraSo?. vocnifjia Be

Kal 01 crK(t)\r)Kes /j,eyd\oi Kal L^toi r) ol e/c

bev&pwv TWV a\\a)v.rp^ C1 ' ' " C1 ' ' " v ^

Lav o OLWV ovo yevr) rroiovcri, TO [lev

Kap7TO(f)6pOV 0)]\V TO 6 ClppCV aKapTTOV 0V}Jbr)V

aXXa Biatyepovai rot? Kaprrols, TCO ra? fjiev

&Tpor/yv\ov ra? 8e Trpo/jiiJKr) ra9 8' cooetS?} (frepeiv.

Sia<f)pov(Ti Be Kal rot? ^uXots* a>? yap errl TO

re TI conj. W.; ^Aarrw 6<VJ UAld.* W. suggests that some words are missing here, as it does

not appear to which kind of ^etnr/ATj the following descrip-tion belongs ; hence various difficulties. See Sch.

3Probably a lacuna in the text. W. thus supplies the

sense : he suggests <riKvoti8es for <rf\ivofi$(t.

238

PLNQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xn. 5-6

kinds it is somewhat smaller,1 more fragrant and of

more astringent taste, so that it can be stored for a

longer time. The wood also of these kinds is closer

and yellower, though in other respects it does not

differ. The flower in all the kinds is like the almond

flower, except that it is not pink, as that is, but

greenish2 In stature the tree is large and it

has thick foliage. The leaf in the young tree is

round 3 but much divided and like celery at the tip ;

but the leaf of older trees is very much divided and

forms angles with larger divisions ; it is smooth 4

fibrous thinner and more oblong than the celery

leaf, both as a whole and in its divisions, and it has

a jagged edge all round. 5 It has a long thin stalk,

and the leaves turn bright red before they are shed.

The tree has many roots, which run deep ;wherefore

it lives a long time and is hard to kill. The woodis close and hard and does not rot. The tree growsfrom seed and also from a piece torn off. It is

subject to a disease which causes it to become worm-eaten 6 in its old age, and the worms are largeand different 7 to those engendered by other trees.

8 Of the sorb they make two kinds, the 'female'

which bears fruit and the ' male'

which is barren.

There are moreover differences in the fruit of the' female

'

kind;in some forms it is round, in others

oblong and egg-shaped. There are also differences

4 rtravitv: cf. 3. 11. 1; 3. 15. 6.

5irepLKfXaPay/J-^ov conj. Seal.; TrepiKeOap/j.ei'oi' U; irepiKfuap-

/j.fi>ov MVAld. cf. allusions to the leaf of /ueo-TrtATj, 3. 13. 1 ;

3. 15. 6.6

cf. 4. 14. 10 ;Plin. 17. 221

;Pall. 4. 10.

7 idiot Aid. (for construction cf. Plat. Gorg. 481 c); IStovs

UMV (the first t corrected in U). W. adopts Sch.'s conj.,

tjHiovs, in allusion to the edible cossua : cf. Plin. I.e.

6 Plin. 15. 85.

239

THEOPHRASTUS

TTCLV euwBeaTepa KCLI <y\vKi>Tepa TO, arpoyyvXa,TCL

'

o)oei8/} 7roXAa/a? ecrrlv o^ea Kal I'ITTOV

7 euooS?;. (>v\\a 3' drolls Kara /j,Lcr%ov

IvoeiSij TrecfrvKacri aroL^Bou eK TU>V 7T\aryia)v

, to? e^o? 6Wo? rou o\ov \oj3ovs Be

eawrwv V7rav)(yov ra Karal Be ov Kara fAepos a\\a o\ov a^a TO

Tnepvy )$<;. elcrl Be Trepl /j,ev ra TraXaiorepaKal /jiaKporepa TT\LOV^ ai av^vyiaL, jrepl Be TCI

vewrepa Kal ^pa^vrepa eXarrou?, Trdrrwv Be eVCLKpOV TOV /jLLO"^OU <f>V\\OV TTepnTOV, 0)(JT KOi

irawT elvai TrepiTTa. TOO Be cr^ij/jLaTi BafooeiBrj

TT}? \e7TTO<pv\\ov, Tr\riv %apayfAOi> eyovTa KCLI

f3pa%i>Tpa Kal OVK et? 6u TO aKpov ffwrfKOvdXX' et? TreptffiepecrTepov. avOos Be e^et ftorpv-a)Be<> CLTTO fjiids Kopvvrjs K TroXXw^ nitcpwv Kal

8 \evKwv crwyKei/jLevov. Kal 6 /capTro? 6Vay evKapjrf/

/3orpvct)Br]$- TroXXa jap euro TT}? avrrjs Kopvvrjs,COCTT' elvai KaOaTrep K^piov. aK(D\r)Ku/3opo^ ejrl

TOV BevSpov 6 KapTros ctTreTTTO? coy eri yiverai

/jidX\.ov TWV fjLecnr'iKwv Kal aTTicov Kal a^pdB(DvKaiTOL TTO\V (npvfyvoTaTos. yiverai, Be Kal avroTO BevBpov a-Kw\rjKo^pU)'TOV Kal OUTCO? avaiverai

yijpdcrKOV Kal 6 crArooX?;^ t'S/o? epvOpos Baav$.

Kap7TO(f)opei B' eVtei/too? vea' rpierrjs yap evOvs

<f)Vl. TOV fJLTOTrU>pOV B' OTaV a7TO/3d\r) TO (f)V\\OV,

evdvs tercet TTJV Kaxpvci)Bij Kopvvrjv \LTrapav

1

<pv\\a . . , a-Toi'xrf'bv conj. W. ; <pv\\ov 5' a;

/J.ICTXOV fj.aKpbv IvoeiSrj- nf<p. [8e] ffrotx r]^v UMVAld.2

&.<(>'lavrwv (

= atr' a\\-n\wv) conj. Seal.; a?r' avruv U: soW.

,who however renders inter se.

240

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xn. 6-8

iu taste;the round fruits are generally more fragrant

and sweeter, the oval ones are often sour and less

fragrant. The leaves in both grow attached to a

long fibrous stalk, and project on each side in a row l

like the feathers of a bird's wing, the whole forminga single leaf but being divided into lobes withdivisions which extend to the rib ; but each pair are

some distance apart,2

and, when the leaves fall,3

these divisions do not drop separately, but the whole

wing-like structure drops at once. When theleaves are older and longer, the pairs are morenumerous

;in the younger and shorter leaves they

are fewer;but in all at the end of the leaf-stalk there

is an extra leaflet, so that the total number of leaflets

is an odd number. In form the leaflets resemble 4

the leaves of the ' fine-leaved'

bay, except that theyare jagged and shorter and do not narrow to a sharppoint but to a more rounded end. The flower 5

is

Clustering and made up of a number of small whiteblossoms from a single knob. The fruit too is

clustering, when the tree fruits well;for a number

of fruits are formed from the same knob, giving an

appearance like a honeycomb. The fruit gets eaten

by worms on the tree before it is ripe to a greaterextent than that of medlar pear or wild pear, and

yet it is much more astringent than any of these.

The tree itself also gets worm-eaten, and so withers

away as it ages ;and the worm G which infests it is a

peculiar one, red and hairy. This tree bears fruit

when it is quite young, that is as soon as it is three

years old. In autumn, when it has shed its leaves,it immediately produces its winter-bud-like knob,

7

3 Plin. 16. 92. 4 For construction cf. 3. 11. 3.^ i.e. inflorescence. 6 Plin. 17. 221. 7

cf. 3. 5. 5.

241

THEOPHRASTUS

utaav ijBr) /3\acmKav, Kal Bia/jLevet

9 rbv %ei/iiMva. avdxavOov Be ecm Kal // OLTJ Kat

f) (Ji(77TL\,t]' (f)\OLOl> o" ^6t \LOV V7TO\L7rapOT,

ocrarrep /JLTJ <yepdi>Bpva, rrjv Be y^poav %av6bi>TTL\evKaivovra' ra be ypdv$pva rpa^vu KCLI

fj.e\ava. TO Se SevSpov evfieyeOe^ op&o(f)Vv

evpvdfJLOv TT) KOfJiY]' a-^eBov <yap 0)9 eVt TO TTO\V

c7T/3o/3iXoeie? cr^7}/ia \afjLj3uv6i Kara rrjv KO^JV,eav pi) rt, GfJLTTO^Lffy. TO 8e %v\ov arepeov TTVKVOV

la"Xypov eu^povv, pi^as Be ou 7TO\\as ^ev ovBe

Kara ficidovs, Icr'^vpa^ Be KOI rca^e'ias Kal avw-

\e0povs exet" <j>verai Be Kal arcb pifys Kal CLTTO

TrapaaTrdBos Kal drro (TTrep^aro^' rorrov Be

fyw^pov evtKfjLOV, (f)i\6(oov B' ev rovrw

Bvcra)\e@pov ov fju^v d\\a Kal (frverai ev rots

opecriv.XIII. "lo^oz; Be TT) fyvaei Bei'Bpov 6 Kepacrov

earr /j^eyeOei /j.ev aeya' Kal */ap et? rerrapaseiKocri Tr^et?' t'tJTi B* opdcxpves atyoBpa'

Be ware Kal BiTn^vv rtjv rrepifjierpov drro

^X ll> ' d>V\\OV'

OfJLOLOV TO) T/}?

GK\r)pov Be a^oBpa Kdl Tra^vrepov,ware rfj Xpoia rroppwOev (pavepov elvai TO BevBpov.

fi\.oibv Be Tr\v \eionira Kal r^v y^poav Kal TO

Tra^o? ofJLOiov (f)i\vpa, St' o Kal Ta? KIGTCLS e%avrov TTOiovatv warrep Kal IK rov T% <f)i\vpa<;.

7TpL7T(j)VKe B OUTO? OVT Opdo^Vr]^ OVTe KVK\(pKar iaov, a\V e\iKt]Bbv TrepteiX^^e KarwOev avco

'

'6<ja.irfp jj.}} coiij. Bod.; uicnrfp TO. Aid.; Sxrre ra M.3

K0fj.i]v Ald.H.j Kopv<pi]v conj. Sch.; verlice G.3 1'lin. 16. 125 ; cf. 16. 74 ; 17. 234.4iraxvTfpov : BO quoted by Athen. 2. 34 ; TrAarurtpov MSS.

242

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xn. 8-xm. i

which is glistening and swollen as though the tree

were just about to burst into leaf, and this persists

through the winter. The sorb., like the medlar, is

thornless ;it has smooth rather shiny bark, (except

when 1 the tree is old), which in colour is a whitish

yellow ; but in old trees it is rough and black. Thetree is of a good size, of erect growth and with well

balanced foliage ;for in general it assumes a cone-

like shape as to its foliage/ unless something inter-

feres. The wood is hard close strong and of a goodcolour ; the roots are not numerous and do not run

deep, but they are strong and thick and inde-

structible. The tree grows from a root, from a piecetorn off, or from seed, and seeks a cold moist position ;

in such a position it is tenacious of life and hard to

kill : however it also grows on mountains.

Of bird- cherry, elder, willow.

XIII. 3 The kerasos (bird-cherry) is peculiar in

character ; it is of great stature, growing as much as

twenty-four cubits high ;and it is of very erect

growth ;as to thickness, it is as much as two cubits

in circumference at the base. The leaves are like

those of the medlar, but very tough and thicker,4 so

that the tree is conspicuous by its colour from a

distance. The bark 5 in smoothness colour and thick-

ness is like that of the lime ;wherefore men make

their writing-cases6 from it, as from the bark of that

tree. 7 This bark does not grow straight nor evenlyall round the tree, but runs round it

8 in a spiral

5c/. 4. 15. 1 ; Hesych. s.v.

6c/. 3. 10. 4 ; Ar. Vesp. 529.

7irepiirf<f>vKe , . . irepnretyvKos : text as restored by Sch. and

others, following U as closely as possible.8

irepiei\ri<j>( conj. R. Const.

243

THEOPHRASTUS

irpoad'ywv, waTrep f) Biaypa<prj TWV

OUTO? fepeTat, K.vOS B* 67UTO/AO92 yLverat, Kal ov BvvaTar yu-epo? S' avTov TI TOV

avTov TpoTrov dfycupelTCii Kara vra^o?\eTTTOv a>? av c>v\\ov, TO 8e \OLTTOV

re SvvaTdi real crco^et TO SevSpov cocraurw? Trepi-

Trepiaipov/jLevov Be oiav \oira TOV

crvvefcpaivei, /cat TOTE TTJV vypoTijTO,' teal

OTCLV o e^co %t,TO)V TrepicapeOf], p,ovov o VTroXiTTijs

7ri/jie\aiveTai wcnrep fjiv^wSei vypaaia, /ecu Trd\iv

v7ro(f)V6Tai TO) SevTepw eTL XLTWV a'AAo?

e/cetvov TT\IJV XeTrrore/jo?. TrecfrvKe fccil TO

O/JLOLOV rat? lal TW (>\oifp crrpeTrrw? e\LTTop.evovKOl 01 pd/SSoi, VOVTai TOV CLVTOV TpOTTOVrou? o'^ou? S' av^avofjiivov uvfjiftaivei TOU?

t > \ > 1^. -^ /I \ J.' V >f c. \ ^13 KCLTCO aei aTToAA-fcrc/at TOU? avw av^eiv. TO o

o\ov ov 7ro\voov TO Sevbpov aXX,' dvo^oTepovTTO\V Ttjf alyeipov. 7ro\vppiov Se Kal CTTL-

Tro\aioppi^ov OVK ciyav 8e Tra^yppL^ov rj8'

7rio~Tpo(})r) ;al r^? pL&S Kal TOV <p\oiov TOV irepi

t] avTi']. civOos Be \evKov airlw KOI

, etc [JiiKpwv dv6&v avyKei/Jievovo Be fcapTrbs epvOpos O/JLOIOS BiocfTrvpw TO

TO Be jJLeyeffos rj\iicov Kvajnos, TrX?;^ TOV Biocnrvpovo Trvpjji' cr/cX?;^oo? TOV Be /cepdcrov /^aXa/vo?.

S' oTrof Kalfj <pi\vpa, TO Be o\ov OTTOV

7roTa/j.ol Kal e(j)vBpa.

Be Kalrj aKTrj fjidKiGTa Trap vBcop Kal

1 Which is an ellipse, the segment of a cylinder : so Sch.

explains.*

^/cer^os : i.e. lower down the trunk, where the spiral is

less open.3

iitho/jLos: cf. 5. 1. 12.

241

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xm. 1-4

(which becomes closer as it gets higher up the tree)like the outline of the leaves. 1 And this part of

it can be stripped off by peeling, whereas with the

other part2 this is not possible and it has to be cut

in short lengths.3 In the same manner part is

removed by being split off in flakes as thin as a leaf,

while the rest can be left and protects the tree, grow-

ing about it as described. If the bark is stripped off

when the tree is peeling, there is also at the time a

discharge of the sap ; further, when only the outside

coat is stripped off, what remains turns black with a

kind 4 of mucus-like moisture; and in the second

year another coat grows to replace what is lost, but

this is thinner. The wood in its fibres is like the

bark, twisting spirally,5 and the branches grow in

the same manner from the first ; and, as the tree

grows, it comes to pass that the lower branches keepon perishing, while the upper ones increase. How-ever the whole tree is not much branched, but has

far fewer branches than the black poplar. Its roots

are numerous and shallow and not very thick;and

there is a similar twisting of the root and of the bark

which surrounds it.6 The flower is white, like that

of the pear and medlar, composed of a number of

small blossoms arranged like a honeycomb. Thefruit is red, like that of diospyros in shape, and in size

it is as large as a bean. However the stone of the

diospyros fruit is hard, while that of the bird-cherryis soft. The tree grows where the lime grows, andin general where there are rivers and damp places.

7The elder also grows chiefly by water and in shady

*tcffirep conj. Sch.; irep MV; ircas Ald.H.

8(TTpeTTTUS \ITT6/J.VOV COnj. Sell. J ffTpeiTT<p f\lTTO/J.V(t>l U ',

t? e\iTTOfj.evcf Aid. 6cf. 3. 12. 7. 7 Plin. 17. 151.

245

THEOPHRASTUS

ev rol^ (TKiepols, ov a>)V d\\d Kal iv Tots' //-)

roiovroiv OafjLvw^(i<; Be pdfiBois eTrereiois av^a-vouevais a^XP L T ^? $v\\oppoia$ ei? /AtJKOs, elra

aerd ravra el^ Tra^o?* TO Se 1/^05 Tcuy pdj3Ba)i>

ov [Meya \iav a\\a real /uaX^crra 005 e^dTnj^v-

<yepav$pv(i)v ocrov

TO e %v\ov %avvov KOL Kov<poi>

repiwvi^v Se e^ov jj.a\aK/]V, Mare 84' o\ov teal

Koi\alvea8ai Ta? pdfiBov^, e wv KOI Ta? /SarcTrj-

puas TTOIOVCTI, Ta? fcoixfras. ^rfpavOev Be la"%vpbvteal dyijpwv eav /3pe%r)7ai, K.CLV TJ \e\o7THTfjLevov'

\OTTL^erai Se avro^arov ^^paivop-evov. pL%as 8e

%i fjierecopovs ov TroXXa? Be ovBe /ue^/aXa?.5 (pv\\ov Be TO /.teis

/caO' eKacrrov fjLa\a.Kov, Trpo-TO

Be KOI 'TT\aTv~repov Kal TrepKbepeartpov K/jie

KOL Kara)0ev, TO 8' a/cpov ei? 6v /zaXXoi/KVK\(t) 5' e%o^ %apayfj.6v TO 8e o\ov, Trepl

jjLicr-^ov Tra^vv KOL lvci)Br) a>crai> K\WVLOV rdev9ev rd Be ZvOev Kara <yovu Kal av^vyiav net^v-KCLGI rwv <f)v\\a)v Sie^ovra arc a\\ij\wi>, ev Be

e{; a/cpov rov /JLLO-^OV. vrrepvOpa Be rd $v\\aeTrieLKWs Kal ^avi'a Kal aapKcoBrj' (j)v\\oppoelBe rouro o\ov, Biorrep $v\\ov av ris elrroi TO o\ov.

e%ovcn Be Kal ol /cXw^e? ol veoi ywvoeLorj nva.6 TO 5' av6o$ \eVKOV K UlKpWV \VKO)V 7TO\\0)1'

7rl rfi rov {Jbicr^ov a^icreL KiypiwBes' evw^iav

1itfptKf<f>a\aias, some part of a ship's prow : so Pollux.

aKairup6s conj. Sch.; Kal vvpyos U (?) ; /col nvppds V;

8M. 8 Sc. pith.

246

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xm. 4-6

places, but likewise in places which are not of this

character. It is shrubby, with annual branches which

go on growing in length till the fall of the leaf, after

which they increase in thickness. The branches do

not grow to a very great height, about six cubits at

most. The thickness of the stem of old trees is

about that of the ( helmet'

l of a ship ; the bark is

smooth thin and brittle 2;the wood is porous and

light when dried, and has a soft heart-wood,8 so that

the boughs are hollow right through, and men makeof them their light walking-sticks. When dried it is

strong and durable if it is soaked, even if it is strippedof the bark; and it strips itself of its own accord as it

dries. The roots are shallow and neither numerousnor large. The single leaflet is soft and oblong, like

the leaf of the 'broad-leaved' bay, but larger broader

and rounder at the middle and base, though the tip

narrows more to a point and is jagged4 all round.

The whole leaf is composed of leaflets growing about

a single thick fibrous stalk, as it were, to which theyare attached at either side in pairs at each joint;and they are separate from one another, while one

is attached to the tip of the stalk. The leaves are

somewhat reddish porous and fleshy : the whole is

shed in one piece ; wherefore one may consider the

whole structure as a 'leaf.' 5 The young twigs too

have certain crooks 6 in them. The flower 7 is white,made up of a number of small white blossoms

attached to the point where the stalk divides,

in form like a honeycomb, and it lias the heavy4

Xapay,u.6v conj. R. Const, from G ; irapay/j.6v UMV;ffiraoay/j.6v Aid. 6

cf. 3. 11. 3 n.6

7&>'oei5?l U; "iytavioeiSri ; G seems to have read yovaroeiSri;

Sch. considers the text defective or mutilated.^

cf. 3. 12. 7 u.

247

THEOPHRASTUS

Se e%et eipiwri eTTiapeiav. X L KaL T02 '

KapTrbi' oyuoto)? 7rpo? evi fjLLO")(w 7ra;6t ftorpvcoB?]

Be' yiverai Be KaTaTreTraivofjievos //.eXa?, WJLLOS Be

cov o/ji(f)aKa)Br)S' /jLeyeOet, Be p^iKpCo fieifov opbfiov

rrjv vypaa-iav $e olvcoBrj rfj o\^er KOL ra?

T\iov/jivoi /SaTTTOvrat. KOI ra? /ce^aXa?* e^et

/cat ra eWo? o-ij&afioeiBrj rrjv

7 TIdpv&pov Se /cat 77t'rea /cat TroXveiSes" r]

/j,\aiva Ka\.ov/j.evr) TU> TQV <>\oiov e^eiv fj.eX.ava

KOI fyou'iKovv, ?;Be \evrcrj TO> \evKov. /caA-Xtou?

Se e^et ra? pd/3$ovs real xprjcrifAWTepas et9 TO

TT\eKetv ?} iLtKaiva, rjSe \euKrj Kairvpwrepa^. ecni

Be real T/}? yueXatV^9 real TT}? Xef/c?}? eWoz> yevos

fJLLKpOV KOi OVK e~)(pv CLV^dlV 669 ^^0?, MCTTTep

eir aXkwv rovro SevBpcov, oiov rceSpov

Ka\ovcn, S' ol Trepl 'ApfcaSiav OVK Ireav d\\a

ekiK^v TO SevBpov oiovrai Be, wcnrep e\e^0)j, /cal

Kapirov %iv avrrjv JOVIJJLOV.

XIV. "Ran Be Trjs TrreXea? Bvo 761/77, /cal TO fjitv

6pei7TT\ea Ka\eiTat TO Be TrreXea' BiatyepeiBe r<a

0a/AV(t)Be(TTepov elvai rrjvrjrre\eav evav^ecrTepov Be

TrfV bpeiTTTe\eav. fyv\\ov Be dcr^Se? TreptKe^apay-

j, TrpofJirjKecr'repov Be rov T^}? aTriov,

1KaraTTttraiv6iJ.fi> os conj. W.

;/cal ireir. VAld.

2 al ... fid-movrai I conj., following Seal., W., etc., but

keeping closer to U : certain restoration perhaps impossible ;

TCIS xe*V>as TfAeiouy ava^Xaar^i 5e /cal ras KftpaXds U ;

5e reAei'ovS' afa^Aatre? MV ;om. G.

Plin. 16. 174 and 175.

248

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xm. 6-xiv. i

fragrance of lilies. The fruit is in like mannerattached to a single thick stalk, but in a cluster :

as it becomes quite ripe,1 it turns black, but when

unripe it is like unripe grapes ;in size the berry is a

little larger than the seed of a vetch ;the juice is

like wine in appearance, and in it men bathe 2 their

hands and heads when they are being initiated into

the mysteries. The seeds inside the berry arc like

sesame.3 The willow also grows by the water, and there

are many kinds. There is that which is called

the black willow 4 because its bark is black and

red, and that which is called the white 4 from the

colour of its bark. The black kind has boughswhich are fairer and more serviceable for basket-

work, while those of the white are more brittle. 5

There is a form both of the black and of the white

which is small and does not grow to a height, justas there are dwarf forms of other trees, such as

prickly cedar and palm. The people of Arcadia

call the tree 6 not ( willow'

but helike : they believe,

as was said,7 that it bears fruitful seed.

Of elm, poplars, alder, [semyda, bladder-senna'].

XIV. 8 Of the elm there are two kinds, of which

one is called the ' mountain elm/ the other simplythe ' elm

'

: the difference is that the latter is

shrubbier, while the mountain elm grows more

vigorously. The leaf is undivided and slightly

jagged, longer than that of the pear, but rough

4 See Index.5

waTrupwTe'pay conj. Sch. ; Kal irvpurepat U ; /cal irvporcpas

MVAld. cf. 3. 13. 4.6 Sc. tVe'a generally.

7 3. 1. 2.8 Plin. 16. 72.

249

THEOPHRASTUS

Be teai ov \eiov, /j,eya Be TO BevBpov teal

w v^rei KOI T /jbeyedei. TTO\V 6' OVK ecrn rrepl

rr)V*'\Br)v aXXa cnrdvLov TOTTOV Be efyv^pov </>tXeI.

TO Be %v\ov %av9ov teal Icr^vpbv real CVLVOV KOI

'yXia'Xpov' CLTTCLV jap /capita- ^pwvrau 8' avrwKOL 7T/309 Ovpw/jiara TroXvreXi}, KOI %\a)pov p,ev

VTO{J.OV j-IJpOV & SvCTTO/jlOV. CLKapTTOV &

e rat? KWpVKicn TO KO/JL/JLL tea

arra /ccovcoTroet&rj tfrepei. Ta? Be Kfi^pv^ t'Sta?

ToO /jLCTOTTcopov TToXXa? teal fJLiKpas teal

tz/a9, Hv Be Tat? aXXeu? wpais OVK eVe-

2 'H Be \ev/erj teal rj atyeiposBe

afjifyti), Tr\r)V fia/eporepov vroXu KOL fjLavorepov/eal Xeiorepov rj a Lyeipos, rb Be cr^T/fta TWV (fyvXXwv

Trapo/jLoiov. ofioiov Be /eal rb %v\ov Te^ofj.evov

rfj Xev/eoTrjTi. /eapTrbv S' ovBerepov TOVTCOV ovBe

avQos e^eii> Bo/eel.

'H teepfels Be Trapo/jLoiov rfj \VKg teal TW /jLeyetfet

teal T(o TOU? /e\dBovs e7Ti\ev/eovs e^eiv TO Be

0wXXo^ KiTTwBes fjiev dycovLov Be eie TOV aXXof,

TTJV Be fjiiav Trpo/jirffer)teal ei9 ov crvvtffeovaav TW

Be ^pM/j.an tr%e8bv ofjioiov rb VTTTIOV teal rb

TTpaves' fjiicr'^yBe 7rpoa"ijprrj/jLevov fj,atep(p >eal

XeTTTO), Bi? o teal OVK bpObv aXX' eyKeK^i^evov.

<f>\oibv Be rpa^vrepov TT}? \evtcrjs tcai paXkovV7r6\e7rpov, wcrirep 6 TT}? tixpdBos. aKapirov Be.

s Movoyeves Be Kalrj K\r)6pa* (frvcret,

Be

conj. St.; alffxpt" Ald.H. cf. 5. 3. 4.*

cf. 5. 5. 2.3

cf. rb 0i/Aaw5ey -row, 3. 7. 3 ; 2. 8. 3 n.; 9. 1. 2.

250

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xiv. 1-3

rather than smooth. The tree is large, being botli

tall and wide-spreading. It is not common about

Ida, but rare, and likes wet ground. The wood is

yellow strong fibrous and toughl

; for it is all heart.

Men use it for expensive doors 2: it is easy to cut

when it is green, but difficult when it is dry. Thetree is thought to bear no fruit, but in the ' wallets

' s

it produces its gum and certain creatures like gnats ;

and it has in autumn its peculiar' winter-buds

' 4

which are numerous small and black, but these havenot been observed at other seasons.

The abele and the black poplar have each but a

single kind : both are of erect growth, but the black

poplar is much taller and of more open growth, andis smoother, while the shape of its leaves is similar

to those of the other. The wood also of both, whencut, is much the same in whiteness. Neither of

these trees appears to have fruit or flower. 5

The aspen is a tree resembling the abele both in

size and in having whitish branches, but the leaf

is ivy-like : while however it is otherwise without

angles, its one angular6

projection is long andnarrows to a sharp point : in colour the upper andunder sides are much alike. The leaf is attached

to a long thin stalk : wherefore the leaf is not set

straight, but has a droop.7 The bark of the abele

is rougher and more scaly, like that of the wild pear,and it bears no fruit.

The alder also has but one form : in growth it is

4icdxpvs, here probably a gall, mistaken for winter-bud.

Bc/., however, 3. 3. 4 ; 4. 10. 2, where T. seems to follow a

different authority.8Supply ycavlav from ajMi'tov.

7tyiffK\ijnfvov : BC. is not in line with the stalk.

251

THEOPHRASTUS

B*e")(p

v fj,a\aKOV KOI

]V, ware Bi* 6\ov teoi\aiveo~0ai ra? XeTrra?

<j)v\\ov 8' o/jLOiov aTTici). TrXrjv

teal IvwBeo-Tepov. Tpa%v(p\OLOV Be /cal o

eaw0ev epvOpos, BL o teal fiaTrrei, ra Bep/jLara.

pia? Be eTUTToXatOL'? . . . rfkiKov Bd(f)VT]<j. (f>verat

Be ev TO?? e<pvBpoi,s d\\o0t 8' ovBa/j,ov.

[2ij/j,vBa Be TO fjiev $>v\\ov e^et O/JLOLOV T}

Tlepaitcfj Ka\ovfj,evr) tcapva 7r\rjv fjLtrcp& arevore-

pov, TOV cf)\oiov Be TroiKi\ov, %v\ov Be e\afypov

-^p^cjLfjiOV Be et? j3atcTr)pia<i povov et? aXXo Be

ovBev.

'H Be tco\vrea e%et TO fj,ev (f)v\\ov 771/9 TOV

T>}? trea?, 7ro\voov Be teal TTO\V(J>V\\OV real TO

BevBpov oXw? /j-eja' TOV Be tcapTrov e\\o/3ov,

KaOaTrep TO, ^eBpoird" \o/3ot? yap TrXarecri teal

ov crTevols TO (TirepfJidTiov TO evov fjiiKpov teal ov*

a/eXrjpov Be iieTpiws ov/e ayav ovBe TTO\V-

&)? teaTa fjiiyeOos. airaviov Be TO ev

etv TOV teaprrov' 6\iya yap roiauTa TWV

BevBpcov.]XV. 'H Be

*

\\paK\ewTLicr) teapva (pvcrei yapteal TOUT' aypiov TW T jj,r)Bev TJ /XT) TTO\V

^elpw yii>(T0ai <rj> TWV fjfJLeptov TOV tcapjrov, tea]

TO) Bvvacrdat xei/Awvas vTrocfrepeiv teal TCO

teaTa TO, opri Kal Tfo\vKapirov ev

Ti Be TW AiBe crTeXewSe? aXXa

1 Part of the description of the flower, and perhaps of the

fruit, seems to be missing. Sch.2

cf. 4. 8. 1; but in 1. 4. 3 the alder is classed with 'am-

phibious' trees, and in 3. 3. 1 with ' trees of the plain.'1Betulam, G from Plin. 16, 74.

252

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xiv. 3-xv. i

also erect, and it has soft wood and a soft heart-wood,so that the slender boughs are hollow throughout.The leaf is like that of the pear, but larger and

more fibrous. It has rough bark, which on the inner

side is red : wherefore it is used for dyeing hides.

It has shallow roots . . .l the flower is as large as

that of the bay. It grows in wet places2 and

nowhere else.

The semyda^ has a leaf like that of the tree called

the ' Persian nut'(walnut), but it is rather narrower:

the bark is variegated and the wood light : it is only

of use for making walking-sticks and for no other

purpose.The bladder-senna 4 has a leaf near that of the

willow, but is many-branched and has much foliage ;

and the tree altogether is a large one. The fruit is

in a pod, as in leguminous plants : the pods in fact

are broad rather than narrow, and the seed in themis comparatively small, and is moderately hard, but

not so very hard. For its size the tree does not

bear much fruit. It is uncommon to have the fruit

in a pod ;in fact there are few such trees.

Of filbert, terebinth, box, krataigos.

XV. The filbert is also naturally a wild tree, in that

its fruit is little, if at all, inferior to that of the tree

in cultivation, that it can stand winter, that it grows

commonly on the mountains, and that it bears

abundance of fruit in mountain regions5

; also because

it does not make a trunk, but is shrubby with

4 Sch. remarks that the description of KoAurea is out of

place : c/. 3. 17. 2. W. thinks the whole section spurious.The antitheses in the latter part suggest a different context,in which KoXvrta was described by comparison with someother tree. 6

opetois conj. W.; Qopais Aid.

253

THEOPHRASTUS

elvat pd/3Boi$ avev /zacr^aXwz; /cal avo

ls Be Aral Tra^etat? eWat?' 01) ^pl e^ij/Aepovrai. Biafiopav Be e^et TOJ

KapTTOV UTToBlSovai /3e\TL(O Kal JjLel^OV TO <f)V\\OV

Ke%apay/jievov & a^^olv ofWiorarov TO TT}?

, TT\IJV 7r\ari>repov /cal auro TO SevBpovKap7ri/jia)Tepoi> 5' alel 7/^er

2 K07TTo/J.ei>ov T9 pd/3Sov<$. <yvr] e 8i;o

at jj,V yap aTpoyyv\ov al Be Trpo/J-aKpovTO fcdpvov e/cXevKOTepov Se TO TWV r}fj,epG)V. KOL

Trel/aaA.<7Ta y ev rot? (Ity

8e TO, ciypia nTa<pvTv6/j,eva.^ov GTTITTOX&IOV \e7TTOV \LTTapOV IBi

Xe^/ca? e^ovTa ev avTfO' TO e f-v\ov

r^pov, wcrre KOI TO, \eiTTa irdvv pa/3-Sia TrepL\.o7riaavTes tcavea TTOLOVCTI, /cal TO,

vT6<f. e^et 8e /cal evTepiwvtiv

ijv, 17 /coi\aLi>Tai. ISiov 8' CLVTWV TO

TOV IOV\OV, UXTTTCp LTTOJjLV.

3 T/^9 Be TpfjLiv9ov TO p,V appev TO Be 6rj\v. TO

fjiev ovv cippev ci/capTrov, $i o /cal Ka\ovcnv appevTWV Be dyj\eta)V 77 /mev epvOpov evOvs (jyepei TOV

KdpTTOV 1]\iKOV <j>a/COl> aTCGTTTOV, r)Be '\\OepQV

eve<yKaaa /zera TavTa epvOpa'u'ei, /cal a/za TTJ

TreTraivovo'a TO ea^aTov iroiel /j,e\ava,

I']\LKOV /cua/iov, prjTiva)Brj Be /cal 6vu>-^ ' tf $\ ^ ' ? \ ^ X "T^oecrTepov. CCTTL oe TO oevopov TrepL pev TTJV lorjv

/cal MaiceBoviav /3pa^v Oa/jLvwBes eaTpafjL^evov,

rrepl Be Aa/jiacr/cbv TT}? 2<vpias fjieya /cal TTO\V

Kal Ka\6v opo? yap TL <f)ao~iv elvai

254

1cf. C.P. 2. 12. 6.

2c/. Geop. 10. 68.

3 \e~tov conj. W. ;v\(ov UMVAld.

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xv. 1-3

unbranched stems without knots ; though some of

these are long and stout. Nevertheless it also submits

to cultivation. The cultivated form differs in produc-

ing better fruit and larger leaves ;in both forms the

leaf has a jagged edge : the leaf of the alder most

closely resembles it, but is broader, and the tree itself

is bigger.l The filbert is always more fruitful if it

has its slender boughs cut off.2 There are two kinds

of each sort; some have a round, others an oblongnut

;that of the cultivated tree is paler, and it fruits

best in damp places. The wild tree becomes

cultivated by being transplanted. Its bark is smooth,3

consisting of one layer, thin glossy and with peculiarwhite blotches on it. The wood is extremely tough,so that men make baskets even of the quite thin

twigs, having stripped them of their bark, and ot

the stout ones when they have whittled them. Also

it has a small amount of yellow heart-wood, which

makes 4 the branches hollow. Peculiar to these trees

is the matter of the catkin, as we mentioned. 5

6 The terebinth has a ' male'

and a ' female'

form.

The 'male' is barren, which is why it is called' male

'

;the fruit of one of the ' female

'

forms is

red from the first and as large as an unripe7 lentil ;

the other produces a green fruit which subsequentlyturns red, and, ripening at the same time as the

grapes, becomes eventually black and is as large as a

bean, but resinous and somewhat aromatic. AboutIda and in Macedonia the tree is low shrubby and

twisted, but in the Syrian Damascus, where it

abounds, it is tall and handsome;indeed they say

4$ Ald.H.; TJ W. with U. c/. 3. 13. 4.

53. 7. 3. 6 PHn. 13. 54.

7 Kal before Hireirrov om. St.

2 55

THEOPHRASTUS

4 rep/jLii'dwv, aXXo'

ovo'ev rretpvKevai. %v\ov be

"xpov /cat pta? ia^vpd<f Kara fi

l TO o\ov dv(i)\0pov' avOos Se O/JLOIOV rw

rq> ^pca/j^an Be epvdpov. $v\\ov, rrepl

era fJbt<T%ov TrXet'a) SacfrvoeiSf/ Kara av^vyiav,

cocrrrep KOI TO r^5 ot'?;?' /cat TO e' aKpou rrepirrov

rjv eyycovicorepov T/}? ot'^5 /cat SatpvoeiSecrrepovKVK\W Kal \iTrapov array a/xa T&> Kaprra).

Se Kal KcopVKwSrj riva Kol\a, Kaddrrep 7}

ea, eV ol? 6rjpi$ia eyyiyverat, Kwvwrroei&i]'

eyyuyverai 3e Tt /cal p^rivw&es eV rovrois Kal

yXia^pov ovjj,r]i>

evOevrev <ye r) prjrivij au\\e-

yerac aXX' drro rov v\ov. 6 Se Kaprrbs OVK

dtfiurjcrt, prjrLVij1? rr\r]dos, aXXa Trpo(Te%rai [lev

Tat? ^epal, K.CLV/JLTJ rr\v9f) fj,era rqv crv\\oyrjv

ffvvexerar ir\vi'6fjLevo^ $6 6 filv Xef/co? /cat

a7re7TT09 eViTrXet, 6 Se /zeXa? v^iararai.'H Se TTU^O? fieyedei fjiev ov ^eyd\r), TO Se

ofjioiov e'^et /Avppivw. (frverat, S' eV Tot?

TOTTot? /cat rpa/XGO'i' Kal yap ra Kvrwparoiovrov, ov

TI TrXetcTTT/ ylverai- tyv%pb<; Be Kal

6 "OXf/iTro? o Ma/ceSo^t/co?' /cat 70^0 evravOa

yiverai, 7rXt;z> ou /j.eyd\^ neyicrrr) Se /cat /caX-

\io~T7) ev Kupz^ft)' /cat 7a/3 ev/MtJKet^ Kal vra^o?

e^oucrat TTO\V rrapd Ta? aXXa?. oY o at TO

/u,eXt oir^ T^Su o^o^ T^? TTV^OV.

: sc. <pv\\a, in loose apposition to <pu\\ov. Ap-parently the leaf is said to resemble that of O?TJ in its compo-site structure, but that of the bay in shape : c/. 3. 12. 7.

2ttTrap- a^ua conj.|W. ; a^ta a7rai> UAld.

3c/. 2. 8. 3 ; 3. 7. 3; 3. 14. 1. KupvKuSrj conj. R. Const.;

Aid. ; Kwpvd'Sri H. ; KapvtvSrj mBas.

256

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xv. 3-5

that there is a certain hill which is covered with

terebinths,, though nothing else grows on it. It has

tough wood and strong roots which run deep, and the

tree as a whole is impossible to destroy. The flower

is like that of the olive, but red in colour. The leaf

is made up of a number of leaflets,1 like bay leaves,

attached in pairs to a single leaf-stalk. So far it

resembles the leaf of the sorb ; there is also the

extra leaflet at the tip : but the leaf is more angularthan that of the sorb, and the edge resembles

more the leaf of the bay ;the leaf is glossy all

over,2 as is the fruit. It bears also some hollow

bag-like3growths, like the elm, in which are found

little creatures like gnats ;and resinous sticky

matter is found also in these bags ;but the resin is

gathered from the wood and not from these. Thefruit does not discharge much resin, but it clings to

the hands, and, if it is not washed after gathering, it

all sticks together ;if it is washed, the part which is

white and unripe floats,4 but the black part sinks.

The box is not a large tree, and it has a leaf like

that of the myrtle. It grows in cold rough places ;

for of this character is Cytora,5 where it is most

abundant. The Macedonian Olympus is also a cold

region;6 for there too it grows, though not to a

great size. It is largest and fairest in Corsica,7

where the tree grows taller and stouter than anywhereelse ; wherefore the honey there is not sweet, as it

smells of the box.

4 fTrnrXfl conj. R. Const, from G ; tirl irXetov Aid.; eVl

(erased) IT.

6c/. Cytore buxifer, Catull. 4. 13 ;

Plin. 16. 70.6

c/. 5. 7. 7.7

Kvpixf conj. R. Const, from Plin. I.e.; Kvpr^ui U;Aid.

257

THEOPHRASTUS

e Il\ij06i Be TTO\V KpaTaiyos etrriv, ol Be /cpa-

Taiyova KaXovaiv e%ei Be TO fj.ev (pvXXov O/AOIOV

a6o-7TL\ij TeTavov,7r\i]v /JLCL^OV e/ceCvov teal 7r\arv-

Tepov ?} Trpop.rjKeo'Tepoi't TOV Be ^apay/^bv OVK

e%ov cbairep eKelvo. yiveTau Be TO BevBpov OUT*

fjLeya \lav OVTC rca^v' TO Be %v\ov TTOIKL\OI>

la"Xypbv %av96v e^et Be <f)\oibi> \CLOV Sfwtov

fjieaTTLXy fjioroppi^ov 8' ei? ftcWos o>9 eVt TO TTO\V.

tcapTTov B1

e'^et o~Tpoyyv\ov r)\LKOv 6 KOTIVOS'

TreTraivoiJLevos Be ^avOvveTau Kal 7rijjL\aLveTai'Kara Be TT/V yevcru

1 Kal TOV %v\oi> yu,e<T7rtXcoSe9'

BioTrep olov aypia ^tcnr'iKri Bo^eiev av elvai.

jjLOvoeiBes Be KOL OVK e%ov Bia(>opds.XVI. 'O Be jrplvos (pv\\ov p,ev e%i BpvwBes,

e\a,TTOv Be Kal eiraKavOi^oi', TOV Be <p\oibi> \eio-

Tepov Bpvos. avTO Be TO BevBpov /jteya, KaOdrrepi) Bpvs, eav

e)^rjTOTTOV Kal e'Sa</>o?' %v\ov Be

TTVKVOV Kal lo-^vpov ftuO vppi^ov Be 67rieiKO)s

Be TJ (3d\avos" TrepiKaTaXa/jiftdvei Be o veos TOV

evov 6-^re yap TreTraivei, Bi o Kal Bitfiopelv Tives

(fiaffi. (fiepei Be irapa Trjv ftdXavov Kal KOKKOVTivd (botvLKOvv i'o-yei Be Kal iiav Kal vcheap-

> / rf"t /^

\o)CTTe eviOTe o-v/jLpaLi>i rerra/ja? a/za Kapjrovseveiv avTov, Bvo fjiev rou? eavTov Buo 8' aXXou?TOV re TT}<? <^ta? Kal TOV TOV v(f)eapos. Kal TTJV

1 Quoted by Athen. 2. 34; cf. Plin. 16. 120

; 26. 99 ;

27. 6'2 and 63.8 Ttravtv: cf. 3. 11. 1; 3. 12. 5. Athen., I.e., haa rtra-

* tKeivo Athen. I.e. ; /ca?i/o Aid.4 before la\vp6v Athen. I.e.

2 58

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xv. 6-xvi. i

1 The kraiaigos is a very common tree;some call it

krataigon. It has a smooth 2 leaf like that of the

medlar, but longer, and its breadth is greater thanits length, while the edge is not jagged like that 3

of the medlar. The tree does not grow very tall or

thick; its wood is mottled strong and brown 4; it

has a smooth bark like that of the medlar; it has

generally a single root, which runs deep. The fruit

is round and as large as that of the wild olive 5;as

it ripens it turns brown and black;in taste and

flavour it is like that of the medlar; wherefore this

might seem to be a sort of wild form of that tree. 6

There is only one form of it and it shews novariation.

Of certain other oaks, arbutus, aiidrachne, wig-tree.

XVI. The kermes-oak" has a leaf like that of the

oak, but smallerand spinous,8 while its bark is smoother

than that of the oak. The tree itself is large, like

the oak, if it has space and root-room; the wood is

close and strong ;it roots fairly deep and it has many

roots. The fruit is like an acorn, but the kerines-

oak's acorn is small;the new one overtakes that of

last year, for it ripens late. 9 Wherefore some saythat it bears twice. Besides the acorn it bears a kindof scarlet berry

10; it also has oak-mistletoe n and

mistletoe ; so that sometimes it happens that it hasfour fruits on it at once, two which are its own andtwo others, namely those of the oak-mistletoe ll and

6 K6rivos Athen. I.e.; /cctyi^oj UMVAld.6

/teo-TTiATj added from Athen. I.e.

7cf. 3. 7. 3. s

cf. 3. 16.12. 9

cf. 3. 4. 1, 4 and 6.10 Plin. 16. 32

; Simon, ap. Plut. Theseus 17.

cf. C. P. 2. 17. 1.

259

THEOPHRASTUS

il-lav (frepei etc TMV 777309 fioppav, TO Be v(f>eapK TWV 7T/30? fJL(Tr)fJLJ3piaV.

2 Ot Be Trepl 'ApKaBiav BevBpov rt (j/uXa/ea

Ka\ovcriv, o eo~TLv o^oiov TU> rrpivw, ra Be <>v\\a

OVK aKavOooBrj e%et aXX' aTraXcoTepa teal fiaOvrepaKOL &ia(f)0pa<? zyovra TrXetou?' ovSe TO %v\ovwarrep eicelvo aTepeov KOL TTVKVOV, a\\a KOL

p,a\aKov ev rat? epyaaiais.3

AO Be Ka\ov(TLi> ol 'A/3/caSe? <pe\\6Bpvv

j(i Tr)v (frvcriv' to? /xev arrXw? elTrelv ava /j,eo~ov

Trpivov real Spuos eariv Kal evLoi <ye

VOVGIV elvai Orfkvv Trplvov Bi o Kal orrovfj,rj

(f)VTat TTpLVOS TOVTW XpO)VTat 7T/90? T? U/jLa^aSKal TO, TOiavTa, Kaddrrep ol Trepl AaKeBai/j,ova Kal

'HXei'ay. Ka\ovcri Be oi ye Aw/^et? Kal aplav TO

BevBpov eaTL Be fjLa\aKa)Tepov pew Kal pavorepovTOV Trpivov, crK\iipoTepov Be Kal TfVKVOTepov

BpVOf Kal TO ^pWyLta <f)\olo~@VTOS TOV

\evKoTepov /JLev TOV rrpivov, olvanroTepov Be

Bpvos' TCL Be <f)i>\\a TCpocreoiKe aev dfjifyol<\ f If \>\f " '>' f\Afoe /jLiw fjiev i] co? rrpivos eXarTco oe r) co?

Ka TOV Kapirov TOV ixev Trpivov KaTarat? eXa^tcrrai? ^e (Sa\dvoL<; laov, Kal

y\VKVTepov fj.ev TOV Trpivov TTiKpoTepov Be TT}?

Bpvo<f. /caXoucrt Be Tives TOV p,ev TOV rrpivov Kal

TOV Tai>Tr]<$ Kaprrov aKV\ov, TOV Be T/}? Bpvosftd\avov. fjMJTpav Be fyei <f)avepa>Tepav rj 6

KOL r) [lev (f)e\\6Bpv$ ToiavTrjv Tiva

1 Plin. 16. 19. See Index.2

flaflirrepa MSS. ; fvOurepa COIlj. Dalec.8 Hin. f.c. See Index.

260

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xvi. 1-3

of the mistletoe. It produces the oak-mistletoe on

the north side and the mistletoe on the south.

The Arcadians have a tree which they call smilax l

(holm-oak), which resembles the kermes-oak, but

has not spinous leaves, its leaves being softer and

longer2 and differing in several other ways. Nor

is the wood hard and close like that of the kermes-

oak, but quite soft to work.

The tree which the Arcadians call' cork-oak

' 3

(holm-oak) has this character: to put it generally,it is between the kermes-oak and the oak

;and some

suppose it to be the ' female'

kermes-oak; wherefore,

where the kermes-oak does not grow, they use this

tree for their carts and such-like purposes; for instance

it is so used by the peoples of Lacedaemon and Elis.

The Dorians also call the tree aria. 4 Its wood is softer

and less compact than that of the kermes-oak, but

harder and closer than that of the oak. When it is

barked,5 the colour of the wood is paler than that of

the kermes-oak, but redder than that of the oak.

The leaves resemble those of both trees, but theyare somewhat large, if we consider the tree as a

kermes-oak, and somewhat small if we regard it as

an oak. The fruit is smaller in size than that of the

kermes-oak, and equal to the smallest acorns ; it is

sweeter than that of the kermes-oak, bitterer than

that of the oak. Some call the fruit of the kermes-oak and of the aria '

mast,'6

keeping the name' acorn

'

for the fruit of the oak. It has a core whichis more obvious than in kermes-oak. Such is the

character of the e cork-oak.'

4Already described ; cj. 3. 4. 2 ; 3. 17* 1.

6cf. Pans. Arcadia, 8. 12.

&KV\OV : cf. Horn. Od. 10. 242.

261

THEOPHRASTUS

4 'H Be Ko/jiapos, r) TO fie/uLaiKv\ov (frepovcra TOir>'^ * \ v >>' / v ^ v i-\ r

eocoot/jLOv, ecrTt /j,ev OVK ayav f^eya, TOV de q>\oiov

\eTTToi' fjiev Trapo/J.oiov pvpiKr], TO Be (f>v\\ov:v rrp'ii'ov Kal Bd<j)vij<>. dvOel Be TOV

V P> V >' /] /I >V "Ta oe avurj TrecpvKev aTro /Jiia

eir1

aKpwv fioTpvBov TT)Z/ Be /j,op<f)i]v CKacrTov

eCTTlV OflOLOV fJLVpTW TTpO^KCl Kal TO) /jLye0l Be

.IKOVTOV a<f)V\\ov Be Kal KOL\OV wcrrrep

KKKO\a/jLfjLeVOV TO CTTOyLta B

oTav 8' aTravOi'icrr], Kai TI rrpoa^vo'i^

TO B* aTravOfjffav \7TTov Kal warrep a<f)ovBv\os

aTpaKTOV r) Kapveios AwpiKos' o Be Kaprrosw TreTtaivGTai, wa6 a/tta trv/iftaLvei TOVTOV

T e\eiv Kal TOV eTepov dvOelv.

6 Tlapo/jioiov Be TO <f)i>\\ov Kal7; dvBpd%\y e^et

T) Kop-apw, fjLeyeQos OVK ayav fj,eya~ TOV Be (f)\oiov

\elov eX L Ka ^r

Kpipprlryvvl

J'evov '

KapTrbv

O/JLOIOV TT) KOfjLUpW.

8 "OfAOlOV'

eCTTt TOVTOIS TO (f)V\\OV Kal TOf V C'^C>/ ^ ' >' ^ v >'

KOKKvyeas' TO oe oevopov fJLiKpov. toiov oe ey

TO eK7ramrovo'0ai TOV KapTrov TOVTO yap ovB'i > f \ > '

>/-y -\ r> / 5>

<p evo<> a/cr)/coafjLV aK\ov oevopov.

ovv KOivoTepa TrXetocri ^a)yoat? Kal TOTTOIS.

1 Plin. 15. 98 and 99;Diosc. 1. 122. s October.

8fKKeico\au/j.Vov MV, cf. Arist. H.A. 6. 3

;

UAld. 4cf. 1. 13. 3.

5Kapveios, an unknown word, probably corrupt ; K'IOVOS

AwpiKov conj. Sch., 'drum of a Doric column.' cf. Athen.5. 39.

262

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xvi. 4-6

1 The arbutus, which produces the edible fruit

called memaikylon, is not a very large tree ; its bark is

thin and like that ofthe tamarisk, the leaf is betweenthat of the kermes-oak and that of the bay. It

blooms in the month Pyanepsion2

;the flowers grow

in clusters at the end of the boughs from a singleattachment ;

in shape each of them is like an oblong

myrtle flower and it is of about the same size;

it has

no petals, but forms a cup like an empty eggshell,3

and the mouth is open : when the flower drops off,

there is a hole 4 also through the part by whichit is attached, and the fallen flower is delicate andlike a whorl on a spindle or a Doric karneios. b Thefruit takes a year to ripen, so that it comes to passthat this and the new flower are on the tree

together.6 The andrachne has a leaf like that of the arbutus

and is not a very large tree ; the bark is smooth 7

and cracked,8 the fruit is like that of the arbutus.

The leaf of the wig-tree9

is also like that of

the last named tree, but it is a small tree. Peculiar

to it is the fact that the fruit passes into down 10:

we have not heard of such a thing in any other

tree. These trees are found in a good manypositions and regions.

6 Plin. 13. 120.7 \flov conj. Sch. ; \*VK}>V UAld. In Pletho's excerpt the

passage has \t~iov, and Plin., I.e., evidently read \elov.8

7rpippr)yvu/j.vov. Plin., I.e.,seems to have read Trepnrr;-

yvvjjifvov. c/. 1 . 5. 2 ; 9. 4. 3.9 Plin. 13. 121. KOKnvytas conj. Sch. after Plin. I.e., cf.

Hesych. S.v. KfKKOKvyw/j.fvrii'; KOKKOfj.T)\fas U; /co/c/ct^iTjXe'as

P2Ald.10 tKircunrovffOat : fructum amittere lanugine Plin. I.e. cf.

6. 8. 4.

263

THEOPHRASTUS

XVII. "Ewo. Be IBiMTepa, KaOaTrep KOL 6 <eA,Xo>>

<yiverai fj,ev ev Tvpprjvia, TO Be BevBpov ecrrl crre-

\e%a)Bes fiev KOI o\Ly6/c\aBov, evprjKes 8' eTTieiicws

KOI evav%e<f %v\ov icr^vpov TOV Be <f)\oiov 7ra%vv

cr(f)6Bpa KOI KaTapprjyvvfMevov, wcnrep o rr)? TTLTVOS,

7r\r)v KUTCL fiei^co. TO Se <>v\\ov O/AOIOV rat?

OVK ai<j)V\\ov

Kapirov $e [atet] (frepei

/3a\avijpov O/AOIOV TTJ apla. Trepiaipovat, Be TOV

(>\oiov teal (fiacri &eiv iravTa dtfiaipelv, el Befj,ij

ryiveTai TO Sev&pov e^avaTrXijpovTai, Be

o"%eBov ev Tpicrlv eTeaiv.

iSiov Be teal 1}/co\ovTea Trepl Anrdpav BevBpov

VjjL,eye0e$, TOV Be KapTrov (frepei ev \o/3ois

o? TTiaivei TO, TrpofiaTa

Be CLTCO aTrep/JiaTOS KOI etc TT)? TWV

KOTrpov Ka\\icrTa. wpa Be T/}?J

ApKTovpa) Bvofjievti)' Bel Be fyvTevei

OTav J'/Br) Bia$>vr]Tai ev TW vBctTi. (j)v\\ov B*

T/]\ei. j3\ao~Tdvei Be TO

7rl Trj /LtaTucrra Tpia ev ot? /ecu ra?

Bo/covcri yap elvai rca\ai"

/eal edv Ti? K0\ova"r) aTroQvr}GKG.i' fcal yap aTca-

pd/3\a(TTov ecrTiv elra cr^t^erat KOL cnroBev-

BpOVTai TW TCTUpTM 6T.

1 Plin. 16. 34.2

Tvppi}via. COnj. R. Const.; irupprjvlai UMV; irvppr)v(a, Aid.* alfl must be corrupt : probably repeated from ad(pv\\ov.4

0a\avr]p}>i> conj. Sch. ; 0a\avrj(popov UMVAld.5

apla conj. R. Const, from G; 07^01 P3MVAld. ; crypfcn U.

264

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xvn. 1-2

Of cork-oak, kolutea, koloitia, and of certain other trees

peculiar to particular localities.

XVII. T Some however are more local, such as the

cork-oak : this occurs in Tyrrhenia2

; it is a tree witha distinct trunk and few branches, and is fairly tall

and of vigorous growth. The wood is strong, the

bark very thick and cracked, like that of the Aleppopine, save that the cracks are larger. The leaf is

like that of the manna-ash, thick and somewhat

oblong. The tree is not evergreen but deciduous.

It has always3 an acorn-like 4 fruit like that of

the aria 5(holm-oak). They strip off the bark,

6 and

they say that it should all be removed,7 otherwise

the tree deteriorates : it is renewed again in about

three years.The kolutea 8 too is a local tree, occurring in the

Lipari islands. It is a tree of good size, and bears

its fruit, which is as large as a lentil, in pods ; this

fattens sheep wonderfully. It grows from seed, andalso grows very well from sheep-droppings. Thetime for sowing it is the setting of Arcturus

;and

one should first soak the seed and sow it when it is

already sprouting in the water. It has a leaf like

telis9(fenugreek). At first it grows for about three

years with a single stem, and in this period men cut

their walking-sticks from it;

for it seems that it

makes excellent ones. And, if the top is cut off

during this period, it dies, for it makes no side-

shoots. After this period it divides, and in the

fourth year develops into a tree.

6cf. 1. 5. 2 ; 4. 15. 1 ; Plin. 17. 234.

7a.Qatpe'iv conj. Coraes ; SiaipeiV P2Ald.

8cf. 1. 11. 2; 3. 17. 3.

9T^jAei conj. R. Const, from G, faeno graeco ; rl\*t UMV;Aid.

265

THEOPHRASTUS

3 'H 8e Trepl Ti]i> "IBrjv, YJV Ka\ovcri KO\oLTiav,

eTepov elB6$ eaTLv, 6a/j,voeiBe$ Be Kai oVoe? Kai

7TO\vfJidcr^a\ov) airdvLov Be, ov TTO\V- e%ei Be

(j)V\\OV Ba(f)VOtBeS 7T\aTV(f)V\\OV Bd^aTpoyyv\a)Tepov /cal fjiel^ov wcr$' O/JLOLOV

TO) T/}? vrreXea?, Trpo/jUjKecrTepov Se,

iri OaTepa ')(\oepov OTrtcrdev Se eiriXevKalvov, teal

e/c TWV OTTidQev TaT? Xevrrat? Icrl K re

KOI fj,era^v rwv 7r\vpoiB(ai> UTTO

KaTareivovuwv' <fi\oibv 8' ov \elov

olov TOV TT}? d/ji7Te\ov TO Be %v\ov crK\r)povKCU TTVKVOV pl^CLS 8e 7ri7TO\aLOUS KOi

teal [JLavds ouXa? S' eVtore, KCU %av6d<s

Kapirov & OVK e^eiv (fracrlv ovSe dv6o<$' rrjv 8e

/copvvdoSrj Ka^pw KOL TOU? 6cf)0a'\./jLOvs TOI>? TrapdTO, (>v\\a Xetof? (7<j)6$pa real \nrapovs KCU

\evKovs ry a^j/jiari $6 /ca^pvcoSei^' aTTOKOTrev Be

KOI eTTi/cavOev 7rapa<f)V6Tai Kai dva/3\acrTdvi."T5- c-\ \ /o- \ \ VvTS" ' ' fLOia oe Kai race ra Trepi TIJV Lbrjv eGTiv, OLOI>

r] re 'A\edvBpta /ca\ov/jLvr) Bdcfrvrj /cal Wfcrj T^?

Kai a/Z7reXo?. rr}? ^ev ovv Sa<^^^? eV rovry TO

iBiov, OTL 7ri<f)v\\6Kap7r6v ecrnv, wo~7rep Kait]

Kevrpojivppivr)' d/jL^OTepai yap TOV Kapjrovovaiv K T/}? pa^ew? TOV <f>v\\ov.

'H Be (7VKt) OajuvwBes JJLZV Kai o

8' e%ov a)o~Te Kai Trr/^valov elvai TIJV irepi-

TO Be v\ov eTrecrTpa/jL/jievov ryXicrxpov

fj,ev \eiov Kai dvo^ov dvwOev Be irepi-

1 Ko\otrtav (? Ko\oireav) U. cf. 1. 11. 2; 3. 17. 2. '\Vhich-

ever spelling is correct should probably be adopted in all

three places.2

c/. 3. 11. 3.

266

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xvn. 3-5

The tree found about Mount Ida, called koloitia,1

is a distinct kind and is shrubby and branching with

many boughs ; but it is rather rare. It has a leaf

like that of the ' broad-leaved'

bay,2 but rounder

and larger, so that it looks like that of the elm,but it is more oblong : the colour on both sides is

green, but the base is whitish;

in this part it is

very fibrous, because of its fine fibres which spring

partly from the midrib,3

partly between the ribs 4

(so to call them) which run out from the midrib.

The bark is not smooth but like that of the vine;

the wood is hard and close, the roots are shallow

slender and spreading, (though sometimes they are

compact), and they are very yellow. They say that

this shrub has no fruit nor flower, but has its knobbywinter-bud and its

'

eyes'

; these grow alongside of

the leaves, and are very smooth glossy and white,and in shape are like a winter-bud. When the tree

is cut or burnt down, it grows from the side and

springs up again.There are also three trees peculiar to Mount Ida,

the tree called Alexandrian laurel, a sort of fig, and a' vine

'

(currant grape). The peculiarity of the laurel

is that it bears fruit on its leaves, like the '

prickly

myrtle'

(butcher's broom) : both have their fruit on

the midrib of the leaf.

The '

fig' 5

is shrubby and not tall, but so thick

that the stem is a cubit in circumference. The woodis twisted and tough ;

below it is smooth and un-

branched, above it has thick foliage : the colour both

3 IK re TTJS ax'

ft' J KC conj. W. ; Kal TCUS j)(ais Kal Aid. cj.

3. 10. 3, and e/c TTJS ^ax^'wj below, 3. 17. 4.4

irAei/poeiSuif : TT\vpoftS(i)S CODJ. St.6 See Index. Plin. 15. 68

; cj. Athen. 3. 11.

267

THEOPHRASTUS

Be Kal (frvXXov Kal <f)\oiov Tre\i6v,

TO Be cr^rjfia TWV fyv\\wv O/JLOLOV TW TT)? <f)i\vpas

Kal /jia\aKov Kal 7r\arv Kal TO fjieyeOos Trapa-

avQos /uia7Tt\a)Ses KCU avOel apa Tyo $6 /capiros, ov /caXovac O-VKOV, epv6po<$

Be /jLecnriXwBiis' pi^as Be e^ei Tra^eta? u>o~av

<rvKfjs rj/jLepov Kal y\io"xpas. acraTre? Be CCTTI TO

BevBpov Kal KapBiav e^ei GTepeav OVK evTepicovijv.' TJ S- N ^ -v j ' > ^"T? ^^

6 rl oe a/iTreXo? (pveTai /J.ev T^? 10779 Trept, ra?

Xof/zeVa?' ecrTt Be Oa^vw^es pa/3-

TeivovTai Be ol K\wves co? Trvya)-

i, 7T/30? ol? payes .l<Jiv CK TrXayiov fjLe\aivaL

TO /j.eyedo<t 7/Xt/co? KvafJios y\vKelai' e^ovat Be

eVro? yiyapTwBes TL jjLa\aKov (f>v\\ov

XVIII. "E^e* Be teal raXXa crxeBbv opt]\ >P>/ v \ 5- / p> v >\ /) / \ i>>

as tota? ra fj,ev oevopwv TCL oe ua/j,va)v TO, o

a\\a)v vX^fjLaToyv. aXXa <yap Trepl p.ev TT}? IBio-

TT;TO? eiprjTai TrXeoi/a/a? OTL yiveTai KaO' efcdcrTOVs

77Be ev aurot? TCH? o/jLoyevea-iv Btct(f)opd,

r)TMV BevBpwv KOL TWV Od/nvcov, o/xotco?

i Kal TWV a\\wv, wo-jrep eipijTai, TWV rr\ei(JT(ov,

KOL pd/nvov /cal TraXiovpov Kal ol'crov [Kal

otrou] Kal pov Kal KLTTOV Kal ySarof Kal eTepwv

1 Lit. grape-stone.a I omit y before S^opd with Sch.

268

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xvn. 5-xvin. i

of leaf and bark is a dull green, the shape of the

leaf is like that of the lime ; it is soft and broad,and in size it also corresponds ; the flower is like

that of the medlar, and the tree blooms at the sametime as that tree. The fruit, which they call a '

fig,'

is red, and as large as an olive, but it is rounderand is like the medlar in taste ; the roots are thick

like those of the cultivated fig, and tough. Thetree does not rot, and it has a solid heart, instead of

ordinary heart-wood.

The 'vine' (currant grape) grows about the placecalled Phalakrai in the district of Ida ; it is shrubbywith small twigs ;

the branches are about a cubit

long, and attached to them at the side are black

berries, which are the size of a bean and sweet ;

inside they have a sort of soft stone 1; the leaf is

round undivided and small

Of the differences in various shrubs buckthorn, withy, Christ's

thorn, bramble, sumach, ivy, smilax, [spindle-tree],

XVIII. Most other mountains too have certain

peculiar products, whether trees shrubs or other

woody plants. However we have several times

remarked as to such peculiarities that they occur in

all regions. Moreover the variation 2 between thingsof the same kind which we find in trees obtains also

among shrubs and most other things, as has beensaid : for instance, we find it in buckthorn Christ's

thorn withy3 sumach ivy bramble and many

others.

8[KU\ otrov] bracketed by W. ; /col taov Aid. ; KO\ f<rot> KH\

otrov MVP ; Kol otffov Kal ofroi U. Only oTtroj is mentioned in

the following descriptions.

269

THEOPHRASTUS

Te 'yap IGTIVrj /j.ev fieXcuva ?}

Be \evKij,

Kal 6 KapTros Bid(j)opo<f, d/cavdcxpopoi Be aft(^&).

ToO re oicrov TO /JLCV \evKov TO Be }JLe\.av teal TO

eKaTepov Kal 6 KapTrbs KCLTO, \6yov 6 p.ev

6 Be /LteXa?4 evioi Se Kal wcnrep ava fiecrov,

TO CLvOoS 67ri7TOp(f)Vpi^L Kal OVT6 OiVWTTOl'

OVT K\evKov eaTiv axTTrep TWV ere/Dwt/. e^et ^e

l Ta (j)i>\\a \eTTTQTepa Kal \eioTepa Kal ra?

oy? TO \6VKOV.

"O T 7ra\iovpo<$ e^et &ia(popa<; . . .

Kap7ro<f>6pa. Kal o ye 7ra\iovpo<; eV

TLVL TOV KapTTOV fc'%6i KadaiTepel (j)V\\(t), V

rf TTTapaol tar/304 ACOTTTO^TC?' e^et yap Tiva

Kal XITTO?, cocnrep TO TOV \LVOV

<nrep/jLa. <pi>Tat Se Kal eVt rot? etyv&pois Kal ev

TO!? ^77/3049, wcTTre/o 6 /3aro9. [ov^ ?JTTOV >e <TTI

TO SevSpov Trdpv'&pov.~\ <$>v\\o!So\ov ^e Kal ov%t} pdnvos dei(f)v\\ov.Be Kal TOV fiaTOv 7r\eico yevri, /jLeyiGTrjv Be

Siatyopdv OTL 6 p.V 6pOo(f)v^ Kal vtyoso S' eVi T/}? 77}? Kal evOvs KUTCO vevtov Kal

OTav (TvvdTfTrj TTJ yy pi^ovfJLevos ird\iv, ov

Ka\ov<7L TLves xa/jLaLftaTov. TO Be

TOV Kapirov vTrepv9pov e^ei Kal 7rapa7T\i'](Tiov TO)

TT}? poa?" ecrTt, Be ddfjivov Kal BevBpov fieTa^v Kal

Tat9 poais, TO Be (f)v\\ov a

1

cf. 1. 9. 4; 3. 18. 12; C.P. 1. 10. 7.- .Some words are missing, which described various forms

of traXiovpos, alluded to in travra TO.VTO. (IScll.). cf. 4. 3. 3,

where an African ira\ioupos is described.3

KaOatrepfl <f>u\\y conj. W., cf. 3. 11.2; Ka6dn{p rJ) <f>v\\oi>

UMV.270

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xvm. 2-4

1 Thus of buckthorn there is the black and the

white form, and there is difference in the fruit,

though both bear thorns.

Of the withy there is a black and a white form;

the flower and fruit of each respectively correspondin colour to the name

; but some specimens are, as

it were, intermediate, the flower being purplish, andneither wine-coloured nor whitish as in the others.

The leaves in the white kind are also slenderer and

smoother, as also are the branches.

There is variation also in the Christ's thorn . . .2

all these forms are fruit-bearing. Christ's thorn has

its fruit in a sort of pod, resembling a leaf,3 which

contains three or four seeds. Doctors bruise 4 themand use them against coughs ;

for they have a certain

viscous and oily character, like linseed. The shrub

grows in wet and dry places alike, like the bramble. 6

But it is deciduous, and not evergreen like buckthorn.

Of the bramble again there are several kinds,

shewing very great variation ; one is erect and tall,

another runs along the ground and from the first

bends downwards, and, when it touches the earth, it

roots again ;this some call the l

ground bramble.'

The '

dog's bramble'

(wild rose) has a reddish fruit,

like that of the pomegranate6

; and, like the pome-granate, it is intermediate between a shrub and a

tree;but the leaf is spinous.

7

4 K^TTTovrej : for the tense cf. 3. 17. 2, Trpo^f^xovras.5

oi/x . irdpvSpov probably a gloss, W.^aiT UMV (?) Aid.; o8a?s conj. Sch. from Plin. 16. 180.

Athen. (2. 82) cites the passage with Trapair. TTJ poia. TheSchol. on Theocr. 5. 92 seems to have traces of both readings.

7 aKuvOwSfs conj. Sch. from Schol. on Theocr. (see last note),which quotes the passage with a/cavflcDSej ; ayvwtits UAld.; so

also Athen. I.e. Plin. (24. 121) seems to have read Ix^wSes

(vestigio hominis simile).

271

THEOPHRASTUS

TT)? Be pov TO jjiev dppev TO Be 6rj\vTW TO fjiev citcapTrov eivai TO Be KapTfifiov. OVK

Be ovBe ra? pdftBovs vtyrjXds ovBe

8' OJJLOLOV TTT\ea TrXrjv fjbiKpov

KOI erri&acrv. TWV Be K\WVIWV TWV

% laov TO, (f)v\\a et? Buo, KCLT a\\r)\a Be e/c TWV

TrXayiwv ware aTOL^elv. fiaTTTOVcri Be TOVTW teal

ol arcvToBeifrai, TO. Bep/jLdTa TO, \evKa.

\ev/cbv /SoT/oucoSe?, rw a^/jiaTi, Be TO

o(TT\iyya<; e^ov wcnrep real o ftoTpvs' airavdr)-

os Be o tcapTrds a/Jia Trj aTa^vXrj epvOpaiveTai,

JLVOVTCIl OLOV <f)dKol \7TTol CTVyK6LfjLVOl'

Be TO cr^tj/jLaKOL TOVTCOV. e%ei Be TO

TOVTO o /caXetrat poO? ev avTU)

o Kol T^? pov BitjTTij/jLevr]*; %(, 7ro\\aKi<f'

eViTToXato? tcai [Jiovofyvris W<TT ava-

paBiws o\oppL^a' TO Be %v\ov evTe-

%i, evfyOapTOv be Kal KOTfTo^evov. iv

Tra(TL Be yiyveTai rot? TOTTOIS, evOevel Be /jt,d\i(TTa

v rot? dpyiXwBecri.

TIoXveiBrjs Be 6 KLTTOS' KOI yap eTriyeios, 6 Be

et? u\^o? alpo^evos' Kal T&V ev v-^rei TrKeiw yevrj.

Tpia 8' ovv fyaiveTai TO, ineyicrTa o re \evfcbs

6 ytteXa? Kal TpiTOv 77 e\i%. eiBrj Be Kal e

TOVTWV 7r\i(i). Xey/co? yap 6 p,ev TW

fiovov, o Be Kal rot? </>uXXof? eVrt. iraKiv Be

\evKOKapTTwv jjiovov o (Jiev dBpov Kal TTVKVOV Kal

TQV Kapirov %i KaOaTrepel crfyalpav,

1 Plin. 13. 55; 24. 91.

: cf. 3. 5. 3; Plin. 13. 55.

conj. W.; &oTpvr)$6v U; /3oTpv56v Aid.

4 6 f>ovs ma.sc. cf. Uiosc. 1. 108.

272

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xvm. 5-6

1 Of the sumach they recognise a ' male'

and a' female

'

form, the former being barren, the latter

fruit-bearing. The branches are not lofty nor stout,the leaf is like that of the elm, but small more

oblong and hairy. On the young shoots the leaves

grow in pairs at equal distances apart, correspondingto each other on the two sides, so that they are in

regular rows. 2 Tanners use this tree for dyeingwhite leather. The flower is white and grows in

clusters ; the general form of it, with branchlets, is

like that of the grape-bunch ;when the flowering is

over, the fruit reddens like the grape, and the

appearance of it is like small lentils set close

together; the form of these too is clustering.3 The

fruit contains the drug called by the same name,4

which is a bony substance ; it is often still foundeven when the fruit has been put through a sieve.

The root is shallow and single, so that these trees

are easily bent right over,5 root and all. The wood

has heart-wood, and it readily perishes and getsworm-eaten. 6 The tree occurs in all regions, butflourishes most in clayey soils.

7 The ivy also has many forms ; one kind growson the ground, another grows tall, and of the tall-

growing ivies there are several kinds. However thethree most important seem to be the white theblack and the helix. And of each of these there are

several forms. Of the ' white'

one is white only in

its fruit, another in its leaves also. Again to take

only white-fruited sorts, one of these has its fruit

well formed close and compact like a ball; and this

5i.e. nearly uprooted by wind.

6 KoTrr6lufvov : c/. 8. 11. 2, 3 and 5.

7 Plin. 16. 144-147.

273

THEOPHRASTUS

ov Brj Ka\oval rives Kopv/jiftiav, ol 8'

'A^apviKov. o Be eXdrrwv SiaKe^v/j-evos wcrirep

teal 6 /teXa?' e%ei Be KOI 6 jjieXas Btafiopas a

OUX o/^ottw? tyavepds.

'H Be eA.* eV pedlarais Btatyopals* KCU

rot? (f)v\\oisrjr\el(7'TOv Sta(f)epet rfj re

KOL TO) ycovoei&rf KOI evpvd/j,6repa elvai" ra &e rov

KITTOV TrepHpepecrrepa KCU avrXa- KOI TW ^j/cei

rwv K\rjfidrwv KOI eri TW avapTro? elvai. Bia-

TivovTai <ydp ruves ru>/JLIJ

airoKLTTOvcrOaL rfj

e\iKa d\\a TIJV UK rov Kirrov re\eiov-

(el Be Traaa arroKirrovrai, KaddjrepXliclas av etrj KCU 6ta^eVeco? OVK

Bia(f)opd, /caOaTrep KOL TT}? drrlov Trpos rrjv

TT\r)V TO 76 (f)v\\ov KOLI ravrrf^ TTO\V

TT/OO? rov Kirrov. cnrdvLOv Be rovro Kal

ev 6X170^9 earlv Mare ira\aiov^evov /j,era(3d\\eiv,

8 wcrTrep 7rl r^? \evKrjs Kal rov Kporcovos.

8' eVrl TrXeia) rr}? eXf/co?, 009 fj.ev ra

ffrara Kal fjieyiara \aftelv rpia, r] re ^Xoepa Kal

TroidoBrjs ijirep Kal rr\eicrrr}, Kal erepa 1} \CVKT], Kal

rpirr) f) TroiKiXrj, i)v Bij Ka\ov(ri rives

1

c/. Theocr. 11. 46. Plin. 16. 145 foil.

3i.e. is the most ' distinct

'

of the ivies.*

c/. 1. 10. 1; Diosc. 2. 179.5

i.e. as an explanation of the barrenness of hdix.6

i.e. and so becomes fertile.7 Siartivovrai : cj. C.P. 4. 6. 1. Star, rep . . . apparently

= " insist on the view that," . . . but the dative is strange.The sentence, which is highly elliptical, is freely emended bymost editors.

274

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xvin. 6-8

kind some call korymbias, but the Athenians call it the1 Acharnian

'

ivy. Another kind is smaller and loose

in growth like the black ivy.1 There are also vari-

ations in the black kind, but they are not so well

marked.2 The helix presents the greatest differences 3

;the

principal difference is in the leaves/ which are small

sngular and of more graceful proportions, while

those of the ivy proper are rounder and simple ;

there is also difference in the length of the twigs,and further in the fact that this tree is barren. For/as to the view that the helix by natural developmentturns into the ivy,

6 some insist 7 that this is not so,

the only true ivy according to these being that which

was ivy from the first 8; (whereas if, as some say, the

helix invariably9 turns into ivy, the difference would

be merely one of age and condition, and not of kind,

like the difference between the cultivated and the

wild pear). However the leaf even of the full-

grown helix is very different from that of the ivy,

and it happens but rarely and in a few specimensthat in this plant a change in the leaf occurs as it

grows older, as it does in the abele and the castor-oil

plant.10 n There are several forms of the helix, of

which the three most conspicuous and important are

the green' herbaceous

'

kind (which is the common-

est), the white, and the variegated, which some call

the 'Thracian' helix. Each of these appears to

8i.e. and helix being a distinct plant which is always

barren.9 iraaa conj. Sch.; iras Aid.10 Sc. as well as in ivy; cf. 1. 10. 1, where this change is

said to be characteristic of these three trees. (The rendering

attempted of this obscure section is mainly from W.'s note.)11 Plin. 16. 148 folL

275

THEOPHRASTUS

Be TOVTWV BOKCI Biacfiepeiv Kal jap7; pep XeTTTorepa Kal Tai<f)V\\oTepa

l TL rrvKVO(f)v\\OTepa, 77B* rjrrov Trdvra Tavr

%ovcra. Kal TT}<? iroiKiX't]^ 7;uev ^el^ov 77

'

ekarrov TO (f>v\\ov, Kal rrjv 7roiKi\iav Sia-

. o>crauT&>9 3e Kal ra rfjs Xeu/c^?Kal rfj 'xpoia Sia^epovcriv. e

r]s Kal 67rl 7r\elcrTOV rrpolovaa. fyavepav3' elvai <f)a(riv rrjv aTroKiTiov^v^v ov /JLOVOV rot?

(/)uXXot? on, yttet^o) Kal 7r\arvrepa e^et aXXaKal rot? /SXacrTOi?' evOvs yap 6p6ov<> e%i, Kal

ov% wairep rj erepa KaraKCKa/jL/jLevr], Kal St,a

\7rr6rr)ra Kal Bia TO ^KO^ T?}? Be

Kal ftpa^vTepoi Kal Tra^vrepot. Kal 6

orav arTai, orreovaOai JLereaioi' eet Kal

opOov rbv /3

y Tlo\vppio<; /AW ovv arras KLTTOS Kal TrvKvoppi-

crvve<TTpa/jipevos rat? pl^ais Kal j^vXcoSeai Kal

Kal OVK ayav [3a8vppi%o<$, f^d\iara 8' o

, Kal rov \evKOV 6 Tpayviaios Kal aypLCt)-

Taro?* BL o Kal ^aXevro? TrapafyvecrOat, Tracri rot?

BevBpow aTToXXutri yap Trdvra Kal dffravaivei

irapaipovfjievos Trjv rpotyijv. ^a^fBdvei Be /ndXtara

ird'xps OUTO? Kal dTroBevBpovrai Kal yiverat avro/-\i t \ ^^'^ f M \ \ -\Kau avro KITTOV oevopov. CD? o evrt TO Tr\et,ov

elvaL 7T/30? erepw (j)i\ei Kal fyrel Kal warrep10 eVaXXo/cauXov iaiLV. eet 8' evOvs Kal

1Tai<f>v\\oTfpa conj. W. from Plin. 16. 149, folia in

ordinem digesta ; ^aKpo<f>v\\orfpa MSS. c/. 1. 10. 8.2

KaTaKfKa/j./j.fvr) conj. W. ; KaTa.KeKavfj.fVTi UAld. ; KaraKfKafi-

/jitvovs conj. Sch.3 K*TTw8ous MSS.; irowSouj conj. St. 4

c/. C?./*. 1. 16. 4.

276

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xvm. 8-10

present variations ;of the green one form is slenderer

and has more regularL and also closer leaves, the

other has all these characteristics in a less degree.Of the variegated kind again one sort has a larger,one a smaller leaf, and the variegation is variable.

In like manner the various forms of the white helix

differ in size and colour. The ' herbaceous'

kind is

the most vigorous and covers most space. They saythat the form which is supposed to turn into ivy is

clearly marked not only by its leaves, because theyare larger and broader, but also by its shoots

;for

these are straight from the first, and this form does

not bend over 2 like the other; also because the

shoots are slenderer and larger, while those of the

ivy-like3 form are shorter and stouter. 4 The ivy

too, when it begins to seed, has its shoots upward-growing and erect.

All ivies have numerous close roots, which are

tangled together woody and stout, and do not run

very deep ;but this is specially true of the black

kind and of the roughest and wildest forms of the

white. Wherefore it is mischievous to plant this

against any tree ; for it destroys and starves anytree by withdrawing the moisture. This form also

more than the others grows stout and becomes tree-

like, and in fact becomes itself an independent ivy

tree, though in general it likes and seeks to be 5

against another tree, and is, as it were, parasitic.6

7 Moreover from the first it has also this natural

* efrat conj. W. ; aid UM ; ae\ Aid.6

i.e. depends on another tree; not, of course, in the

strict botanical sense, cf. 3. 18. 11. tira\\6Kav\ov conj.

Seal.; ^nav\6Ka\ov MVAld.U (with v corrected), cf. irfpi-

a\\6Kav\os, 7. 8. 1 ; C. P. 2. 18. 2.7 Plin. 16. 152.

277

THEOPHRASTUS

TL TOLOVTOV C

del pi^as dvd pecrov TWV $v\\wv, alairep evSveTai

TOt? BevBOlS Kal TO6? TftOi? OLOV

VTTO TT}? (/wcrew?' Bi o Kal e^aipov-

T7/7/ vypoTijra real \KWV d<>avaivei y KCLL eav

ClTTOKOTrfj KCLTwdeV Sl/VaTCU Bia/jLl>lV KOl?} I>.

e%et be Kal erepav Biaffiopav Kara roi> Kapirov ov

fjurcpdv o uev <yap 7riy\VKv<f ecrrtv 6 Be

Triicpos Kal TOV \euKou Kal rov yueXa^o?-

51M \ V'/J' '"/) N 5>on rov fjiev ecruiovaiv OL opviues TOV b ov.

TCL fJiV OVV 7Tpl TOV KITTOV

11 'H Be cr/xtXa^ eVrt /j,ev e7ra\\oKav\ov, 6 8e

/^afXo? dKav0ct)Sr]S Kal w&Trep opOaKavOos, TO

& (f)V\\OV KITTO)$6<? [AlKpOV djWVlOV, KttTO, Tt]V

7rp6<T(f)Vo-iv Tu\7jp6v. i&iov 8' OTL Tijv re

TavTijv

Tfl? (TT^/jLOVLOV^ O~lO\->tyLS OVK ttTTO

wo~7rep TO, TWV a\\a)V, d\\a Trepl avTtjv

UTTO TT}? 7rpoo~fyvcrews TOV /JLLCT^OV

Trapa Se TOV Kav\ov Ta jovaTa Kal

rrapa ra? &ia\etyeis ra? (j)v\\tKds eK TWV avTwv

fjiio")(wv rot? <f)v\\oi<; 7rapa7r(f)VKv iov\os XCTTTO?

Kal e\iKTo<>' avOos Be XevKov Kal evwSes \eipivov

W- c/- 1- 10 - 5">Plin - 16 - 153-155.

'-' tTra\x6Kav\ov conj. Sch. ;firavhSxaiiXov V. c/. 3. 18. 10.

3 KaiAbs conj. R. Const.; nap-irks UMVAld.4TuArjpoV conj. W. ; j/orrjpoj' Ald.U (corrected).

6ravrrjv: cf. ri 6u\aKuSfi TOVTO, 3. 7. 3. Is the pronoun

278

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xvni. 10-11

characteristic, that it regularly puts forth roots from

the shoots between the leaves, by means of which

it gets a hold of trees and walls, as if these roots

were made by nature on purpose. Wherefore also

by withdrawing and drinking up the moisture it

starves its host, while, if it is cut off below, it is able

to survive and live. There are also other not incon-

siderable differences in the fruit ;both in the white

and in the black kind it is in some cases rather

sweet, in others extremely bitter;in proof whereof

birds eat one but not the other. Such are the

facts about ivy.The smilax 1 is parasitic,

2 but its stem 3 is thornyand has, as it were, straight thorns ; the leaf is ivy-

like small and without angles, and makes a callus 4

at the junction with the stalk. A peculiarity of

it is its conspicuous5 slender midrib, so to call it,

which divides it in two ; also the fact that the

thread-like branchings6 do not start from this, as in

other leaves, but are carried in circles round it,

starting from the junction of the leaflet with the

leaf. And at the joints of the stem 7 and the

spaces between the leaves there grows from the

same stalk as the leaves a fine spiral tendril. 8 Theflower is white and fragrant like a lily

9 The fruit

deictic, referring to an actual specimen shewn in lecture ?

cf. also 4. 7. 1.

68aXT)i|'js Aid.; 5taAei'i|/eis UMV. A mistake probably

due to SiaAetyeis below, where it is right. Sid\r)\l/is is the

Aristotelian word for a 'division.'7 rov KUV\OV ra yovma conj. Sch. ;

T}>V KavXbvrbv &TOVOV Aid.8 This must be the meaning of iov\us here, qualified by

f\tKr6s; but elsewhere it = catkin, cf. 3. 5. 5.

9Xflpivov conj. R. Const, from Plin. I.e. olente lilium ;

UAld.

279

THEOPHRASTUS

TOV Be Kapirov e%i 7rpocre/J.<ppTJ rco crrpv^vw KOI

T&> firf\.a)6pw KOL fJbd\io~Ta rfj Ka\ov^ievr) o~Ta$>v\rj

12 dypia' KaraKpe^aaroL S' ol (BoTpves KLTTOV rpo-

TTOV Trapeyyi^et'

6 7rapa0piyKio~jjLOS Trpo? TTJV

(TTa(j)V\>jv' d-no <yap ez/09 (Trj/jLeiov ol p,ia"%oi ol

payiKoL 6 8e icap-nos epvflpos, e^wv Trvprjvas TO

7rl irav Svo, ev Tot? fjiei^ocri rpeis V Be rot?

eva,' crK\r)pbs 8' o Trvprjv ev /^aXa Kal

aeXa? e^wOev. 'iSiov &e TO TWV

OTI K 7r\a<y(,(i)V re TOV Kav\ov

real KCLT aicpov o fjieyiaTOS (BoTpvs TOV KCLV\OV,

wo~7Tp eVl rr)? pd/jivov KOI TOV /5arou. TOVTO Be

Bf)\ov co? Kal aKporcapiTOV teal Tr\a r

yioKap7Tov.

13 [To 8' evwvvfjios KoXov/Jievov SevBpov <^uerat fiev

a\\o0i Te ical rr}? Aeo~/3ov ev TU> opei, TW 'OpBvv-

vu> KaXov/jLevy ecrTt, Be ijkifcov poa KOI TO <fiv\\ov

e%et powSe?, /JLei&v Be ^ xafjLaiBdffrvijs, KOL fjLa\a-

KOV Be wcnrep rj poa. 77Be /9X,a<TT7;<7t? ap^eTai

avT(o irepl TOV Tlo&eiBewva' avdel Be TOV' TO Be av6o<; O/JLOLOV TTJV xpoav TO* \evKw

o^ei Be Beivov a)o-7rep tyovov. o Be KapTros

rjV /JLOpcfrrjv /neTa TOV Ke\v(frov<; rro TOV

crr]o~dfj,ov Xo/3ar evBoOev Be o~Tepeov

/jievov KaTa Trjv TTpao-TOi%iav. TOVTO

1Presumably cr. 6 ^SoiSi^os. See Index.

2irapfyytfei 8' 6 Trapa.6piyKifffJ.bs I conj., cf. Trapa6piyKl(ovtri

below; 7raptD77t5^( 8e irapa.6pii>aKl((i $ us U ;T

jrapadprjvaKi^ft 5e us MV; irapa6piyi<ift 5e us conj. W.

280

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xvm. 11-13

is like the slrykhnos1 and the melothron (bryony),

and most of all like the berry which is called the' wild grape

'

(bryony). The clusters hang down as

in the ivy, but the regular setting'

2 of the berries

resembles the grape-cluster more closely ; for the

stalks which bear the berries start from a single

point. The fruit is red, having generally two stones,the larger ones three and the smaller one

;the

stone is very hard and in eolour black outside. Apeculiarity of the clusters is that they make a row 3

along the sides of the stalk, and the longest cluster

is at the end of the stalk, as in the buckthorn andthe bramble. It is clear that the fruit is producedboth at the end and at the sides.

4 The tree called the spindle-tree5grows, among

other places, in Lesbos, on the mountain called

Ordynnos.6 It is as large as the pomegranate and

has a leaf like that of that tree, but larger than that

of the periwinkle,7 and soft, like the pomegranate

leaf. It begins to shoot about the month Poseideon,8

and flowers in the spring ;the flower in colour is

like the gilliflower, but it has a horrible smell, like

shed blood. 9 The fruit, with its case, is like the

pod of sesame 10;inside it is hard, but it splits easily

according to its four divisions. This tree, if eaten

3irapadpiyKi^ovffiv conj. Sch. ; irapo.6pvyKt^ovffav U (cor-

rected) ; irapadpvyy leaver i M.4 This section down to the word av6xu> is clearly out of

place : vd>i>v/j.os was not one of the plants proposed for dis-

cussion 3. 18. 1. It should come somewhere among the

descriptions of trees characteristic of special localities.5 Plin. 13. 118. 6

c/. Plin. 5. 140.7 This irrelevant comparison probably indicates confusion

in the text, as is shewn also by Pletho's excerpt of part of

this section : see Sch.BJanuary.

9<p6w. cj. 6. 4. 6.

10cj. 8. 5. 2.

281

THEOPHRASTUS

VTTO TWV 7rpo/3ura)V aTTOKTLvvvei, KOL TO

<f)v\\ov teal o KapTros, teal /zaXicrra ra? alyaseav /4tj Kaddpaea)^ TV%TJ. KaOaiperat 8e av-

Trepl /J<ev ovv $ev$p(t)v

eV 8e rot? e^}? irepl TMV\KTOV.

282

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. xvm. 13

by sheep, is fatal l to them, both the leaf and the

fruit, and it is especially fatal to goats unless theyare purged by it ; and the purging is effected bydiarrhoea. 2 So we have spoken of trees and

shrubs ;in what follows we must speak of the

plants which remain.

1 In Pletho's excerpt (see above) this is said of periwinkle.2

i.e. and not by vomiting.

283

BOOK IV

I. At [lev ovv Sia^opat, rwv Ofjujyev&v

prjvrai irpoTepov. aTravia 8' ev rot?

roTTOi? KaXXiw ylve-rai Kal fjLa\\ov evaOevel' Kal

jap rot? dypiois elalv eKdo~Tois olfceioi,, KaOdireprot? rjfiepois' Ta p.ev yap (pi\el TOU? d<>v$povs

KOI eXco^ei?, 0/01^ aiyeipos \evKrj Irea Kal oX&>? ra

Trapa TOL/? TTOTCI/JLOVS (vo^eva, ra 8e TOI;? eva/ce-

vret? Kal evrjXiov^, ra Be /zaXXoi/ TOI"?

/j,ev yap ev rot? Trpocre'ikoLS /caXXtcrrr; /col

j, eV Se rot? TraXicrKiois oXro? 01) ^uerare\drr) Be avu.'naK.iv eV rot? ira\KJKioi^ fca\\ia"n)

rot? 8' eveiXots ov% o/iotros\

'Aptcabia yovv Trepl rtjv Kpdinjv KCL\OV-

TOTTO? eVrt rt? Kol\os KOI airvowi, eh ov'

oXct>? rjXiov efJL@d\\eiv fyadiv ev TOUTM

be TTO\V $ia(j)povai.v al e'Xarai teal TW /xjy/cet Kal

TO) Travel, ov JJL^V o/xotco? ye TTVKval ot8' wpalaiaXX' iJKicrra, KaOdirep Kal al TrevKai al eV rot?

7ra\i(TKLOL$' 8i o Kal TT/JO? ra TroXureX?} rwr

epywv, olov Ovpco/j^tTa Kal el TL aXXo &7rov&aiov,

ov y^pwvrai TOVTOIS aXXa TT/OO? ra? vavmiyiasra? oi/toSoza?* /cat 09 8o/cot KO\\I-

286

BOOK IV

OF THE TREES AND PLANTS SPECIAL TO PARTICULARDISTRICTS AND POSITIONS.

Of the importance of position and climate.

I. THE differences between trees of the same kind

have already been considered. Now all grow fairer

and are more vigorous in their proper positions ;for

wild, no less than cultivated trees, have each their

own positions : some love wet and marshy ground, as

black poplar abele willow, and in general those that

grow by rivers;some love exposed

x and sunny

positions ;some prefer a shady place. The fir is

fairest and tallest in a sunny position, and does not

grow at all in a shady one;

the silver-fir on the

contrary is fairest in a shady place, and not so

vigorous in a sunny one.

Thus there is in Arcadia near the place called

Krane a low-lying district sheltered from wind, into

which they say that the sun never strikes ;and in

this district the silver-firs excel greatly in height and

stoutness, though they have not such close grainnor such comely wood, but quite the reverse, like

the fir when it grows in a shady place. Where-fore men do not use these for expensive work, such

as doors or other choice articles, but rather for

ship-building and house-building. For excellent

1fvffKcirt'is should mean 'sheltered,' but cannot in this

context, nor in C.P. 1. 13. 11 and 12: the word seems to

have been confused with ftiffKowos.

287

THEOPHRASTUS

GTCU fcal ravelai Kal Kepaiai al CK rovrwv, enfjL1]Kl Bta<pepOVr<?

ii' Kal K ra)v irpoaeiXwv d^a rrj

TrvKvorepoi re exeivcov Kal la^uporepoL

Taipei Be acfroBpa Kal rj ytuXo? rot?

Kali] TraSo? Kal rj 0pavTra\os. Trepl Se

TWV opewv Kal TOI)? -^rv^pov^ TOTTOU? Ovia

(frverai Kal et? u-v^o?, eXuTrj Se Kal apKv&o<;/JLCV OVK elf i/i/ro? Be, KaOdirep Kal Trepl TTJV

aKpav K.v\\i]V>]V (frverai, Be Kalrj KTrfkaeTpos

7rl TMV aKpwv Kal ^ei/^epLwrdrwv. raina /JLev

ovv av Ti? 6eir) <^i\o~^rv-^pa- TCL S' a'XXa Trdwra

a)? elirelv [ou] yu-aXXo^ %aipei rot? Trpo(Tei\oi<s.

ovfjirfv

a\\a Kal rovro o-vfj,/3aivei Kara rr/v

oltcetav eKacrrw rwv Sev&pwv. ev

JTy yovv aaiv i> rot? 'I&uot? opecri Kal ev rot?

AeVKOL? Ka\OVfJLVOlf 7rl TO)V CLKptoV oOeV OV&eTTOT*

Tri\ei7TL yjLu>v KVTrdpiTTOv elvai' 7r\eicrT7j yapaurrj rr)? i/X?;? Kal o\<w? ev rfj vijaq) Kal ev rot?

6pea iv.

"Ecrrt Be, wcnrep Kal irporepov eip^rai, Kal rwv

djpifov Kal TWV f)fjLepa)V ra fj,ev opeiva ra Be

TreBeiva /uid\\ov. dva\o>yia Be Kal ev avroL$ rots

opecri rd jjLev ev TO?? vTroKaray ra Be Trepl ras

Kopvfpds, axne Kal Ka\\iw yiverai Kal evadevrj

Travra^ov Be Kal Tracr?;? rijs v\rjs Trpos ftoppdird v\a TTVKvorepa Kal ov\6repa Kal aTrXwsKa\\ia)' Kal 6'Xco? Be 7r\eia) ev rot? rrpoaftopelon

av^dverat, Be Kal GTrtSLSeoai rd TTVKV&

1 I omit at before Ktpatai with P.3

a^ta I conj. ; oAXa Aid.; om. W. after Sch.; 4\A' a

conj. St.

288

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. i. 2-4

rafters beams and yard-arms1 are made from these,

and also masts of great length which are not however

equally strong ; while masts made of trees grown in

a sunny place are necessarily2 short but of closer

grain and stronger than the others.

Yew pados and joint-fir rejoice exceedingly in

shade. On mountain tops and in cold positionsodorous cedar grows even to a height, while silver-fir

and Phoenician cedar grow, but not to a height,for instance on the top of Mount Cyllene ; and hollyalso grows in high and very wintry positions. Thesetrees then we may reckon as cold-loving ; all others,one may say in general, prefer a sunny position.However this too depends partly on the soil appro-

priate to each tree ; thus they say that in Crete onthe mountains of Ida and on those called the WhiteMountains the cypress is found on the peaks whencethe snow never disappears ; for this is the principaltree both in the island generally and in the moun-tains.

Again, as has been said 3already, both of wild and

of cultivated trees some belong more to the moun-

tains, some to the plains. And on the mountainsthemselves in proportion to the height some growfairer 4 and more vigorous in the lower regions, someabout the peaks. However it is true of all trees

anywhere that with a north aspect the wood is

closer and more compact5 and better generally; and,

generally speaking, more trees grow in positions

facing the north. Again trees which are close

53. 2. 4.

4Something seems to have dropped out before &are.

8ov\6r(pa conj. W. from mutilated word in U; Ka\\iu>rfpa

MV; Ka\\lw Aid.

289

THEOPHRASTUS

OVTCL fj,d\\ov et? /ATI/COS, Bi o Kal dvo^aevOea Kal opOo^>vrj yiverai, Kal Kwirewves eV

TOVTWV KaXXlCTTOl' <TCL Be jJL(lVa> JJ,CL\\OV 619

/3a$o? Kal Tra^o?, Bi o Kal aKO\i<*)Tpa

6(i)Be(TTpa Kal TO o\ov arepewrepa Kal

5 ^xeSbv Se ra? aura? e'^et biatyopas TOVTOI?

Kal ev rot? ira\icrKioi<; Kal ev rot? euetXot? /cat eV

rot? aTT^ooi? /cat evirvoois' o^coSearepa yap KOL

fipa%vTpa Kal TJTTOV evOea TO, ev rot? eyetXot?

17 rot? 7rpo(rrjv/bLOL^. on, Be eKacrrov fyrei Kal

oiKeLav Kal Kpacriv depos fyavepov TO> ra

<f>epeiv evlovs TOTrof? ra Be/j,rj (frepeiv ^re

avra <yiyv6/jLeva /jLrjre (^vrevo/JLeva paSta)?, eai^ Be

Kal dvTL\d(3rjTai fir) KapTrofyopelv, waTrep eVi rov

eXexfirj Kal TJ}? AiyvTr-rias

l a\\<t)V elcrljap TrXetw Kal ev ir\eiocn

TO, fjiev o\o? ov (f>v6fj.eva ra Be (f)v6fj.eva /j,ev

dvav^ij Be Kal aKapira KOI TO o\ov <frav\a. irepl

cjv tVft)? \eKTeov efi oaov e%ojj,ev laTopias.

II. 'Ei/ AlyvTTToy yap eariv tBia BevBpa 7T\eia>,

rj T (TVKdfJiivos Kal T) Trepcrea Ka\ov/j.evrj Kal 7;

Kal rjaKavOa Kal eTep* arra.

Be t} p.ev avKdfuvos TrapaTrK^aLa TTW? Trj

evTavda avKa/jiivw' Kalydp TO (frvXXov Trapofjioiov

: cf. 5. 1. 7.2 TO 8e fjiava. add. W.

8cf. 5. 1. 8.

42. 2. 10.

6 o\cuj . . . juevconj. W. ; o'Accs oi <pvrfv6pfva U; ^

MVPAld.

290

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. i. 4-11. i

together grow and increase more in height, and so

become unbranched straight and erect, and the best

oar-sparsl are made from these, while those that

grow far apart2 are of greater bulk and denser

habit 3;wherefore they grow less straight and with

more branches, and in general have harder wood anda closer grain.

Such trees exhibit nearly the same differences,whether the position be shady or sunny, windless or

windy ;for trees growing in a sunny or windy

position are more branched shorter and less straight.Further that each tree seeks an appropriate positionand climate is plain from the fact that some districts

bear some trees but not others ; (the latter do not

grow there of their own accord, nor can they easilybe made to grow), and that, even if they obtain a

hold, they do not bear fruit as was said 4 of the

date-palm the sycamore and others ; for there are

many trees which in many places either do not growat all, or,

5 if they do, do not thrive nor bear fruit,

but are in general of inferior quality. And perhapswe should discuss this matter, so far as our enquiries

go.

Of the trees special to Egypt, and of the carob.

11. 6 Thus in Egypt there are a number of trees

which are peculiar7 to that country, the sycamore

the tree called persea the balanos the acacia andsome others.

Now the sycamore to a certain extent resemblesthe tree which bears that name 8 in our country ; its

8 Plin. 13. 56 and 57.7 tSia conj. R. Const. ; fvia. Aid.*

i.e. mulberry. See Index.

291

THEOPHRASTUS

Kal TO pAyeOos Kal TTJV o\r)v Trpoao^iv, TOV

Be Kapjrov iBi(i)S (frepei Trapa ra aXXa, KaOcnrepKal ev TO?? e' ap^r}?' ov jap CLTTO TWV

*

CLTCO TWV aKp/JLOl>(i)V aXX* K TOV

GVKQV KOI rfj otyet

Be r

7rapa7r\rj(TLOV, TW %fXw 8e KOI rfj y\VKvrr^nrot? o\vv6oi<$, 7T\r)V ryKvKVTepov TTO\V KCU rcey-

OVK e^ovra, 7r\ij0i Be iroX.vv.

7TTT61V OV BvVdTat,fJLT)

ZTTLKViaQ}

VTCL' d\\'

? eTrircvi^ovcriv a 6' av

7TLKVi,o~0fj TTapraia Trerrerat,' TOVTWV 8' afyai-

peOevTcav 7rd\iv aX-Xa <uerat Kal ct\\a Kal ex

rov avTOV TOTTOV fjLTjBev Trapa\\uTToi>Ta- Kal

TOV@' ol fjiev rpl? ol Be TC\eovaKi<s (f>ao~l yiveaOai.2 7ro\vo7rov Be TO BevBpov o~<f)6Bpa eaTi Kal TO %v\ovavTOV et? TroXXa xpijai/jiov. iBiov Be %eiv BoKel

Trapa raXXa* TfiirjOev yap evdvs *)(\u>p6v eo~Ti'

avaiveTai Be epfivdiov et? (BoOpov Be e/ji/3d\\ovo-i

Kal et? ra? Xt/m*9 evdvs Kal Tapi^evovo-f8' eV TW ftvdy fyipaiveTai- Kal

reXect)? ^ijpbv yevrjTai, ror6 dvafyepeTai Kal einvel

Kal BoKel TOTC Ko\w<f TTapixevo~0ai' yiverai yapKal fJLavov. rj //,e*>

ovv

ra?3 "EjOiKe Be T? TrapaTT\rio~ia r) fyvais elvai

TT)? eV KpiJTrj AraXouyLteV^? KfTrpta?

yap e/ceivrj <f>epei TOV Kapirov CK TOV

l K TO)V TTa^VTCLTWV CLKpefJiOVdiV, TTXr/f OTl

rro^ Tiva d(f)ir)o~t, [UKpov a$>v\\ov wo~7rep

pityov, 7T/?09 a) ye 6 KapTros. TO Be crTXe^o9 /Jieya

11. 1. 7; c/. 1. 14 2.

3c/. G.P. 1. 17. 9; Diosc. 1. 127; Athen. 2. 36. This

292

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. n. 1-3

leaf is similar, its size, and its general appearance ;

but it bears its fruit in a quite peculiar manner, as

was said at the very outset l; it is borne not on the

shoots or branches, but on the stem ;in size it is as

large as a fig, which it resembles also in appearance,but in flavour and sweetness it is like the c immature

figs,' except that it is much sweeter and contains

absolutely no seeds, and it is produced in largenumbers. It cannot ripen unless it is scraped ; but

they scrape it with iron c claws' 2

; the fruits thus

scraped ripen in four days. If these are removed,others and others again grow from exactly the same

point, and this some say occurs three times over,

others say it can happen more times than that.

Again the tree is very full of sap, and its wood is

useful for many purposes. There is another peculiar

property which it appears to possess ; when it is

cut, it is at first green, but it dries in deep water 3;

they put it at once in a hole or in pools and so season

it ;and it becomes dry by being soaked in the deep

water, and when it is completely dry, it is fetched upand floats and is then thought to be duly seasoned

;

for it is now light and porous. Such are the

peculiarities of the sycamore.Somewhat similar appears to be the character of

the tree which in Crete is called the '

Cyprian fig' 4

(sycamore). For this also bears its fruit on the stemand on the thickest branches

;but in this case there

is a small leafless shoot, like a root, to which the

fruit is attached. The stem is large and like the

scraping was the prophet Amos' occupation : c/. Amos 7. 14.

comm.8 tn&eiov conj. W.; fls ^vOov UMVPAld. ? to j8i$0y t>f.

4 See Index, c/. Athen. 3. 11 ; Plin. 13. 58 ; Diosc. 1. 127. 3.

293

THEOPHRASTUS

KOI TfapoiJiOLOv rf) \evKrj, <j)v\\ov Be rfj TrveXe'a.

TreTraivei Be rerrapa? KapTrovs, oaanrep avTou Kal

ai /3Xa<rr?7(7et9B ovBeva Be Trerraivei ^ eVtryLir;-

^ TOV epivov real e/cpvevros TOV OTTOV. 7; Se

TW crvK( KOL ra

rot?

4 (TauTi? Se 7rapa7T\r)(TLa Kal i}i> ol "Iwi^e? Kt

viav KciKovcnv" eV TOV crreXe^Of? 7^/3 /cat aim;

(frepei TOV Tr\et(TTOV Kapirov, dvro Se rwy a

cocnrep eiTCOpev, b\i<yov. o 8e

KaXovcri Tives KL^VITTLOV CTVKOV

ou <yivTai yap o\ft>s Trept AXyuTTTOV a\\ ev ^KOL ev 'Icovia Se Kal irepl KVL&OV Kal 'PuSov.

aei(j)v\\ov Se Kal avOos K\evKov e%ov Kal TL

, I^TI ueTecopi^ov Be &<f)6$pa Kal oXw?TCOV KaTO) Trapa(3\ao~Ti]TiKov ava>0ev Be

jievov. ^Xei ^ a^a Kal TOV evov Kal

TOV veov Kapnov a<paipov/jievov jap OaTepovKvva Kal 6 ere/309 evtfvs fyavepos Kvovuei'

KveTai jap (b&Trep (SoTpvs O/JLOO-^J/JLCOV etr' av

8el$ avOel irepl 'Apierovpov Kal larn^epiav euro

TOVTOV B)j Bia/jieva TOV ^ei/^Mva /J>XPl Kuz^o?. 7}

fjiev ovv o/xoiorT;? OTL areXe^o/ca/OTra #at raura*

Biacj)opal Be at elpvjfj,evai jrpos Tr)V avKajjiivov^)

6 'Ez/ AlyvTTTM 8' eaTiv eTepov ?} Trepcrea KaXov-

aevov, TTJ aev Trpocro^rei fjieya Kal Ka\6v, irapa-

TT\i](Jiov Be ad\i(?Ta TTJ CLTTLM Kal (j)i>\\.ois

avSecn Kal a/cpe/zocrt Kal TW 6'Xro

conj. R. Const., etc., cf. Athen. I.e.', Jfaa vire

U (corrected) ;ocra virep av-rbv M

; otra virtp avrov Aid.2 Plin. 13. 59. 1. H.

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. n. 3-5

abele, but the leaf is like that of the elm. It ripensits fruit four times a year, having also 1 four periodsof growth ; but it ripens no fruit unless the (

fig'

is

split and the juice let out. The sweet taste resemblesthat of the fig, and the inside of the fruit is like

that of wild h'gs : it is as large as a plum.2(Like this too is the tree which the lonians call

carob;

for this too bears most of its fruit on the

stem, though it bears a little also on the branches, as

we said. 3 The fruit is in a pod ; some call it the'

Egyptian fig'-

erroneously ; for it does not occur at

all in Egypt, but in Syria and Ionia and also in

Cnidos and Rhodes. It is evergreen and has a

whitish flower and is somewhat acrid; it does not

attain to a great height, and it sends out side-shoots

entirely from its lower parts, while it withers above.

It has on it at the same time both last year's fruit

and the new fruit;for if the one is removed after the

rising of the dog-star, immediately the other is seen

swelling up; for there swells 4up as it were another

similar cluster. This then increases and flowers

about the rising of Arcturus and the equinox ;and

thenceforward it 5persists through the winter to the

rising of the dog-star. The likeness then consists in

the fact that these trees too bear fruit on their stems,and the differences between them and the sycamoreare as has been said.)

6 In Egypt there is another tree called the persea,which in appearance is large and fair, and it mostresembles the pear in leaves flowers branches and

general form, but it is evergreen, while the other is

4 Kverai conj. W. from G;KVCI MSS.

8i.e. the cluster, now in the fruit stage.

e PI in. 13. 60 and 61.

295

THEOPHRASTUS

TO pei' deL<j)v\\ov TO Be (f)V\\o/36\ov. Kapirov Be

(frepei,TTO\VV Kal iraaav wpav rrepiKaTaXap

yap 6 7'eo? del TOV evov TreTTei Be VTTO

TOV 8' ci\\ov oo/jiOTepov d(f)atpovcn Kal

eaTi Be TO fJLeyeOos I}\LKOV amos,Be 7Tpo/j,aKpo<t a/it"yoaXcoo7^9, vpcoj^a

Be avTov TTOLwBes. e%ei Be evTos Kapvov, wcnrep\ / -V \ >/ "V\\

TO KOKKV/jir)\OV, TTM^V \aTTOV 7TOA,V Kai,fJL

Tepov Tijv Be adpKa <y\vKelai> o~<j)6Bpa Kali]

Kal evTreTTTOV ovBev yap evo)(\ei TTO\V Trpocr-tl O f V v ?1 '?' V

evpt^ov oe TO oevopov Kai

KCU 7r\^6ei TTO\V' 6%ei Be Kal

ia"%vpov Kal Ka\bv TTJ otyei /zeXai/, wcnrep o

e ov Kal TO, dyd\/jiaTa Kal Ta K\ivia

TpaTrefya Kal Ta\\a TO, ToiavTa TTOLOVQ-LV.

6 'H Be /3d\avo<$ e%et /nev TTJV TrpoaijyopLav drro

TOV KapTTOv' (j)t>\\ov B* avTrj TrapaTrXrjaiov TO)

T/}? fivppiwqs 7T\r)V 7rpOfjLr)Kea'Tpov. eo~Ti Be TO

BevBpov euTra^e? p,ev Kal ev^eyeOe^, OVK ei

Be d\\a Trapeo-Tpa/J,fjievov. TOV Kaprrov Be

K\v<f)eo-i xpwvTai ol /jivpe^rol KOTTTOVTCS'

ydp %6L TOV Be Kaprrov avTov d^pelov. eaTi Be

Kal TW fJieyeOei Kal TTJ oifret TrapaTr\i]crios TW T>}?

Be Icr^vpov Kal et? aX/Va T6

Kal ei? T? vavTrrjyia?.

6 Be Ka\OVJJL6VOV KOVKtCXpopOV eCTTLV 6/jLOLOV TO)

TT)V Be O/AOLOTTjTa KaTCL TO CTTeXe^O?Kal Ta (j)i>\\a' Bia<pepei Be OTL o pev <j>olvi%

Kal aTT\ovv CCTTI, TOVTO Be rrpocrav^rjBevKal yiveTai BiKpovv, eiTa rrdXiv eKarepov

conj. R. Const, from G (recondunt) ;

UMVAld.

296

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. n. 5-7

deciduous. It bears abundant fruit and at every

season, for the new fruit always overtakes that of

last year. It ripens its fruit at the season of the

etesian winds : the other fruit they gather somewhat

unripe and store lit. In size it is as large as a pear,

but in shape it is oblong, almond-shaped, and its

colour is grass-green. It has inside a stone like the

plum, but much smaller and softer; the flesh is

sweet and luscious and easily digested ; for it does

no hurt if one eats it in quantity. The tree has goodroots as to length thickness and number. Moreover

its wood is strong and fair in appearance, black like

the nettle-tree : out of it men make their imagesbeds tables and other such things.

2 The balanos gets its name from its fruit 3; its leaf

is like that of the myrtle4 but it is longer. The

tree is of a good stoutness 5 and stature, but not of a

good shape, being crooked. The perfumers use the

husks of the fruit, which they bruise ; for this is

fragrant, though the fruit itself is useless. In size

and appearance it is like the fruit of the caper ; the

wood is strong and useful for shipbuilding and other

purposes.6 The tree called the doum-palm is like the date-

palm ; the resemblance is in the stem and the leaves,

but it differs in that the date-palm is a tree with a

single undivided stem, while the other, as it increases,

splits and becomes forked,7 and then each of the two

12 Plin. 13. 61.8 .. it is like an acorn (QaXavos).4pvpplvns MVPAld.; pvplicns U.

5tviraxfs conj. Sch.; fvva6fs U; a-rraOfs Ald.H.

6 Plin. 13. 62.7

cf. 2. 6. 9, where the same tree is evidently indicated.

conj. Salm., Seal., etc.; &Kpov UAld.H.

297

THEOPHRASTUS

TOVTWV o/xotw?- GTL Be Ta? pdftBovs (Bpa^eia^ e

tr(f)6Bpa Kal ov TroXAa?. ^pwvrai Be TW <pv\\a>,

KaOdrrep TU> fyolviKi, 77750? ra TrAey/uaTa. KCIPTTOV

Be I'Biov e^ei TTO\V Bia<f)epovTa KOI /j.eye6ei

u\(t)' /^eyeOos fxev yaparpoyyv\ov Be Kal ov

ov ^v\ov BeyXv/cvv Kal

OVK aOpoov Be, axnrep 6 <j)oli>t, d\\a/caQ

y

eva' Trvprjva Be fieyav Kal atyoBpa aK\rjp6v,

et; ov TOU? KP'IKOVS Topvevovcri, TOVS et? roi/?

o-rpco/jLarel^ TOVS BLa7roiKi\ovs' Biacfrepei Be TTO\V

TO %v\ov rov <f)oiviKO<>' TO /jiev yap /jiavov Kal

Kal %avi>ov, TO Be TTVKVOV Kal fiapv Kal

es Kal Biar/jLYiOev ov\oi> o~<p6Bpa KOL

cnc\ripov eaTiv. Kal oi ye Brj TLepcrai irdvv

avrb Kal eK rovrov TWV K\IVWV f

TOL/9

8 'H Be aKav9a Ka\elraL [lev Bia TO

o\ov TO BevBpov elvai rr\i]V TOV crTeXe^ou?' Kal

yap eVt TWV aKpe^ovwv Kal eVt TWV (B\a<JTwvKal errl TWV (f>v\\a)v e%et. /jieyeOei Be /J,eya, Kal

yap BwBeKaTnj^v^ ef-avTrjs epev/a/.to? v\ij TefJLveTai.

BLTTOV Be TO 76^09 auTT/9, 77 /jiev yap CCTTL \evKi]

fjBe fjt,e\aiva" Kal 1} JJLZV \evKrj dcrOevifc Te Kal

77Be fJLe\aiva Icr^vpOTepa T6 Kal

, Bi o Kal ev Tat? vavTrrjyiai,? xpwvTaiTa eyKOi\ia avTrj. TO BevBpov Be OVK ayav

op0o<pves. 6 Be Kaprrbs eA.Xo/3o?, KaOdrrep TWV

XeBpoTTMV, a> ^pwvTai oi ey^wptoi vrpo? Ta BepfjiaTa

dvT\ KyjKLOo^. TO 8' dv6o$ Kal Trj otyei Ka\bv,Kal crT<pdvov<i Tcoie.lv e avTOv, Kal <f)ap/Aa-

298

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. n. 7-8

branches forks again : moreover the twigs are veryshort and not numerous. They use the leaf, like the

palm-leaf, for plaiting. It has a peculiar fruit, verydifferent from that of the date-palm in size form andtaste ;

for in size it is nearly big enough to fill the

hand, but it is round rather than long ; the colour is

yellowish, the flavour sweet and palatable. It does

not grow bunched together, like the fruit of the date-

palm, but each fruit grows separately ; it has a largeand very hard stone, out of which they turn the

rings for embroidered bed-hangings.1 The wood is

very different to that of the date-palm ; whereas the

latter is of loose texture fibrous and porous,2 that of

the doum-palm is close heavy and fleshy, and when

split is exceedingly compact and hard. The Persians 3

used to esteem it highly and made the feet of their

couches out of it.

4 The a/cantha (acacia) is so called because the

whole tree is spinous (akanthodes] except the stem;

for it has spines on the branches shoots and leaves.

It is of large stature, since lengths of timber for

roofing of twelve cubits are cut from it. There are

two kinds, the white and the black;the white is weak

and easily decays, the black is stronger and less

liable to decay ;wherefore they use it in shipbuilding

for the ribs. 5 The tree is not very erect in growth.The fruit is in a pod, like that of leguminous plants,

and the natives use it for tanning hides instead of

gall.6 The flower is very beautiful in appearance, so

that they make garlands of it, and it has medicinal

1 Plin. I.e., vdares annulos ; cf, Athen. 12. 71, adJin.aXavvov conj. Sch.; x^w /

J^v Aid.3

i.e. during their occupation of Egypt.4 Plin 13. 63 ; Athen. 15. 25.5

cf. Hdt. 2. 96. 6c/. Athen. I.e.

299

THEOPHRASTUS

, Bi o Kal ovXX.eyovatv ol larpoi. yiveTaiBe K TavTris Kal TO KO^/JLL' Kal peet Kal TT\^-

yeiaris Kal avTO/^aTOV avev cr^acreo)?. orav Be

KOTTT), aeTa rplrov ero? evdvs dva/3e/3\d<TTr)K'

TTO\V Be TO Sevbpov earri, Kal 5/3u/zo? ^eyas irepl

TOV rj{3aiKov VO/JLOV, ovirep Kal rj &pv<> Kal i]

Trepaea 7r\ei(TTr) Kal rj e\da.

9 Kal yap 7;e'Xaa Trepl TOVTOV TOV TOTTOV CTT/,

TO) TTOTafxw fjiev OVK dpSevofjievr], 7T\elw yap ?;

TpiaKocria ardSia direct, va/jLanaiois 8' vBatfiv

elcrl yap Kpr/vai 7ro\\aL TO 8' e\aiov ov&ev

"Xjelpov TOV evOd&e, 7rA,r/y KaKw^ecrTepov &ta TO

a-TtavioLs TOi? d\o~l %pr)cr0ai,' (f>vaL Be TO %v\ovTOV oevSpov Kal o~K\r]pov Kal TrapaTr\rio~iov

TJjLVO/J,eVOV TTjV J^poav Tft) \WTlVto.

10 "AXXo Be TL BevSpov 17 KOKKVfjLrjKea, yueya pevTW /jieyeOei Kal TTJV <f)vo~iv TOV KapTrov ouoiov Tot?

/jio~7ri\ois, Kal TO peyeOos TcapaTT\->]o-iov 7r\rjv

o~Tpoyyv\ov dp^eTai Be dvOelv

, TOV Be Kapjrov TreTraivei Trepl

dei(})v\\ov S' ecrTiv.

ol Be Trepl Trjv r)/3atBa KaTOiKovvTes Bia TIJV

dfyOoviav TOV BevBpov ^rjpaivovat, TOV KapTrov Kal

TOV TTvpfjva e^aipovvTe^ KOTTTOVCTI Kal TTOIOVCTL

iir/

T\7;/ia Be cBiov TL <j)VTai, irepl Me/z,0t^, ov

a (j)v\\a Kal /3^ao~TOV<> Kal Trjv 6\rjv

1

c/. Hdt. Lc.2

ffxao-ews conj. R. Const.; trx^f^s Aid.3

ir\el<TTT] conj. R. Const.; irAe/fTTj UMVAld.4

c/. C.P. 6. 8. 7, where this olive is said to produce no oil.

sr/. Strabo, 17. 1. 35.

300

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. 11. S-n

properties, wherefore physicians gather it.l Gum

is also produced from it, which flows both when the

tree is wounded and also of its own accord without

any incision 2being made. When the tree is cut

down, after the third year it immediately shoots upagain ; it is a common tree, and there is a great woodof it in the Thebaid, where grow the oak, the perseain great abundance,

3 and the olive.4 For the olive also grows in that district, though

it is not watered by the river, being more than 300

furlongs distant from it, but by brooks ; for there

are many springs. The oil produced is not inferior

to that of our country, except that it has a less

pleasing smell,5 because it has not a sufficient

natural supply of salt. 6 The wood of the tree is hardin character, and, when split, is like in colour 7 to

that of the nettle-tree.8 There is another tree, the (Egyptian) plum

(sebesten), which is of great stature, and thecharacter of its fruit 9

is like the medlar (which it

resembles in size), except that it has a round stone.

It begins to flower in the month Pyanepsion,10 and

ripens its fruit about the winter solstice, and it is

evergreen.11 The inhabitants of the Thebaid, because

of the abundance of the tree, dry the fruit ; theytake out the stones, bruise it, and make cakes of it.

There is a peculiar bush 12 which grows about

Memphis, whose peculiarity does not lie in its leaves

8 ffiravtois . . . (pvfffi conj. W. ; ffiravlws rots a\<rl XP- rVAid.; so U, but omitting TTJ.

7 i.e. black, c/. 4. 3. 1.8'

Plin. 13. 64 and 65.9 TOV Kapirov add. Seal, from G and Plin. I.e.

10 October.11

afi(f)v\\oi> conj. Seal, fromG and Plin .I.e. ; ^v\\ov\JMVAid.13 Mimosa asperata ; see Index, App. (2). v\t]/j.a conj. Seal.

from G (materia); oUijfia MAld.U (corrected).

301

THEOPHRASTUS

TO iSiov <iXX' e/9 TO av^alvov Trepl avTo

77 f.ii> yap Trpoao^is aKav&oiSrjs e

avTOV, Kai TO ($>v\\oi> irapo^oiov rat?

I<JLV OTCLV Be T*9 d\lst]Tai TOW K\wviwv, oxnrep

d^avaLvofJLeva Ta <pv\\a av^TfiTT-reiv tyacrlv iTa

Herd TLva ^povov avaftiuxrKea'dai Tcd\iv Kai

6d\\eiv. Kai TO,fj.ei>

iSia r^? %a)pas,. ocra 7'^p./r. * /I ' >' />>_//av cevopa Tt? tj uafj-vovs eiTroi, Ta 7 eTTKpave-crTara TavT eo~Ti. irepl yap TWV ev TW

To?9 e\eo~iv vaTepov epovp.ev, QTCLV

a\\(t)i> evvSpcov.

12r/

A7ra^ra Se ev TT ^ a Ta &*v& a ra

Kai rot9 uiceffi Kai rot? Tcazaiv ev

elvai, \eyeTaiTO Tra^o?, 6 T/5i? az^Spe? ov Bvvavrtu 7repi\a/jL^u-veiv. eaTt Se Kai Tp.ri6kv TO %v\oi> Ka\6v TTVKVOV

re yap a^oo'pa Kai TO> ^to/xart XwroerSe?.]III. 'E^ Ai/Bvy be 6 XCOTO? 7rXeto-T09 Kai KCL\-

Xicrro? /cat 6 7ra\Lovpos Kai ev TICTI fj-epeat, TT) re

Naora/jLtDviKr) Kai Trap1

"A/jLfJuovt Kai aXXo<? o

$oivi%' ev Se Trj K.vprjvai>a KVTrdpicrcros Kai e\dai

re Ka\\icrTai: Kai eXaiov irkelcrTOV.

Se TrdvTcov TO a~i\(f)iov GTL KpoKov TTO\VVrj

fyepei Kai evocrfj.ov. ecrrt Se TOV \COTOV TO

o\ov SevSpov iStov ev/jteyedes rjKucov aVio? r;

eXaTTov <ftv\\ov ^e evro/jLOQ %ov Kai

s' TO [JLev %v\ov fj.e\av yevr) Se avTov

ejgovTa rot? /capTroi?* o Se

1 ndBos : cf. 1. 1. 1 n.

2cf. Schol. ad Nic. Ther. 683 of a sensitive plant called

or iffxvovffa. a.<pavcu\'6u.fra conj. Seal. ; a<pav\iv6-

UMVP2Ald.

302

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. n. n-m. i

shoots and general form, but in the strange propertyl

which belongs to it. Its appearance is spiiious andthe leaf is like ferns, but, when one touches the twigs,

they say that the leaves as it were wither up2 and

collapse and then after a time come to life again andflourish. Such are the most conspicuous things

peculiar to the country, to speak only of trees or

shrubs. For we will speak later of the things which

grow in the river and the marshes, when we come to

speak of the other water plants.3 All the trees of this kind in that country are

large, both in height and stoutness ; thus at Memphisthere is said to be a tree of such girth that three

men cannot embrace it. The wood too, when split,

is good, being of extremely close grain and in colour

like the nettle-tree.

Of the trees and shrubs special to Libya.

III. 4 In Libya the lotos is most abundant andfairest

;so also is the Christ's thorn, and in some

parts, such as the Nasamonian district and near the

temple of Zeus Ammon, the date-palm. In the

Cyrenaica the cypress grows and the olives are fairest

and the oil most abundant. Most special of all to

this district is the silphium, and the land also bears

abundant fragrant saffron-crocus. As to the lotos

the whole tree is peculiar, of good stature, as tall as

a pear-tree, or nearly so;the leaf is divided and like

that of the kermes-oak, and the wood is black. Thereare several sorts, which differ in their fruits

;the fruit

3 This section is evidently out of place ; its probable placeis at the end of 10, so that the description will belong to

the '

Egyptian plum.'4 See Index. Plin. 13. 104-106.

THEOPHRASTUS

, TTCTTau'erat, Be, wcrvrep ol fiorpves,

ra? ^poid^' $>verai Be, KaOdrrep ra

fj,vpTa, Trap1

aXX?;Xa TTVKVOS eVt TWV /3\acrTa)v

ecrOio/jLevos S' 6 ev rot? Awrcxfidyois Ka\ov/jievois

y\VKi>s Kal T)Bv<; Kal da-ivrjs teal eri Trpo? rrjv

KOi\iav dyados' rjSicov 8' 6 aTrvprjvos, eaii yapKOI TOLOVTOV TI evos' TTOIOVCTI, Be KOI olvov

avrov.

2 TToXu Be rb BevBpov KOI 7ro\vKap7rov TO 7'

ovv 'O^eXXof o"TpaTQ7reov, rjviica eftd&i^ev et?

KOI TOVTMeTriXiTrovTwv TWV eTTiTrjSeicov. ecrrt fj,ev

ovv ical ev rfj vr\crw rfj AWTo$ayITiB i KoXov/nevrj

avTij 8' GTTiKeiTCii KOI airkyjzi fjiiKpov ov

ovOev ye /zepo? aXXa TroXXw TT\elov ev rfj

ipa)' TrXeicrTOv yap oXco? ev rfj At/Surj, Kaddirep

eiprjrai, rouro Kal o TraXtofpo? ecrriv ev yapRvecnrepicri TOVTOLS Kavcri/JLois xpwvrai. Biacfiepei

Be OUTO? 6 XWTO? TOV Trapa T0t9 AwTo^dyois.3 'O Be 7ra\iovpos OafjivwBecnepos TOV \WTOV'(>v\\ov Be Trapofjioiov e^et TW evTavffa, TOV Be

Kapirov Bid<j)opov ov ydp 7r\aTvv d\\d crTpoyyv-\ov /col epvdpov, /jieyeQos Be rj\iKov T/}? KeBpov TJ

fiiKpw fjLei&v Trvprjva Be e^ei ov avveaOLO^evov

KaOdiTep rat? poat9' rjBvv Be TOV Kapjrov Kal edv

olvov eTTL^erj fcal avTOV TjBiw yivecrdai (f)acn

TOV olvOV 7}Bid) TTOielv.

1

cf. Hdt. 4. 177; Athen. 14. 651; Scyl. Peripl. Lotophagi.2 A ruler of Gyrene, who invaded Carthcaginian territory in

conjunction with Agathocles, B.C. 308.3

T?7 \coTOtpaytrlSt conj. W. ; rfj huTofiayia. 4>api5( UjNIAld.4pipos : /j.fi(0v conj. Sch. (non minor G).

34

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. in. 1-3

is as large as a bean, and in ripening like grapes it

changes its colour : it grows, like myrtle-berries,close together on the shoots

;to eat, that which grows

among the people called the Lotus-eaters 1 is sweet

pleasant and harmless, and even good for the stomach ;

but that which has no stone is pleasanter (forthere is also such a sort), and they also make winefrom it.

The tree is abundant and produces much fruit;

thus the army of Ophelias,2 when it was marching

on Carthage, was fed, they say, on this alone for

several days, when the provisions ran short. It is

abundant also in the island called the island of

the Lotus-eaters ;

3 this lies off the mainland at

no great distance : it grows however in no less

quantity,4 but even more abundantly

5 on the main-

land ; for, as has been said,6 this tree is common in

Libya generally as well as the Christ's thorn; for in

the islands called Euesperides7they use these trees

as fuel. However this lotos 8 differs from that foundin the land of the Lotus-eaters.

9 The (Egyptian)' Christ's thorn

'

is more shrubbythan the lotos

;it has a leaf like the tree of the same

name of our country, but the fruit is different;for

it is not flat, but round and red, and in size as largeas the fruit of the prickly cedar or a little larger ;

it has a stone which is not eaten with the fruit, as in

the case of the pomegranate, but the fruit is sweet,

and, if one pours wine over it, they say that it

becomes sweeter and that it makes the wine sweeter.

5 irXflov U; ? Tr\eicav with MV.6 4. 3. 1. 7

cf. Hdt. 4. 191.8

cf. Hdt. 2. 96." See Index. Plin. 13. 111.

305

THEOPHRASTUS

Be TO rov \COTOV BevBpov $a/u;>wSe9 elvai

Kal TTO\VK\aBoi', TU> CTTe\6)^6L Be eL'TTO/^eV TOV Be

Kaprrov [j.eya TO Kapvov e^eiv TO B' e'/cTo? ov

aXXa Bep^aTwBea'Tepov ecrOio/jievov Be

y\vicvv &)? evaTOfJLOV KOI TOV olvov bv>/> <^ '? ' J-v'y'*^/*avTOv TTOLOVGIV ov oia/jLeveLv a\,A, rj ovo 1}

T/3649 T^yLte/oa? etT* o^vveiv. qSiw /j.ev ovv TOP

KapTrov TOV ev Tot9 Aayrocfrdyois, ]~v\ov Se

K(i\\iov TO ev K.vprjvaiam

Oep/jLOTcpav Be elvai

TTJV 'xwpav T^V TWV Aa)TO(pdya)V TOV ^v\ov Be

Tr)V pi^av elvai fj.e\avTepav fJLev rro\v TTVKV^V Be

TJTTOV fcai eh eXaTTCO xprjaL/nrjv et? <yap TCL

KU\ TO, e7ritco\\)j/j.aTa xpfjatfai, TU>

Be et9 T TGI/? av\ovs Kal et9 aXXa nrXeiw.

Be Trj fjiif vo/jievrj Tr}9 Aty9v?;9 aXXa T6 TrXetco

<f)veo-0ai, Kal fyolviKas fj.eyd\ovs KCU KoCKovs- ov

/jLjjvaXX' OTTOU fJLev (f)olvi cikfjLvpi^a Te elvai /cal

e(f)vBpov TOV TOTTOV, ovK ev 7roXXa) Be fidOei dXXa

/jLaXi&Ta err* opyviais Tpiaiv. TO B' vBcop evOa

fiev <y\vKv atyuBpa evOa Be d\VKoi' ir\fiffiov omcov

d\\rj\ois' OTTOV Be TO, aXXa (frveTat fyipov /cal

avvBpov evta^ov Be /col TCL (frpeara elvai e/caTov

opyvi&v, w<T76 vTTO^vyiOiS diro Tpo")(rj\ia^ dvifiavBi o /cal 0av/j,acrTov 7TW9 TTOTe a>

TO 8' ovv TWV vBaTwv T0)v VTTO

Kal ev "A/i/ju&vos elvai Biatyopdv eyov

<pveo~0ai Be ev TTJ JAIJ vou.evr) TO

6uu.ov rro\v Kal aXXa iBid T6 Kal

1 Sch. after Seal, places tins section before 3, making the

account of this tree consecutive. 2 Plin. 18. 17. 104-106.3

tijiraxfs ton/, li. Const.; (iiarax^ U; tf/crroxfJ MPjAld.4

c/. Hdt. 2. 90.

306

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. m. 4-5

1 Some say that the lotos- is shrubby and mucli

branched, though it has a stout 3 stem; and that the

stone in the fruit is large, while the outside is not

fleshy but somewhat leathery ;and that to eat it is not

so much sweet as palatable ;and that the wine which

they make out of it does not keep more than twoor three days, after which it gets sour ; and so that

the fruit 4 found in the Lotus-eaters' country is

sweeter, while the wood in the Cyrenaica is better;

and that the country of the Lotus-eaters is hotter :>

and that the root is much blacker than the wood,but of less close grain, and of use for fewer purposes ;

for they use it only for dagger-handles and tessellated

work,5 while the wood is used for pipes and many

other things.In the part of Libya where no rain falls they say

that, besides many other trees, there grow tall andfine date-palms ;

however they add that, where the

date-palm is found, the soil G is salt and contains

water, and that at no great depth, not more than

three fathoms. They say also that the water is in

some places quite sweet, but in others quite close

by it is brackish ;that where however other things

grow, the soil is dry and waterless ; and that in

places even the wells are a hundred fathoms deep,so that they draw water by means of a windlass

worked by beasts. Wherefore it is wonderful howat any time digging to such depths was carried out.

Such, they say, is the special character of the water

supply which feeds the date-palms in the district

also of the temple of Zeus Ammon. Further it is

said that in the land where no rain falls thyme7 is

6fTnKo\\-n/j.ara: lit. 'pieces glued on'; c/. Plin. Lc.

6c/. Hdt. 3. 183.

mHas.H.; Qd^vov UMVAld. c/. 6. 2. 3.

37

THEOPHRASTUS

VTavda, KOI TTTWKa KOI SopKaSa KOI

c Kal erepa r&v Orjpiwv. d\\d ravra JJL\V dSrj\ov

el CKTOTri^ei rrov Trio^va- (Bid yap TO rd%os

Bvi'arat naKpdv re KOI ra%v 7rapa*/evecr6aC),

re Kel &L iifjiepwv TLVWV irivovcri, KaOdirep

rai'^jjiepa Trapa Tplrrjv rj rerdpr'rjv

ravra' ro 8e TWV a\\u>v ^coa)i>, olov

cavpwv KOI rwv roiovroov, tyavepov on, aTrora.

TOL>? Se A//3fa? \jtv on rbv ovov eadiei, ravra

09 Kal reap ^JJLLV ylverai, rro\vrrovv re teal fj.e\av

cvaireipw^evov et? eavro' rovrov Se TTO\VV re

<ylve<r6aL a-^oBpa Kal vypov ri]V fyvaiv elvai.

Apoaov Se del Trirrreiv ev rfj /^T) vofievp TTO'\\^V >

ware ori\ov on rbv p,ev o'iviK.a Kal el ri aXXo

(frverai ev dvvbpois ro re eK TT}? 77)9 dviov eKrpefai

Kal TT/OO? TOVTto7] 8/30CT09. iKavr) <ydp 009 Kara

fiejeOrj Kal rrjv <pvcrii> avrwv %r]pdv ovcrav Kal e/c

roiovrwv crvvecrrrjKv'iav. Kal Bei'Spa /Jiev ravra

TrXelvra Kal loiwrara. rrepl be rov cri\(f)iov

\Kreov vcrrepov rcolov n r^v fyvcrLV.

IV. 'Ez^ Be ry 'Acr/a Trap' eKao-rois tSt' arxa

ra jj,ev <ydp (frepovaiv at %a)pai rd 8'

1Lepus Aeyyptiacus. cf. Arist. H.A. 8. 28.

2 us Kara con]. Seal, from G ; &ffTe ra Ald.H.

308

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. in. 5 -iv. i

abundant, and that there are various other peculiar

plants there, and that there are found the hare l

gazelle ostrich and other animals. However it is

uncertain whether these do not migrate in order to

find drink somewhere, (for by reason of their fleet-

ness they are able to appear at a distant place in a

short space of time), especially if they can go for

several days without drinking, even as these animals,when domesticated, are only given drink every third

or fourth day. While as to other animals, such as

snakes lizards and the like, it is plain that they gowithout drink. And we are told that according to

the Libyans, these animals eat the wood-louse, whichis of the same kind that is found also in our

country, being black, with many feet, and rollingitself into a ball

; this, they say, is extremely commonand is juicy by nature.

They say also that dew always falls abundantlyin the land in which no rain falls, so that it is plainthat the date-palm, as well as anything else which

grows in waterless places, is kept alive by themoisture which rises from the ground, and also bythe dew. For the latter is sufficient, considering

2 thesize of such trees and their natural character, whichis dry and formed of dry components. And trees of

that character are most abundant in, and most

specially belong to such country. The character

of the silphium we must discuss later.

Of the trees and herbs special to Asia.

IV. In different parts of Asia also there are

special trees, for the soil of the various regions

produces some but not others. 3 Thus they say that

1 Plin. 16. 144.

39

THEOPHRASTUS

ov (frvoucrtv' olov KITTOV /cat e\dav ov (>ao~tv e

T/}? 'Acrta? ev rot? dv(o T?}? Sfpt'a? d-no ^aXarTT/?TTtvd' >}/j,epa)v aXX' ev 'I^Scn? (fiavtjvai KITTOV

ev TCO opet TOJ M>?pro /caXofyUeVro, oOev Brj KOI TOT

Aiovvaov elvai jj,u9o\oyovcri. Si o KCU'

8/00? air* e^oSta? \eyerai dmcov ecr

KLTTM elvai Ka\ auro? /tat?} crrpaTid" TWV Be

d\\a)V ev M^Si'a ^LQVOV 7repiK\Liv yap avTrjKOI crvvaTneiv TTCO? T&> rToz^rfo. Kauroi ye

ev TOIS Trapaeicrois rot?

KCU Trpay-ov yap

TctXXa TCL e/c rr}? 'EXXaSo?.TOVTO /jiev ovv ov Se^eTat rj X(^Pa ^la- r ^v TOV

aepo? Kpacriv dvayKalws Be Be%eTai KOL TTV^OV/cat <p[\vpav KOI yap irepl Tavra Trovovcriv ol ev

rot? TrapaBeicroiS. erepa Be iBia (frepei KOI Bei'Bpa2 Kal v\i]^aTa' Kal eoiKev 6'Xw? o TOTTO? o Trpcs

Kal /jLecri}/jL/3piav cocnrep Kal )a Kal

d (f>epeiv l&La rrapa TOL>? aXXof?* olov rj re

d\\a re %et TrXetw /cat

TO /J,))\OV TO Ml-jSlKOV rj TO TlepCTLKOV Ka\OV/jiVOl'.

eyzi Be TO Bei'Bpov TOVTO (f>vX\ov /j,ev OJJLOLOV Kalr>\v ^ ^ > ^ f ~. ''/] c> v v

o"%eoov tcrov TM T?/? avopa^M^, aKavuas oe ota?

a?r/09 7; o^vaKavOos, Xeta9 Se /cat o^eta? a(f)6BpaKal lo-^vpd^' TO Be /JirjXov OVK eaBuerat

conj. Spr.; ^Aarrjv MSS. c/. Ildt. 1. 193; Xen.. 4. 4. 13 ; Arr. /nr/. 40.

conj. W., c/. Arr. A nab. 5. 1.6; *ai rV UMV;

l T$ AU1.H. 3Ae'^fTai add. W.

ie>5i'as UMVP ; 'irSias W. with Aid.

6(firry 6/^ot conj. W. ;

/ra ,ueiYcu U ;e?ra /tr; t1vai MVPAld.

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. iv. 1-2

ivy and olive l do not grow in Asia in the parts of

Syria which are five days' journey from the sea; but

that in India ivy~appears on the mountain called

Meros, whence, according to the tale, Dionysuscame. Wherefore it is said 3 that Alexander, whenhe came back from an expedition,

4 was crownedwith ivy,

5 himself and his army. But elsewhere in

Asia it is said to grow only in Media, for that countryseems in a way to surround and join on to the EuxineSea. 6 However," when Harpalus took great painsover and over again to plant it in the gardens of

Babylon, and made a special point of it, he failed:

since it could not live like the other things intro-

duced from Hellas. The country then does not 8

admit this plant on account of the climate, and it

grudgingly admits the box and the lime;

for eventhese give much trouble to those engaged in the

gardens. It also produces some peculiar trees andshrubs. And in general the lands of the East andSouth appear to have peculiar plants, as they have

peculiar animals ;for instance, Media and Persia have,

among many others, that which is called the' Median

'

or ' Persian apple'

(citron).9 This tree 10

has a leaf like to and almost identical with that of

the andrachne, but it has thorns like those of the

pear11 or white-thorn, which however are smooth

and very sharp and strong. The '

apple'

is not

6i.e. and so Greek plants may be expected to grow there.

But the text is probably defective ; cf. the citation of this

passage, Pint. Quaest. Conv. 3. 2. 1.7 KO.ITOI -ye. This sentence does not connect properly with

the preceding.8 ov add. Sch.

9 Plin. 12. 15 and 16; cited also Athen. 3. 26.10

cf. Verg. O. 2. 131-135.11

&TTIOS: ? here=ax/>a$ R. Const, cf. G.P. 1. 15. 2.

311

THEOPHRASTUS

evocr/jLOv Be irdvv Kal TO (f)v\\ov TOV S&Spov* rcav

et? l/jidrta reOrj TO a?]\ov aKorra Siarypet. XPtf~O~iaOV B* eTTeiBdv TI>X1J <Ti?> TTeTTWKWS (j)dp/JiaKOV

<&avd(Tiuov BoOev jap ev oivy BtaKOTTTei, TTJV

KOL\iav Kal e^dyeu TO (f>dp/j,aKov> Kal TTyoo? CTTO-

/UITO? evajftiav eav yap Tt? ^fn'](rr) ev ^w^w, rj ev

nvl TO eau>6ev TOV JL\OV eKTnea-r 6t9 TO

Kal KaTapo^ija-fj, TroieZ rr)v ocrarjv r)$eiav.

3 a-Treiperai Se TOV ?)/3o? e/? Trpa&ids t^aipedtv TO

SLCL T6TapTrj^ rj Tre/UTTTT;? rjfJLepas* oTav Be dSpov

tj, Bia(f)VTveTai 7rd\iv TOV e'a/30? et? xwp'iOV ljLa ~

\aKov Kal ecfivSpov Kal ov \iav \67rTov <pt\el

yap ra ToiavTa. <f)epei be TO, fj,r)\a iraaav wpavTO, jjiev yap a<f)rjpr)Tai TO, Be dv6ei TO, Be K7reTTi.

TWV Be dvdwv ocra, wcnrep eiTro^ev, G^GL KaOaTrepeK /^eaov TLV eexovaav, TavTci

, ocra Be/JLJJ ciyova. cnreipeTaL Be Kal et?

BtaTeTprjaeva, KaOaTrep Kal ol (poiviKes.

TOVTO [lev ovv, cocTTTep e'iprjTai, Trepl Ti)V HepaiBaKOL Trjv IMLrjSiav <TTW.

4 'H Be 'IvBiKrj yu>pci Ttjv Te Ka\ovjnev)jv e^et

(TVKrjv, ?} KaOirjGiv eK TWV K\dBu)V T<Z<? pt^a? av

cKacrTov eVo?, wcnrep eiprjTai rrpoTepov dcpiijaiBe OVK K TWV vewv aXX' e/c TWV evwv Kal eTi

7ra\aioTep(ov avTai Be avvaTTTovcrai TTJ yfj

Troiovcriv axrirep Bpv<paKTOV KVK\W Trepl TO Bev-

Bpov, waTe y'ivecrOai KaOdirep CTKI^V/JV, ov Bt)

1 Tis add. \V. from Athen. I.e.; 6avdffi/u.ov . . . <pdp[i.aKov

add. Sch. from Athen. I.e.2 Plin. 11. 278 ; 12. 16.

8aSp&j/ j!

W. from Athen. I.e., whence 5ta<pvTfvfrai W. eto.

fur SLCKpurevnrat Ald.H. abp&v TI UMVAld.

312

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. iv. 2-4

eaten, but it is very fragrant, as also is the leaf of thetree. And if the '

apple'

is placed among clothes,it keeps them from being moth-eaten. It is also

useful when one 1 has drunk deadly poison ; for beinggiven in wine it upsets the stomach and brings up the

poison ; also for producing sweetness of breath;

2

for, if one boils the inner part of the '

apple'

in a

sauce, or squeezes it into the mouth in some other

medium, and then inhales it, i't makes the breathsweet. The seed is taken from the fruit and sownin spring in carefully tilled beds, and is then watered

every fourth or fifth day. And, when it is growingvigorously,

3 it is transplanted, also in spring, to a

soft well-watered place, where the soil is not toofine

;for such places it loves. And it bears its

'

apples'

at all seasons ; for when some have been gathered,the flower of others is on the tree and it is ripeningothers. Of the flowers, as we have said,

4 thosewhich have, as it were, a distaff 5

projecting in themiddle are fertile, while those that have it not are

infertile. It is also sown, like date-palms, in pots6

with a hole in them. This tree, as has been said,

grows in Persia and Media.7 The Indian land has its so-called '

fig-tree'

(banyan), which drops its roots from its branches

every year, as has been said above 8; and it drops

them, not from the new branches, but from thoseof last year or even from older ones ; these takehold of the earth and make, as it were, a fenceabout the tree, so that it becomes like a tent, in

41. 13. 4. i.e. the pistil.

6 Plin. 12. 16, fictilibus in vasis, dato per cavernas radicibus

spiramento : the object, as Plin. explains, was to export it

for medical use.7 Plin. 12. 22 and 23. 8

1. 7. 3.

3'3

THEOPHRASTUS

BtaTpifteiv. elal Be at pi^cu <pvo/jivai

BidBrj\oi ?rpo? TOU? /3XacrTOU9' \evKorepaL yap/cal Bacrelai KOI crtcoXial real a<f>v\\oi. e^ei Be

KOI rr)V avco KO/HIJV Tro\\i'jv, teal TO 0X01^ SevSpovevKVK\ov teal

Tfj) fieyeOei /j.eya acfioSpa' teal japTrl $vo crrdSia Troielv fyacn rrjv (TKidv /eal TO

vra^o? TOU o'TeXeyoL'? evua 7r\i6va)vi] e^i']KOvra

j3r)fjba,Ta)v,TO, 8e 7ro\\a rerrapaKovra. TO Be ye

(f)i>\\ov OVK e\arrov e^et TreXT^?, Kapjrov 8e

o KOI eicdXouv avrb ol "Ei\\rji>e^ avterjvBe dav/jLacnw^ TOV Kapirov ovy on Kara TO TOV

SevSpov /jLyedo<? d\\a /cal TO o\ov. (pueTat Be

teal TO BevBpov irepl TOV''

A.Kecrivr)v TroTajnov."EcrTi ^e /cal eTepov BevBpov /cal TW /j,eye0L

fieya /cal f)Bv/cap7rov Qav/jLacrTO)? teal

Kapirov Kal xpcovTai Tpofyy TCOV 'I^8wi/ ol

teal pr) afJiTce^ofjievoL.

"EiTepov Be ov TO fj)V\\ov TTJV fj,ev

7Tp6/J,r)K$ TOi? TWV (TTpOV00)l> TTTfyOOi? OflOlOV, O,

irapa Ta tepdvr), /j,rj/co<; Be co?

"AXXo Te ecrTiv ov 6 /capTrbs pa/epos KOI OVK

evdus d\\a O-KO\IOS ea0i6/j.evo<? Be yXv/cvs. OUTO?

ev TTJ KGL\ia Brjy/jLov efJLTroiel /cal BvcrevTepiav, Bt*

o 'AXe^a^8po? dnreKt'ipv^e /JL.IJecrtfieiv. eaTL Be

/cal erepov ov o /capTrbs ojwios TO??

1 o5 conj. W. ;afs UMVAld.

2a<(>v\\(}i conj. Dalec. ; 8i(pv\\oi UVAld.

;so also MH. ,

omitting /ca).

3

t^Kovra . . . TfTTapaKovra MSS.J e| . . TCTTdpwf conj.Salin. c/. Plin. I.e.; Strabo 15. 1. 21.

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. w. 4-5

\\hich 1 men sometimes even live. The roots as theygrow are easily distinguished from the branches,

being whiter hairy crooked and leafless. 2 The

foliage above is also abundant, and the whole tree is

round and exceedingly large. They say that it

extends its shade for as much as two furlongs ; andthe thickness of the stem is in some instances morethan sixty

3paces, while many specimens are as

much as forty3paces through. The leaf is quite as

large as a shield,4 but the fruit is very small,

5only as

large as a chick-pea, and it resembles a fig. Andthis is why the Greeks 6 named this tree a '

fig-tree.'

The fruit is curiously scanty, not only relatively to

the size of the tree, but absolutely. The tree also

grows near the river Akesines. 7OThere is also another tree 8 which is very large

and has wonderfully sweet and large fruit; it is

used for food by the sages of India who wear noclothes.

There is another tree 9 whose leaf is oblong in

shape, like the feathers of the ostrich ; this theyfasten on to their helmets, and it is about two cubits

long.There is also another 10 whose fruit is long and not

straight, but crooked, and it is sweet to the taste.

This causes griping in the stomach and dysentery ;

wherefore Alexander ordered that it should not be

eaten. There is also another n whose fruit is like the

fruit of the cornelian cherry.4 WATT? : a small round shield. :>

cf. G.P. 2. 10. 2.15

i.e. in Alexander's expedition.7 Chenab.

8 Jack-fruit. See Index App. (3). Plin. 12. 24.y Banana. See Index App. (4).

10Mango. See Index App. (5). Plin. 12. 24.

11Jujube. See Index App. (6).

3'5

THEOPHRASTUS

Kal erepa Be TrXeieo Kal Biatyepovra TWV ev

rot? "]&\\ricrLV aXX' dva)vv/j,a. Oav^acnov &ovBev T?}? IBtorrjTos' o"%eBbv yap, w? 76 877 Tives

, ovOev oXco? rwv BevBpwv ovBe rwv v\ij-

oi)Se TW^ TTOia>8a)V O/J.OLOV ecrTi rot? eV TJ}

6 "I&oz/ 8e Aral?; /3evfj T?)? ^copa? raur?;?-

yevrj, TO /xet' ev%v\ov /cat Ka\bv TO 5e

. O-TTCLVLOV 5e TO Ka\ov Odrepov &e TTO\V.

rrjv >e xpoav ov 0ijo-avpio{AVT] \a/jL/3di>L rrjv

evxpow d\\* 6v0vs TT} (pvaei. cart &e TO SevSpov

^a/LtJ'wSe?, wcrTrep 6 KVTIGOS.

7 ^acrt 8' eli^ai Aral repfLivOov, ol S' ofioiov

ivQa), o TO /^e^ (f>v\\ov KOI TOU? K\wva<$ Kal

rravra ojj,oia e^et T^ rep^ivOfo rov 8e

KapiTOV id$opov O/AOIOV yap Tat? dp,vy^a\al^.elvai yap Kal ev Ba/CTpoi? Tr;^ repuivOov ravrrjv

Kal Kapva (frepeiv r)\iKa dfjLvy$a\a &ia TO yu,^

peydXa' Kal rrj o^rei Be Trapo/nota, TrXr//' TO

Ke\v<j)o<; ov rpa\v, rfj 8* evcno/j-ia Kal rjBovfj

TWV d/jLvy8d\o)V. &i o Kal ^prjffdat

s wy e TO. ladrta TTOLOIXTL TO

OIJLOLOV X l rfj WKafJiivw, TO Be o\ov (pvrbv Tot?

KuvopoBoL? OJJLOIOV. <>VTvov(n, Be ev Tot? 7re8toi?

auTo /taT' op^ou?, 8^' o /cal iroppwOev d^opwcri

d/jL7T\OL fyaivovrai. e^ei Be Kal (froiviKas evia

1 Plin. 12. 25.a See Index. Plin. 12. 17-19.3 Pistachio-nut. See Index App. (7). Plin. 12. 25. Nic.

Ther. 894.

316

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. ,v. 5-8

There are also many more l which are different to

those found among the Hellenes, but they have nonames. There is nothing surprising in the fact that

these trees have so special a character ; indeed, as

some say, there is hardly a single tree or shrub or

herbaceous plant, except quite a few, like those in

Hellas.

The ebony2 is also peculiar to this country ; of

this there are two kinds, one with good handsome

wood, the other inferior. The better sort is rare, but

the inferior one is common. It does not acquire its

good colour by being kept, but it is natural to it from

the first. The tree is bushy, like laburnum.

Some say that a ' terebinth' 3grows there also,

others that it is a tree like the terebinth ; this in

leaf twigs and all other respects resembles that

tree, but the fruit is different, being like almonds.

In fact they say that this sort of terebinth grows also

in Bactria and bears nuts only as big as almonds,inasmuch as they are not large for the size of the

tree 4;and they closely resemble almonds in appear-

ance, except that the shell is not rough ; and in

palatableness and sweetness they are superior to

almonds;wherefore the people of the country use

them in preference to almonds.5 The trees from which they make their clothes

have a leaf like the mulberry, but the whole tree

resembles the wild rose. They plant them in the

plains in rows, wherefore, when seen from a distance,

they look like vines. Some parts also have many

4 Sia . . . /j.eya\a : Sch. omits these words, and W. con-

siders them corrupt ; but G seems to have had them in his

text. The translation is tentative.6Cotton-plant. </. 4. 7. 7 and 8. Plin. 12. 25.

317

THEOPHRASTUS

7roXXou9. Kal ravra /uev ev BevBpo-

Qepet Be Aral crTrepuaTa loia, TO, yJkv

ofjioia TCI Be ro?9 Trvpols Kal rats'

. epejSwQos JJLV yap Kal (fraKos Kal raXXara Trap' I'UMV OVK eaTiv erepa

'

ecrrlv wcrTfr

jrapa7T\i](TLa iroielv ra e^?/ya,aTa Kal/JLTJ

Sta-

ryi<yva)(TK(V, W9 <$>acriv, avIJLI'] TIS aKOvarj. KpiBal

Se Kal Trvpol Kal a\\o TL 76^09 aypicov KpiO&v,

el; wv /cal ciproi ?;Set? Kal %ov&po<$ KaXos. ravrasol LTTTTOI eaGiovres TO TrpwTov Si(f)deipoi>To, Kara

ovv eOiaOevTes ev d%vpoi<;

10 MaXtcrra 8e (TTreipovcn TO KaKov^vov opv^ov,ov TO ^rj/j.a. TOVTO Se O/JLOLOV TT) %eia Kal

iTTTLaOev olov %6vopos evTrtTCTOv Be, Trjv o-^rir

frvKos o/jLOiov rat? aipais KOL Tcv iroKvv ^povovev vSaTi, aTTO^etrat Be OVK et9 ard^vv aXX' olov

(f)6/3r/v, axjTrep 6 Keyxpos Kal 6 eXu/Ao?. aXXo Be

o eKaXovv olf/

EXX?7i/e9 (^aKov TOVTO Be OJULOIOV

fjtev Ty o-^rei Kal TO ftovKepas, Oepi^eTai Be Trepl

H\eidBos Bvcriv.

11 Ata<f)epei Be Kal avTrj rj ^copa TO> TIJV p.ev

(frepeiv evLa Trjv Befjirj (frepeiv r) yap opeivij Kal

a'yu/7reXoi> e^eu Kal e\dav Kal TCI aXXa aKpoBpva'Tr\r)V aKapTTOv Trjv \aav, Kal o-%eBov Kal

waTrep /zera^u KOTIVOV Kal eXaas eVrt

1

c/. 8. 4. 2. whence it appears that the original text herecontained a fuller account. Plin. 18. 71.

Btioryjnnn hah-penne.

3 Sc. of Alexander.4 The verb seems to have dropped out (W.).

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. iv. S-n

date-palms. So much for what come under the

heading of 'trees.'

These lands bear also peculiar grains, some like

those of leguminous plants, some like wheat and

barley. For the chick-pea lentil and other such

plants found in our country do not occur; but there

are others, so that they make similar mashes, andone cannot, they say, tell the difference, unless onehas been told. They have however barley wheat 1

and another kind of wild barlev,2 which makes sweet

m/ J

bread and good porridge. When the horses 3 ate

this, at first it proved fatal to them, but by degreesthey became accustomed to it mixed with bran andtook no hurt.

But above all they sow the cereal called rice, ofwhich they make their mash. This is like rice-wheat,and when bruised makes a sort of porridge, which is

easily digested ;in its appearance as it grows it is

like darnel, and for most of its time of growth it is4

in water; however it shoots 5

up not into an ear, butas it were into a plume,

6 like the millet and Italian

millet. There was another plant7 which the Hel-

lenes 8 called lentil;

this is like in appearance to' ox-horn

'

(fenugreek), but it is reaped about the

setting of the Pleiad.

Moreover this country shews differences in that

part of it bears certain things which another partdoes not

; thus the mountain country has the vineand olive and the other fruit-trees

; but the olive is

barren,9 and in its character it is as it were almost

between a wild and a cultivated olive, and so it

cf. 8. 8. 1. 6cf. 8. 3.4.

' rhastolus Munyo ; see Index App. (8).8

i.e. of Alexander's expedition.9 Plin. 12. 14.

3*9

THEOPHRASTUS

TT) 6\rj JJiOpfyf)- KOI TO <f)V\\OV TOV /JLV 7T\aTV-

Tepov TOV Be aTevoTepov. TavTa fjiev ovv KUTCL

12 'Ei> Be TT} 'Ap/a %<w/o fca\ovjjLei>rj a/cavOd ecrTiv,

e<' 779 rylveTai Bafepvov o^oiov TT} crfJLVpvr) KOI TTJ

O^ei, KOI TTf OfffJif)'TOUTO & OTCIV eTTfXayCi^T;

r;Xio? KCLTappel. 7ro~\Xa be KOI a\\a Trapa TO,

evTav6a KOI ev TTJ J(wpa Kal ev rot? vrora/zot?

yiveTai. ev ere/ooi? Se Tovrot? effrlv aKavOa \evKrj

Tplo^os, % 7)9 KOI a/cvTa\ia KCLI fia/CTrjpLas TTOL-

ovaiv OTrojS?;? 8e KCU pavr)' TavTtjv Be KO\OV<TIV

Se v\tj/j,a /jLeyeOos fJLev rjXifcov pdTO Be <pvX\ov ofjLOLov 8d(f>vr} KCL\ TM fieyeOet, xai

}. TOUTO S' ei TL <pdyoi lvaTTo

& KOI 07TOV 'iTTTTOL TOVTOVS (})V\aTTOV

13 'Ei^ Be TTJ reBpaxTia %wpa TrefyvKtvai (fraa-lv ei>

T} Bd<f)vr) <J)v\\ov e%ov, ov TO, v

OTIOVV el (frdyoi jju/cpov

POVTO 7rapa7r\rjo-ico<; BiaTidep.eva KOL

6/XOtO)9 TOi? e7TL\y]7TTOl<;.

"^Tepov Be uKavOdv TIVCL elvai' TavTqv Be

cf)V\\ov fj,ei> ovBev e^eiv TrefyvKevai 8' eic

/v 5j>f/ r>\ " iiif >' ft

pt^r;?' <peKatJTW oe TWV o^wv a/cavuav e

ol~elav a(f)6Bpa, KCU TOVTCOV Be KaTayvv^evwv 77

OTTOV eKelv TTO\VV, 09

/cal (T^eSbv . . . p.opq>ri conj. W. ; crx&'bv 5e Kai r^v

rep /i6T. KOT. Kal t\. fffri 5e TTJ '6\T) /J.op<py Kal rb(f>.

Aid. ; so

also U, omitting the i7rst Kal.2 Balsamodendron Mukul\ see Index App. (9). Plin. 12

33.

20

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. iv. 11-13

is also in its general appearance,1 and the leaf is

broader than that of the one and narrower than thatof the other. So much for the Indian land.

In the country called Aria there is a ' thorn' 2

on which is found a gum resembling myrrh3 in

appearance and smell, and this drops when the sunshines on it. There are also many other plantsbesides those of our land, both in the country and in

its rivers. In other parts there is a white ' thorn' 4

which branches in three, of which they make batonsand sticks ; its wood is sappy and of loose texture,and they call it the thorn 'of Herakles.'

There is another shrub 5 as large as a cabbage,whose leaf is like that of the bay in size and shape.And if any animal should eat this, it is certain to die

of it. Wherefore, wherever there were horses,6they

kept them under control.

In Gedrosia they say that there grows one tree 7

with a leaf like that of the bay, of which if thebeasts or anything else ate, they very shortly diedwith the same convulsive symptoms as in epilepsy.And they say that another tree 8 there is a sort of

'thorn' (spurge), and that this has no leaf and growsfrom a single root

;and on each of its branches it has

a very sharp spine, and if these are broken or bruiseda quantity of juice flows out, which blinds animals or

3fffjLvpvr) conj. Sch. from 9. 1. 2 ; Plin. I.e.; rfi l\\vpia Ald.H.

4 See Index.5Asafoetida ; see Index App. (10). Plin. 12. 33.

*i.e. in Alexander's expedition. Probably a verb, such

as uia-ippalvovTo, has dropped out after fairoi (Sch.). Odore.

cquos invitans Plin. I.e.

7 Nerium odorum ; see Index App. (11). cf. 4. 4. 13 ; Strabo15. 2. 7; Plin. I.e.

8 Plin. I.e.-, Arrian, Anab. 6. 22. 7.

321

THEOPHRASTUS

rd\\a %wa rrdvra KCLI TTpbs rof? dvOpwrrovs e/'

n? rrpoapaiveiev avrois. ev Be roTrot? rial rre(j)v-

Kevai rii'd fiordvrjv, v<fi fj avveaTreipw^evovs ofaiselvai fJUKpovs crtyoBpa' rovroi? B' et TJ? e/z/3a?

irXrjyeir) 6vi]crKiv. aTTOTTi'iyecrOai Se KOL inro

TWV fyoiVLKWV TWV O)yUW/' 6t T? (fodyOl, KOI TOVTO

KaravorjOfjvai. Toiavrai, fiev ovv &vva-

KOI (t)(t)i> /cat (frvrwv Lao)? Kol irap a\\oi<$

14 HepiTTorepa 8e TWV <pvofj.ei>a)v KOI Tr\elarov

e^7]\\ayfjieva vrpo? ra d\\a rd euoa^ia rd irepl

'Apafiiav Kol ^vpiav Kal 'IvSovs, olov o re

\ij3ava)TO<; KOI 7} a-jjivpva Kal ?; Kaa'ia Kal TO

07ro/3d\cra/j,ov Kal TO KLvd/jiwfJLov Kal ocra aA.Xa

roiavra- irepl &v ev aXXoi? eiprjrai Bid 7T\i6va)i>.

ev IJLCV ovv rot? 77/309 eco re Kal jjLea")i[ji(Bpiav Kal

ravr* iSia Kal erepa Be TOVTWV 7r\eiw eariv.

V. 'Ez> Be rot? 7T/?o9 apKTOv ov^ ofjLOiws' ov0ei>

<ydp ort a^iov \6yov heyerai Trapd rd KOLVCL rcoi>

BevBpcov d Kal <pi\6-^v%pd re rvy^di'et Kal eari

Kal Trap' i]\jdv, OLOV TrevKyj Bpv$ e\drr) TTV^OS

Sioa/3(i\avos (fri\vpa Kal rd d\\a Be rd roiavra'

o"%eBov yap ovBev erepov Trapd ravrd eariv, d\\dra)i> aXXayv v\r)/jidra)i> evia a rovs ^rv^pov^

fjLa\\ov fyrei TOTTOL*?, KaOdrcep KerravpioviOv, en Be rd tyapfjiaKcoBr) rat? pi^ais Kal

Trols, olov e\\e/3opo<$ e\ari]pLov crKa/^uwvia,ov rrdvra rd pi^orouovueva.

2 Ta fjiev yap ev rw Tlovrw Kal rfj paKrj ylverai,

1 TU aAAa bt : 1 om. rck;

Sf uin. Sell.

322

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. iv. i 3-v. 2

even a man, if any drops of it should fall on him.

Also they say that in some parts grows a herb underwhich very small snakes lie coiled up, and that, if

anyone treads on these and is bitten, he dies. Theyalso say that, if anyone should eat of unripe dates,he chokes to death, and that this fact was not

discovered at first. Now it may be that animals and

plants have such properties elsewhere also.

Among the plants that grow in Arabia Syria andIndia the aromatic plants are somewhat exceptionaland distinct from the plants of other lands ; for

instance, frankincense myrrh cassia balsam of Meccacinnamon and all other such plants, about which wehave spoken at greater length elsewhere. So in

the parts towards the east and south there are these

special plants and many others besides.

Of the plants special to northern regions.

V. In the northern regions it is not so, for nothingworthy of record is mentioned except the ordinarytrees which love the cold and are found also in our

country, as fir oak silver-fir box chestnut lime, as

well as other similar trees. There is hardly anyother * besides these ; but of shrubs there are somewhich for choice 2 seek cold regions, as centaury and

wormwood, and further those that have medicinal

properties in their roots and juices, such as hellebore

squirting cucumber scammony, and nearly all those

whose roots are gathered.3

Some of these grow in Pontus and Thrace, some

2 I have moved /xaAAov, which in the MSS. comes before1 UV &\\UV.

*i.e. which have medicinal uses.

3 2 3

THEOPHRASTUS

ra Be Trepl Tr]v OtTrjv KOI TOV Hapvacrbv KOI TO

Hij\iov Kal TIJV "Oacrav KOI TO Te\eOpiov KOI ev

TOVTOIS B TlVeS (paCTL TT\iaTOV TTO\\a B

ev rfj 'ApKaBia Kal ev rfj AaKcoviKrj"

yap KOL avrai. TMV Be cucoBcov ovSev ev

7T\r)V Ipis ev ri} 'IXXvpiSi Kal Trepl TOV'

TavTr) yap ^p^dTrj Kal TTO\V Siatyepovaa TWI>

a\\ct)v aX)C ev rot? a\eeivol<? Kal rot?

/jLecr^/ui/Spiav waTrep avTLKel^eva Ta evctiSij. e

Be Kal KVTrdpiTTOv ol d\eeivol fj,a\\ov } u

Kp)]T7j AvKia 'Po8o9, KeSpov Be Kal TO,

opr) Kal TO, Qpvyia.Be jj/JLepov/jievcov ^KLGTCL (fracriv ev

vTCo^eveiv Bdtyvrjv Kal fjivppivi]v, Kal

TOVTWV Be 1]TTOV TL TTJV fJLVppiVr]V' (Tt]fJ.eiOV Be

OTL ev TO> 'OA,^//,7ro> Bd(f)vij pev TroXX?;,

Be 6'Xco? OVK ecrTiv. ev Be TO> T[QVTU>

Trepl HavTiKciTraiov ovB' eTepov xaiTrep (TTrovBa-

Kal Trdvra fjn^avw^evwv TT^O? ra? lepo-

avKai Be 7ro\\al Kal evjieeOeis Kal

poial Be TrepLCTKeTra^o/jievaL' aTnoi Be Kal

Kal TravToBaTraiTaTat, Kal

B' eapival 7r\r)V el apa o^riai' r/)? Be

dyptas v\i)s ecrrt Bpvs vrreXea /jie\ia Kal oaa

TOiavTa' TrevKTj Be Kal e'Xar?; Kal Trtrf? OVK eaTti> e> \ f/- ' 51 ^ "^^ f V ^ N " v

ovoe oA,a>? ovoev evoabov vypa de avTrj Kat

TTO\V TT}? ^IVWTTLK^, WGT ouBe 7ro\i

avTrj Tr\rjv TT^O? ra viraiOpia.

1Te\f8piov conj. Seh. (in Euboea), cf. 9. 15. 4 ; Tle\t6pioi

UMVP; napBeviov Ald.G.3 Whose rhizome was used for perfumes; cf. 1. 7. 2; dt

odor. 22. 23. 28. 32 ; Dykes, The Genus Iris, p. 237, gives &u

interesting account of the modern uses of'

orris-root.'

324

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. v. 2-3

about Oeta Parnassus Pelioii Ossa and Telethrion,1

and in these parts some say that there is great abund-ance ; so also is there in Arcadia and Laconia, for

these districts too produce medicinal plants. But of

the aromatic plants none grows in these lands, exceptthe iris

'2 in Illyria on the shores of the Adriatic ; for

here it is excellent and far superior to that which

grows elsewhere ; but in hot places and those whichface the south the fragrant plants grow, as if by con-

trast to the medicinal plants. And the warm placeshave also the cypress in greater abundance ;

for in-

stance, Crete Lycia Rhodes, while the prickly cedar

grows in the Thracian and the Phrygian mountains.Of cultivated plants they say that those least

able to thrive in cold regions are the bay and

myrtle, especially the myrtle, and they give for

proof3 that on Mount Olympus the bay is abundant,

but the myrtle does not occur at all. In Pontusabout Panticapaeum neither grows, though they are

anxious to grow them and take special pains4 to do

so for religious purposes. But there are many well

grown fig-trees and pomegranates, which are givenshelter; pears and apples are abundant in a great

variety of forms and are excellent. These are spring-

fruiting trees, except that they may fruit later here

than elsewhere. Of wild trees there are oak elmmanna-ash and the like (while there is no fir silver-

fir nor Aleppo pine, nor indeed any resinous tree).But the wood of such trees 5 in this country is dampand much inferior to that of Sinope, so that they donot much use it except for outdoor purposes. These

8 Plin. 16. 137.4Plin., I.e., says that Mithridates made this attempt.

* i.e. oak, etc.

3 2 5

THEOPHRASTUS

/JLV OVV 7Tpl TOV H-OVTOV Tj V TICTL 76 TOTTOi?

aVTOV.

4 'Ev Be rfj UporrovriBi, jirerai Kal /jLvppivos Kal

Bd<j)vr) TToXXa^oO ev rot? b'pecriv. aroK 6' evia

Kal rcov roTrcov iBia OeTeov' eKacnoi yap e^ovai,TO, &ia(f)povTa, w&Trep e'lprfiaL, KCLTO, ra? v\a<s ov

KCU

KOL TW <ppeii> rj /AT) (frepeiv olov 6

e^et real 6 Mucr/o? "OXf/iTro? TTO\V TO tcapvovKOI T^V 8iocrj3d\avov, ert Be ajj.7T\ov KCU ^nj\eavKal poav i] &e "\&>j ra

IJLCV OVK e^i TOVTWV ra8e airavia- irepl Be MafceBoviav Kal TOV HiepLKov"Q\v[Jb'jTOv ra jmev ecrrt ra & OVK earl rovrwv ev

Be rfi Eivftoia Kal rrepl ri]v Nayviicriav raiKa 7ro\\a rwv Be aX\wv ovOev ovBe Bij rrepl

TO TleXiov ovBe ra a\\a ra evravdab'prj.

Bpa^i/? 8' 6crTt TOTTO? 09 t'^et Kal oXw? rrjv

vavmriy^cn^Lov v\rjv rij<; /J.ev jap EwpcoTn;? BOKCL

ra rrepl rr)V MaKeBoviav Kal oaa T/;9 &paKrj<i Kal

rrepl '\-ra\iav rrjs Be 'Aai'a? rd re ev KiXt^rta

l ra ev 2,iv<07rp Kal 'A/ucrft>, en Be 6 Mucrto?

ro? Kal t] "IS?; rr\r)V ov rf6\\t]v 1} <yap

KeBpov e\ei Kal ravrrj ^pcovrat, rrpos ras

'AXXa Kal ra (f)i\vBpa Kal ra rraparrord/jita*

o/xotco?' ev fj,ev yap rw 'ASpta rr\dravov ov

v eivai rr\7jv rrepl ro Ato/zr^SoL'? tepovdTraviav Be Kal ev

(

\ra\La rrdar)' Kauroi rro\\ol

Kal fjieyd\oi rrora/jiol reap d^olv aXX' OVK

1 See Index.2 Kal ova: text probably defective, but sense clear. ?/cal

TTJS 0. fX f

326

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. v. 3-6

are the trees of Pontus, or at least of certain districts

of that country.In the land of Propontis myrtle and bay are

found in many places on the mountains. Perhapshowever some trees should be put down as specialto particular places. For each district, as has been

said, has different trees, differing not only in that thesame trees occur but of variable quality, but also as

to producing or not producing some particular tree.

For instance, Tmolus and the Mysian Olympus havethe hazel and chestnut l in abundance, and also thevine apple and pomegranate ; while Mount Ida has

some of these not at all and others only in small

quantity ;and in Macedonia and on the Pierian

Olympus some of these occur, but not others ; andin Euboea and Magnesia the sweet chestnut 1 is com-

mon, but none of the others is found;nor yet on

Pelion or the other mountains of that reerion.O

Again it is only a narrow extent of country which

produces wood fit for shipbuilding at all, namely in

Europe the Macedonian region, and certain parts2

of Thrace and Italy ;in Asia Cilicia Sinope and

Amisus, and also the Mysian Olympus, and MountIda

; but in these parts it is not abundant. For Syriahas Syrian cedar, and they use this for their galleys.The like is true of trees which love water and

the riverside;in the Adriatic region they say that

the plane is not found, except near the Shrine of

Diomedes,3 and that it is scarce throughout Italy

4;

yet there are many large rivers in both countries,in spite of which the localities do not seem to

3 On one of the islands of Diomedes, off the coast of

Apulia ;now called Isole di Tremiti. cf. Plin. 12. 6.

4cf. ?. 8. 1 n.

3 2 7

THEOPHRASTUS

eoiKe (frepeiv 6 TOTTO?' ev Prjyiq) yovv a?

Trpe&ftvrepos 6 rvpavvos etpvrevcrev ev TO> irapa-

Beicrw, at elcrt vvv ev rw yv/JLvaaiw, (f)t\ori/jLrjdela'ai

ov BeBvvrjvrai \a/3e2v /zeye#o?.

"Ei'fot Be rrKeiarrjv eyovcn TrXdravov, ol Be

7TT\eav Kol Ireav, ol $e fJLVpiKrfv, waTrep 6 AI/zo?.

wcrre rajjiev roiavra, KaOdrrep e\e%0r), rwv TOTTWV

L&ICL dereov OJJLOLCOS ev re rot? dypiois /cal rot?

ij/jiepois. ov jjirjvd\\d Ta^ av

e^lr) KOI rovrwv

7ri TIVWV cocrre &iaKO(T/J,i)0VTwv SvvaaOat rrjv

(pepetv, o KOI vvv ^v^^alvov opw/Aev KOL

evla)V teal

VI. MeytVT?^ Be Sia<popav avTrfs TT}?

ro)V SevSpayv KOL aTrXaw TWV uX^/zara)^ V7ro\rj-

Trreov i]V KOU nrpoTepov eiTro/jiev, OTL ra fiev eyyaiara 8' evvBpa rv<y%dvei, KaOdrrep rwv ^GOCOV, Kal rwv

<f)vrwv ov fjiovov ev rot? e\ecn KOI rat? \i/j,vai<;

KOL TO?? Trora/zoi? jap d\\a Kal ev rf) 8a~\.drrr)

Kal v\.rjp,ara evia ev re rfj e^w Kal SevSpa*

ev fJiev jdp rfj rcepl /;//,a9 /JiiKpdrrdvra ra

Kal ovSev vrrepe'xpv 0)9 eiTrelv rfjs #aAarr?;<r ev

eKeivrj &e Kal ra roiavra KOL vrrepe^ovra,

erepa Be fjbei'a> BevBpa.

Ta fJLevovv rrepl ^//.a? ecrri rdSe'

[iev Kal KOLvorara rraviv TO re <J)VKO<; /cal ro

ftpvov Kal oaa a\\a roiavra' (fravepoorara Be Kal

1<f>i\oTi/j.7)6e7(rai conj. St.; ^/Xor/jU^^eU !NTSS ; Plin. 12. 7.

'

2Pa,\aTT7;j coiij. Seal, from G ; e'ActTTjj Ald.H.

328

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. v. 6-vi. 2

produce this tree. At any rate those which KingDionysius the Elder planted at Rhegium in the park,and which are now in the grounds of the wrestlingschool and are thought much of,

1 have not been able

to attain any size.

Some of these regions however have the planein abundance, and others the elm and willow, others

the tamarisk, such as the district of Mount Haemus.Wherefore such trees we must, as was said, take to

be peculiar to their districts, whether they are wildor cultivated. However it might well be that the

country should be able to produce some of these

trees, if they were carefully cultivated : this we doin fact find to be the case with some plants, as withsome animals.

Of the, aquatic plants of the Mediterranean.

VI. However the greatest difference in the natural

character itself of trees and of tree-like plants gener-

ally we must take to be that mentioned already,

namely, that of plants, as of animals, some belongto the earth, some to water. Not only in swamps,lakes and rivers, but even in the sea there are sometree-like growths, and in the ocean there are eventrees. In our own sea all the things that grow are

small, and hardly any of them rise above the sur-

face 2;but in the ocean we find the same kinds

rising above the surface, and also other largertrees.

Those found in our own waters are as follows :

most conspicuous of those which are of generaloccurrence are seaweed 3

oyster-green and the like;

most obvious of those peculiar to certain parts are the' Plin. 13. 135.

329

THEOPHRASTUS

lBia)TaTa Kara TOVS TOTTOU? \drr) (TVKJJ Bpvsau7reA.o? fyolin^. TOVTWV Be ra [iev TrpoayetaTa Be TrovTia ra

'

a/ji^oTepwv ra)v TOTCWV KOIVC'L.

Kal Ta fj.ev Tro\vetBf), KaOdrrep TO (>VKOS, ra Be

lav IBeav eyovTa. TOV yap VKOV<$ TO /xev <TTI

o Sr] Kal rrpdcrov Ka\oval rtz^e?, ol Se

pi^av Be e^et Sacrelav e^wOev evBoOev Be \7rvpici)Bt),dv Be 7riiKO)$ Kal euTra^T/ 7rapo/j,oiav

3 To Be Tpi^6(j)v\\ov, wcrrrep TO fJidpaOov, ov

TrowBes aXX' e^co^pov ovBe e^ov KCLV\OV aXX'

opOov TT&)? eV avTw- <f>veTai Be TOVTO eirl

oaTpatctov Kal TWV \L0coi', ov% wcrrrep Oa

TTyoo? TTJ fyf)' Trpoffyeia 8'ayu<^)&>, Kal TO [JL&V

Tpl"0$)V\\OV 77/309 aiJTT) TT) jf}, TToXXd/ClS Be WCTTTep

JJLQVOV VTTO T/}? ^aXarr^?, QaTepov 8t

YiveTai Be ev fiev Trj ew Trj Treple

Hpatc\eov$

6avp.acTTov TL TO fieyedos, w? (fiacri, Kal TO

/jcel^ov a>? rna\ai(JTLalov. (frepeTai Be

TOVTO et? TIJV ecra) 0d\aTTav dfjia TO) pw TO)

e(i)6ev Kal Ka\ovaiv avTO Trpdaov ev TavTy B'

ev TLCTL Tovroi? wcrr' eTrdvw TOV o/j,<pa\ov. \eyeTaiBe eireretov elvai Kal (ueaOat, jiev TOV

\ijyovTOS, aKfjid^eiv Be TOV depovs, TOV

Be <$>6iveiv, KCLTCL Be TOV %ei/jiwva d rJTO\\v(r6ai Kal

. airavTa Be Kal raXXa raKal d/jiaupoTepa yiveaOai TOV

1 See Index : 0-^^77, Spvs, etc.2 TaifioeiSfs conj. Dalec.

;TeraroeiSes UP.,Ald.H.; ri revo-

e.Ses MV. 3cj. Diosc. 4. 99; Plin. "136.

330

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vi. 2-4

sea-plants called 'fir

' '

fig' < oak

' ' vine' '

palm.']

Of these some are found close to land, others

in the deep sea, others equally in both positions.And some have many forms, as seaweed, some but

one. Thus of seaweed there is the broad-leaved

kind, riband-like 2 and green in colour, which somecall '

green-weed' and others '

girdle-weed.' This

has a root which on the outside is shaggy, but the

inner part is made of several coats, and it is fairly

long and stout, like kromyogeteion (a kind of onion).3 Another kind has hair-like leaves like fennel,

and is not green but pale yellow ;nor has it a stalk,

but it is, as it were, erect in itself; this grows on

oyster-shells and stones, not, like the other, attached

to the bottom ;but both are plants of the shore,

and the hair-leaved kind grows close to land, andsometimes is merely washed over by the sea 4

; while

the other is found further out.

Again in the ocean about the pillars of Heracles

there is a kind 5 of marvellous size, they say, whichis larger, about a palmsbreadth.

6 This is carried into

the inner sea along with the current from the outer

sea, and they call it' sea-leek

'

(riband-weed) ;

and in this sea in some parts it grows higher than

a man's waist. It is said to be annual and to come

up at the end of spring, and to be at its best in

summer, and to wither in autumn, while in winter it

perishes and is thrown up on shore. Also, they say,all the other plants of the sea become weaker andfeebler in winter. These then are, one may say, the

4 i.e. grows above low water mark.5 See Index : <f>C/cos (2).

i.e. the 'leaf: the comparison is doubtless with T?>

,2 ; ws UMVAld.; ^ VV. after Sch.'s conj.

33 1

THEOPHRASTUS

ravra /ze/' ovv olov Trpocryeia TrepL yeOdXaTTav. TO Be TTOVTIOV (vKos o ol

Tre\(iyiov.6 Kal ev Kpjjrr) Be (pverai rrpos rfj yfj errl rwi>

Trerpwv Tt'Xeio'TOv Kal KaXXicrrov c5 ftaTTTOvcriv ov

LIOVOV ra? TCLLVICLS a\\a Kal epia Kal t/j,dna' Kal

eft)? av rj 7rp6cr(f)aTO<; 7; ySa<^/;, TTO\V Ka\\iwv;/

XP a 7"^<> 7rop(j)vpas' yiverai 8' eV TTJ Trpoaftoppw

Kal 7r\iov Kal Ka\\iov, coaTrep al GTroyyial Kal

Toiavra.

"AXXo 8' ecrrlv 6/noiov TTJ dypoocTTei' Kal yap TO

i'io'iov exeL Ka ^ r*)v pi^av yova-

teal p.aKpav Kal TrefyvKvlav rrXayi'av, coarrep

fj Trjs dypwcrTiSos' e^t 8e Kal KavXov Ka\ajjLO)Stj,

KaOajrep 7; aypaxTTis" fJLye0i 8e e\aTTOv TTO\V

TOV (f)VKOV<?.

"AXXo S& TO fipvov, o (f)v\\ov fjiev e%i TrowSe?

^^ Ka ^ VK dvofJLOiov Ti? OptSa-

pvTt$a)$e(TTepov Kal axnrep avv-

Kav\ov Be OVK e^ei, a\X' drro /tua?

dpyr)$ Tr\iay TOL TOtavTa Kal TCO\LV air a/VX?/?1

(pveTaL Be errl TWV \L6wv TCL Toiavra vrpo? TTJ yf/

Kal TWV ocfTpdxwv. Kal TO, fjiev eXaTTfi)

ecrnv.

7 'H Be Bpvs Kal 1} e'Xar?/ Trapdyetot, pev af

fyvovrai S' eVt \iQois Kal oaTpaKOis pt^a? fJLev OVK

exovo-ai, TrpocrTretyvKuiai B axTTrep ai

djJL^orepai yuey olov o~apKo(pvX\.a'Be TO <f)v\\oi> TTO\V Kal irayvTZpov T/)<?

1 Plin. 13. 136, cf. 32. 22; Diosc. 4. 99.

* litmus ; see Index, tpvuos (5).s Plin. /.c.

; grass-wrack, see Index, QVKOS (G).

332

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vi. 4-7

sea-plants which are found near the shore. But the' seaweed of ocean/ which is dived for by the

sponge-fishers, belongs to the open sea.1 In Crete there is an abundant and luxuriant

growth2 on the rocks close to land, with which they

dye not only their ribbons, but also wool andclothes. And, as long as the dye is fresh, thecolour is far more beautiful than the purple dye ;

it occurs on the north coast in greater abundanceand fairer, as do the sponges and other such things.

3 There is another kind like dog's-tooth grass ;

the leaf is very like, the root is jointed and long,and grows out sideways, like that of that plant ;

it

has also a reedy stalk like the same plant, and in

size it is much smaller than ordinary seaweed.4 Another kind is the oyster-green, which has a

leaf green in colour, but broad and not unlike

lettuce leaves ; but it is more wrinkled 5 and as it

were crumpled. It has no stalk, but from a single

starting-point grow many of the kind, and againfrom another starting-point. These things grow onstones close to land and on oyster-shells. Theseare about all the smaller kinds.

6 The c sea-oak'

and ( sea-fir' both belong to the

shore ; they grow on stones and oyster-shells, havingno roots, but being attached to them like limpets.

7

Both have more or less fleshy leaves ; but the leaf

of the 'fir

'

grows much longer and stouter, and is 8

4 Plin. 13. 137 ; 27. 56 ; fytov conj. Seal, from G and Plin.

I.e. ; ftorpvov UAld.H.5

pvTtScaSeffTepov conj. Seal, from G and Plin. I.e. ; xpf<ria>8e-

ffTfpov Aid.; pvffica^ecTTepov mBas.

6 Plin. I.e.7 AeWSes Aid.; Aoirc5es W. with UMV.

8irpofjLijKeffTepov . . . iretyvKf ical conj. W. ; irpop.. 8e rb (pv\\ov

ital iraxvTepov TTJJ eAa-njs- iroAu Se /cal Aid.

333

THEOPHHASTUS

Kal OVK dvo/jioiov rot? rwv oarrpiwv \o/3ol<;,,. O> >'<>/) \ p> \ >/ V C1 x

KOL\OV o evoouev KCLI ovoev e^ov ev avrow ro oe

T7/9 BpVOS \7TTOl> Kal fJLVplKW&ecrrepOV ^/OW/m 8'

e'AttT?79 0/9^7) /cat avrr)S KOI TMV

Spfo? aKoXiwrepa Kal /j,a\\ov e^ovaa TrXaro?*

8 <yii>Tai Se a/i(/)O) /cat 7ro\VKav\a KOL </jLovoKav\a,>

r) yuei^

l TTVKVorepas. TO 8' 0X01^

a)? TTvycoviaiov i] piKpov virepalpov, /j-el^ov Be 009

TO T7/9

eVl

TrpocrrjpTrj/jLeva rwvevia' KOI Kara) Se irpos avrw TW Kav\aj

Twv TIV&V 7' 6'A.co, eV TOVJOL^ BefivKore

Qvlvvoi re Kal a\X' arra /cat TO O^OLOV 7ro\i>7ro$i.

Q TauTa yue^ ovv 7rp6a-*yia Kal pa&ia 6wprfOi]i>aL

(fracrl&e Ttz^9 Aral a\\i]V &pvv elvai Trovrlav ?}

xapirov (frepei, Kal TJ (3d\avos (iv

TOL/9 5e (JKivOovs Kal KO\v/ji/3'rjTa^ \eyeiv on

erepat jneydXai rives rocs fjieyeOeaiv ^ir\aav.

'H Be dfjLrce\o<j dfji<porepu)(Te yiverai' Kal yap7rpo9 rr) yrj Kal rrovria' /zet^a) 8' e^ei Kal rd

Kal rd K\S]jnara Kal rov Kaprrov t]

TTOVTia.

'H Be &VKI) d(f>vX\.os fjilv rw Be (Jiejedet, ov

Be rov (f)\OLov

Ald.H. ; auTtf conj. W.3 I have inserted

334

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vi. 7-9

not unlike the pods of pulses, but is hollow inside

and contains nothing in the 'pods.'1 That of the

' oak'

is slender and more like the tamarisk; the

colour of both is purplish. The whole shape of the1fir

'

is erect, both as to the stem and the branches,but that of the ' oak

'

is less straight and the plant is

broader. Eoth are found both with many stems andwith one,

2 but the 'fir

'

is more apt to have a singlestem. The branchlike outgrowths in the 'fir' are

long straight and spreading, while in the ' oak' theyare shorter less straight and closer. The whole size

of either is about a cubit or rather more, but in

general that of the 'fir' is the longer. The 'oak'

is useful to women for dyeing wool. To the branchesare attached certain creatures with shells, and below

they are also found attached to the stem itself, whichin some cases they completely cover ;

3 and amonfthese are found millepedes and other such creatures,

including the one which resembles a cuttlefish.

These plants occur close to land and are easy toobserve

;but some report

4 that there is another ' seaoak' which even bears fruit and has a useful 'acorn/and that the sponge fishers 5 and divers told themthat there were other large kinds.

6 The 'sea-vine'

grows under both conditions, bothclose to land and in the deep sea ; but the deep seaform has larger leaves branches and fruit.

7 The '

sea-fig'

is leafless and not of large size, andthe colour of the bark is red.

7' '6\ca conj. W. ; rivaiv '6\o>v Aid.; riv&v ye S\uv U;text uncertain : the next clause has no connecting particle.

4 Plin. 13. 137.6

ffKivBovs, a vox nihili : perhaps conceals a proper name,t.g. 2(/ce\tKot/s ; ffTroyye'ts conj. St.'

Plin. 13. 138. Plin. I.e.

335

THEOPHRASTUS

10 'O Be (froli'i^ ecrTL y,ev TTOVTLOV ySp

Be cr<fr6Bpa t /cal a^eBov evOelat, al e

f)dj3B(l)V Kal KCLTwOeV 0V KVK\fp aVTCtl,

TWV pd/3Ba)v al aKpefjiove^, aAA' uxrav ev

Kara /JLICLV avve^eLS, o\iya%ov Be tcai cnra\-

\aTTOvaai. TMV Be pd/3Sa>v rj rcov ajrofyvcrewv

TOVTWV OfJLOla TpOTTOV TWO, 7/ (^)U(Tt9 TOi? TO)V

010V

Kdi TOt? TOIOVTGIS, 7T\r)V Opddl KCil OV%,

KLi>a,r

jrepiKeK\ao'iJLevai KCU TO fyv\\ov e^oucraiVTTO rT;? aXyLtr;?' eVet TO ye

o\ov rjrceiv TOP pea-ov ye Kav\bv KOLr) aAA?; o-

7rapa7r\tjcria. TO Be ^pwfJLa real TOVTWV KCL\ TWV

KdV\WV KOL O\OV TOU (pvTOV G^pV0pOV T (T(j)6Bpa

KOi (J>OIVIKOVV.

Kat TO, /jiev ev TrjBe rfj 0a\.aTTrj Tocravrd ecrTiv.

TJ yap GTToyyia KCLI al airKvaLai Ka\ov/u.evai Ka\

ei TL TOLOVTOV eTepav e%i fyvaiv.

VII. 'Ev Be Tf) eo) Ty rrepl 'Hpa/cXeou? crT?;Xa?

TO T6 Trpdaov, coGTrep ei'pijTai, (frveTai /cal TO,

a7ro\i0ovfjLeva TaOra, oloi^ 0v/j,a /cal TCL BacfrvoeiBrj

l Ta aXXa. T/}? Be epvOpas Ka\ovp,eini$ ev TJ)

fJLLKpov eirdvw KOTTTOU eV fj,ev TTJ yfj

. . ,aira\\a.TTov(rai probably beyond certain re-

storation : I have added Kal before Karwdeif (from G), altered

KVK\cadv to KVK\W, put a stop before Kal KaruOev, and restored

airaA\cTTou(ra< (Ald.H.).2

cf. 6. 4. 8 ; 7. 8. 3.

3TrfpiKK\aff/j.(va, i.e. towards the ground, cf. Diosc. 3.

68 and 69, where Plin. (27. 13) renders (<f>v\\a) v

ad terram infracta.

336

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vi. io-vn. i

The '

sea-palm'

is a deep-sea plant, but with a

very short stem, and the branches which spring from

it are almost straight ;and these under water are

not set all round the stem, like the twigs which growfrom the branches, but extend, as it were, quiteflat in one direction, and are uniform

; thoughoccasionally they are irregular.

1 The character of

these branches or outgrowths to some extent re-

sembles the leaves of thistle-like spinous plants,such as the sow-thistles 2 and the like, except that

they are straight and not bent over 3 like these,

and have their leaves eaten away by the brine ; in

the fact that the central stalk 4 at least runs throughthe whole, they resemble these, and so does the

general appearance. The colour both of the branches

and of the stalks and of the plant as a whole is a

deep red or scarlet.

Such are the plants found in this sea. For spongesand what are called aplysiai

5 and such-like growthsare of a different character.

Of the aquatic plants of the 'outer sea'

(i.e. Atlantic, Persian

Gulf, etc.).

VII. In the outer sea near the pillars of Heracles

grows the 'sea-leek,' as has been said 6

; also the

well known 7plants which turn to stone, as thijma t

the plants like the bay and others. And in the

sea called the Red Sea 8 a little above Coptos9

4i.e. midrib.

5 Some kind of sponge. airKvaiai conj. R. Const.; ir\\><nai

UAld. ;ir\vaiai M ; TrXoi/a/at V. 6 4. 6. 4.

' raZra: cf. 3. 7. 3 ; 3. 18. 11.8 Plin. 13. 139.9 KQTTTOV conj. Seal.; K^TTOV MV; i<6\ir<jv UAld.; Capto G

and Plin. I.e.

337

T11EOPH RASH'S

oei'opoi> ovcti 1

<pi't: rtii 7r/\//r 7;/v

re A-CU ai>r>] ota ra

K(ivJ.KITa KCU T)/I> avvopiav ov\ vtt yap riXX'?;

tV trr)/' TtTTdpfiU' i]TTdl'Te ATM TUT \(lfipfO^ K (H

I'";1 re 77} Od\aTT)) ()Vtrai, Kaovat ('> avra

cin'pi'i/i

1 Ktn t\tiar. t<m Ct//

r>i (ifiid >/

<' t

<'( <

\( /

'/t\n

6t h'ai c<iK/)i'oi', t'- o o^ tarpo (itp^a^or eva.ijj.oi1

v o yiverat <7<h<' ]

p(i dyaOov. oiav oe

ifi) yevijrai, /a'A'?;7tv (frvoi'Tat rrpo^ T/}

ru\arr>) Ka~u rtra TOTTOI', OVTOL r>e

I'TTO TOV )j\K>V. {]

ret-\'e^ roi"> xap^apids, ware JJLI] euai

E; ; re rro AroXTrr/i 7 Ka\ov/j,ei>ri) '\\pwwv* t(/>'

Ka-raftaivovcrtv 01 t^ Alyvrrrou, (fcverai /utz- Sdffc

Tt Aral e\da KCL\ (h'uor, ov JJLIJV \\<^par/r

\i0oei&>)

rd iirrpt\(>v-ra T/)? Oa\dm]^, a/not a

Arat ro?s" 0fXXo<? Aral, 70is" /SXacrrot? 70 ?s" ^er re 7r7> Ovp.(i') K<n TO TOV ai'Oov^ \pwua ci(icij\<>/'

eirfitKos. L)K} & Ton 1

Xer7ri>z' VTTO A\e(ii'Opov, TH tV T>J

fc?;'

'

rots" (vKLOis, UTTUTCII'

1

r/". Strnl><> Hi. ]. 147.~ Sec ITI.I.-X.

'I'lir n;niii' 'it ;i ti'i1 * 1 MTina (o li;i\'c dropped nut : I li;i\'o

'(I T>~i eAaa : <y. TOI . , lirlii\\r

. iJix-t/I sny jests <'oea

fi >!' CJ, i I.

OJ'J

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vn. 1-3

in Arabia there grows on the land no tree exceptthat called the '

thirsty' acacia, and even this is

scarce by reason of the heat and the lack of water;

for it never rains except at intervals of four or five

years, and then the rain comes down heavily and is

soon over.1 But there are plants in the sea, which they call

'bay' and ' olive' (white mangrove2).

In foliagethe f

bay'

is like the aria (holm-oak), the ' olive'

like the real olive. 3 The latter has a fruit like olives,

and it also discharges a gum,4 from which the

physicians4compound a drug

5 for stanching blood,which is extremely effective. And when there is

more rain than usual, mushrooms grow in a certain

place close to the sea, which are turned to stone bythe sun. The sea is full of beasts, and producessharks in great numbers, so that diving is

impossible.In the gulf called 'the Gulf of the Heroes,'

7

to which the Egyptians go down, there grow a '

bay/an '

olive,' and a '

thyme'

; these however are not

green, but like stones so far as they project above

the sea, but in leaves and shoots they are like their

green namesakes. In the '

thyme'

the colour of the

flower is also conspicuous, looking as though the

flower had not yet completely developed. Thesetreelike growths are about three cubits in height.

8 Now some, referring to the occasion when there

was an expedition of those returning from India sent

out by Alexander, report that the plants which grow in

the sea, so long as they are kept damp, have a colour

4cf. Diosc. 1. 105 and 106.

6cf. Athen. 4. 83 ; Plin. 12. 77.

6 Plin. 13. 139. 7cf. 9. 4. 4. 8 Plin. 13. 140.

339

THEOPHRASTUS

eve^Oevra reOf) rrpos TOV i']\iov, ev 0X176)

%o/jLOiova0ai ru) d\i. (frvecrdai Be KOI cr

\i6ivovs -nap avri^v rtjv 6d\arrav, oft? ovBels av

Btayvoiij rfj o^rei TT/JO? TOU? d\i]6ivovs. Oav/jia-

aiutrepov &e n rovrov Xeyovar ffrveaOai yapcirra TO

oo? rot? Se 6'^ot? rpa^ea KOI air a/cpou

TTvppd- raura Be @pavea-0ai fiev el awyK\wr) rwetc Be TOVTMV irvpl fji^a\\o^eva, Ka9a7rep TOV

aiBrjpov, Bidrrvpa ^ivo/Jieva 7rd\LV OTCLV aTro^v-

%OITO KaOLdTadOai KOL ir)v avrijv %poav \a/L-

ftdveiv.

4 'Ei^ Be Tat9 vr]CfOL^ rat? VTTO TT}?

KaTa\afji/3avojjLvai<> BevBpa fieydX

rjXifcairjr\d'ravoi /cal acyeipoi al /jLejicnat.' CTVJJL-

fiaiveLV Be, o@y

rj 7r\7/Aju>vpls e7re\6oL, ra jjLev a\\a

/caraKpvTnecrdai 6\a, T&V Be ^e^iaTOI)? /cXdBovs, e wv rd Trpv/JLv^aia dvairieiv,

ore Trd\iv ayu-Trwr^? yivoiro etc TU>V pi^wv.Be TO BevBpov (frvXXov /nev O/JLOIOV rfj Bd(f)i>rj, av6os

Be Tot? I'oi? fcal TW ^pco/juan KCLI rfj OCT/AT), KapirovBe JfkiKov e\da /cal TOVTOV eucoS?/ atyoBpa' fcal rd

/jLev (f>v\\a OVK drro[3d\\eiv, TO Be di>0os /cal rov

KapTcov tt/za TO) $>6ivoTTu>pu> yiveaOai, rov Be eapos

drroppelv.6 "AXXa 8' ev avrfj rf) 0a\drrrj rrefyvKevai, del-

rov Be tcaprrov opoiov eyeiv rol<;

Tlepl Be rrjv TlepaiBa rrjv /card r-tfv K.ap/j,avLav,

naff o 7; TrX^/zyttuyot? jiverai, BevBpa ecrrlv ev/jLeyed)]

6/j.oia rrj dvBpd%\r) KOL rf) fjLop<pf) /cal Tot? ^uXXot?*

Kaprrov Be e^ei TTO\VV ofioiov ry ^pcofiari, rats

340

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. VH. 3-5

like sea-weeds, but that when they are taken out and

put in the sun, they shortly become like salt. Theyalso say that rushes of stone grow close to the sea,which none could distinguish at sight from real

rushes. They also report a more marvellous thingthan this ; they say that there are certain tree-like

growths which in colour resemble an ox-horn, butwhose branches are rough, and red at the tip ; these

break if they are doubled up, and some of them, if

they are cast on a fire, become red-hot like iron,

but recover when they cool and assume their originalcolour.

1 On the islands which get covered by the tide theysay that great trees 2

grow, as big as planes or the

tallest poplars, and that it came to pass that, whenthe tide 3 came up, while the other things were

entirely buried, the branches of the biggest trees

projected and they fastened the stern cables to them,and then, when the tide ebbed again, fastened themto the roots. And that the tree has a leaf like that

of the bay, and a flower like gilliflowers in colour and

smell, and a fruit the size of that of the olive, whichis also very fragrant. And that it does not shed its

leaves, and that the flower and the fruit form to-

gether in autumn and are shed in spring.4 Also they say there are plants which actually

grow in the sea, which are evergreen and have a fruit

like lupins.5 In Persia in the Carmanian district, where the tide

is felt, there are trees 6 of fair size like the andrachnein shape and in leaves ; and they bear much fruit like

1 Plin. 13. 141.2Mangroves. See Index App. (12).

3cf. Arr. Anab. 6. 22. 6.

1 Plin. Lc. Index App. (13).6 Plin. 12. 37.

6 White mangroves. Index App. (14). <,A I

THEOPHRASTUS

d/jLvyBd\ai<> e^a)0ev t TO B' evrbs (rvveXirrerai

Kaddrrep crvv^prrj/jievov TTCKTIV. vrcoQeftpwrai Be

ravra ra BevBpa rrdvra Kara /jLecrov VTTO rr)v

/cal ecrrrjKev vrrb rajv pi^wv, w&rreporav jap rj df^rrcorLs yevrjrai Oe&pelv

tt eariV. llcOp e w? OVK (7Tll> V TU) TOTTW* KdTa-

\i7rovTai Be rives Biu>pv)^es Bi wv BiaTrXeovcriv'

avrai 3' elal 6a\cmr)S' ro KCU B>)\ov oiovrai rives

on rpetyovrai raurrj KOI ov rcG vBari, vrX?/^ ei nrals p'i^ais K r^s y/}? e\KOVo~iv. eu\oyov Be KCU

TO{)$' a\fjLVpov elvat,' KOI 'yap ovBe Kara /3d0ovsf r / if \ ^ \ r'~. t\ \ / T ^11

at pi^ai. TO be o\ov ev TO yevos tivai TWV r ev

rff 6a\drrr) (frvo/nevcov real rwv ev rfj jfj vrro

xal ra j,ev ev

rfj 9a\drrr) [iiKpa real (j)VK(*)Bii (paivo/jieva, ra B

ev rfj yfj /jLeyd\a /cal ^Xwpa real avOos euoB/jiov

e^ovra, fcaprrov Be olov Oep/jLos-

'Ei> TvXo) Be rf) V^O-M, Kelrat 8' avnj ev rw

'Apa/3tco KO\TTW, ra pev rrpos ew rouovro

elvai fyacri BevBpcov or ercftaivet rj'

rrw'xypwaOaL. Trdvra Be rav^a /jieyed^ fj,ev

ijXi/ca CTU/CT), TO Be civOos vrrep^(i\\ov rfj

ia, KapTTov Be aftpwrov O/JLOIOV rfj o\frei Tro

(frepeiv Be rrjv vtjcrov teal ra BevBpa ra

epio(f)6pa rro\\(i. ravra Be <f)v\Xov fj.ev e%ivrrapoiJiOiov rfj d/jL7re\to rr\rjv /juKpov, tcaprrov Be

ovBeva (frepeLV ev c5 Be TO epiov rjKiKov /JLTJ\OV

eapivov au/jL/jLe/jLVKos' orav Be wpalov rj, eKrrerdv-

1 Plin. I.e. Sicco litore radicibus nudis polyporum modocomplexae steriles arenas aspectantur : he appears to havehad a fuller text.

342

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vn. 5-7

in colour to almonds on the outside, but the inside

is coiled up as though the kernels were all united.1 These trees are all eaten away up to the middle bythe sea and are held up by their roots, so that theylook like a cuttle-fish. For one may see this at

ebb-tide. And there is no rain at all in the district,

but certain channels are left, along which they sail,

and which are part of the sea. Which, some think,makes it plain that the trees derive nourishment fromthe sea and not from fresh water, except what theydraw up with their roots from the land. And it is

reasonable to suppose that this too is brackish;for

the roots do not run to any depth. In general theysay that the trees which grow in the sea and thosewhich grow on the land and are overtaken by thetide are of the same kind, and that those which growin the sea are small and look like seaweed, whilethose that grow

2 on land are large and green andhave a fragrant flower and a fruit like a lupin.

In the island of Tylos,3 which is situated in the

Arabian gulf,4they say that on the east side there is

such a number of trees when the tide goes out that

they make a regular fence. All these are in size

as large as a fig-tree, the flower is exceedinglyfragrant, and the fruit, which is not edible, is like in

appearance to the lupin. They say that the island

also produces the '

wool-bearing'

tree (cotton-plant)in abundance. This has a leaf like that of the vine,but small, and bears no fruit

;but the vessel in which

the ' wool'

is contained is as large as a spring apple,

3<>u/co>577 (patvo^ei'a TO. 5' v conj. W. ; <$>VK. <pv. 8' *v MVAld. ;

U has (pepdfj.eva (?).3

cf. 5. 4. 6; Plin. 12. 38 and 39 ; modern name Bahrein.

4i.e. Persian Gulf.

343

THEOPHRASTUS

vvcrOai KOI ef-eipeiv TO epiov, e ou Ta? aivBovas

Ta? jiev euTeXet? Ta? Be TroXuTeXe-

3 YlveTat, Be TOVTO Kal ev 'JySot?, wcnrepKal ev 'Apaftia. elvai Be aXXa Bei'Bpa TO

6/J.OlOV TM \eVKOLW, TT~\,r)V cioB/J.OV Kal TW

TTpa7r\dcnov TWV io)V. Kal eTepov Be TL

7ro\v(pvX\ov wcrrrep TO poBov TOVTO Be\ \ / / rf P.\'-./>r

TTIV u,ev WKTa <TVii/jLveiv ctfJLa oe T(o 7/A.tri) CIVIOVTL

fj.ecrti/A/3pias Be TeXew? BieTTTv^Oai,Be TT}? SetX?;? crvvayeaOai KaTa fjiiKpov Kal

TTJV vvKTa avuiiJLveiv' \eyeiv Be KOL TOU? ey)^a)-

piovs OTL KaOevBet. yivecrOai Be Kal (poiviKas ei>

Kal ayLtTreXou? Kal TaXXa aKpoBpva Kal

ov <$>v\\oppoovcras. vButp Be ovpdvLov yive-

fjiev, ov fjirjv j^pri<j9ai ye Trpos TOU? Kapjrovs'aXX' eivai Kpi]va<s ev Trj VJJCTW TroXXa?, a<' on>

Tfdvra /Spe^eiv, o Kal av^epeiv fia\\ov TW tTtro)

Kal Tot? BevBpecriv. BL o Kal oTav very TOVTO eV-

ac/uerat KaOairepel KaTaTrkvvovTas exelvo. Kal

Ta fiev ev Trj e^a) ^aXaVr/; BevBpa Ta ye vvv

TedewprjfAeva (T%eBoi> TOcravTa ecrTiv.

VIII. "TTrep Be TWV ev TO?? vroTa/xot? Kal Tot?

e\eo~L Kal Tai? Xt/zyat? /xeTa TavTa \eKTeov. TpiaBe ecrTiv el'Brj TWV ev TOVTOLS, TCL fiev BevBpa TO, B'

conj. W.; i^fialptiv P2 ; t^alpeiv Aid. 24. 5. 8.

Tamarind. See Index App. (15). Plin. 12. 40.4?rAV &o$/j.ov COnj. H. Steph. ;

irXeiova. oS/j.ov UMAld.8 T /j.tye6t Kai I conj.; *al ry fMtyeOet UMVP; /cal om. Aid.6 Tamarind also. See Index App. (16).

7 i.e. leaflets.8 Fic.ua laccifera. See Index App. (17). ou <pv\\oppoou(ras

conj. W., c/. G and Plin. I.e. ;at q>v\\oppoovaiv Ald.H.

344

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vii. y-vin. i

and closed, but when it is ripe, it unfolds and putsforth 1 the '

wool/ of which they weave their fabrics,some of which are cheap and some very expensive.

This tree is also found, as was said,- in India

as well as in Arabia. They say that there are othertrees 3 with a flower like the gilliflower, but scent-

less 4 and in size 5 four times as large as that flower.

And that there is another tree 6 with many leaves 7

like the rose, and that this closes at night, but opensat sunrise, and by noon is completely unfolded ; andat evening again it closes by degrees and remainsshut at night, and the natives say that it goes to

sleep. Also that there are date-palms on the island

and vines and other fruit-trees, including evergreens

figs. Also that there is water from heaven, butthat they do not use it for the fruits, but that thereare many springs on the island, from which theywater everything, and that this is more beneficial 9

to the corn and the trees. Wherefore, even when it

rains, they let this water over the fields,10 as though

they were wr

ashing away the rain wrater. Suchare the trees as so far observed which grow in theOouter sea.

Of the plants of rivers, marshes, and lakes, especially in Egypt.

VIII. Next we must speak of plants which live in

rivers marshes and lakes. Of these there are three

classes, trees, plants of ' herbaceous' n

character, and9 S Kal ffv(j.(pfpeii> conj. Sch.; & nal av^epei Aid.; U has

10cf. C.P. 2. 5. 5, where Androsthenes, one of Alexander's

admirals, is given as the authority for this statement.11 The term ra iroiuiSr] seems to be given here a narrower

connotation than usual, in order that TO. \ox/J.w8r) may be

distinguished.

345

THEOPHRASTUS

rroiooBrj ra Be Xo^/zcoS??. Xeyw Be

olov TO cre\U'ov ro e\eiov teal o&a a'XXo. roi-

avra' \o)(fjLii)Br) Be Ka\a^ov KVTreipov c^Xeco

VOV oVTOfJiOV, ClTTCp a^eBbv KOivd TTaVrWV TWVKal ra>V TOIOVTWV TOTTWV.

8e teal /3droi KOI Traklovpoi Kal ra

a\\a SevSpa, KaOaTrep Irea \evKi] TrXarai/o?. ra

fjiev ovv HXP L r v KaraKpiJTrrecrOaL, ra Be o'ycrre

fjiLKpov vTrepe^eiv, rwv Be ai fjiev pl^at Kal/j,i/cpoi>

rov crreXe'^of? ev rw vypu), TO Be aXXo crwytta TTUV

e'a>. rovro yap Kal Irea Kal K\i')6pa Kal rr\ardv(pKal (j)i\vpa Kal vracrt Tot9 (j)i\vBpois cr

Be Kal ravra KOIVO, rrvrwv rwv Trora-

eanv errel Kal ev ru> NetXft) rrefyvKev ov

TroXX?; ye 77 TrXaTa^o?, aXXa (Trravicorepa en

rj \evKrj, TrXetcrT?; Be /teXta KOL (3ov/ne\.io$.

rwv yovv ev Alyinrra) <^>vo^vu>v TO /jiev o\ov

TTO\V 77X7)^09 eariv TT/OO? TO dpi6^I'l&acrOai KaO'

ov /AIJV aXX w? 76 avrXw? eirrelv arravra

Kal ^fXou? e^ovra y^UKels. Bia(f)epeii>

Be BoKel rfi <y\vKvrtjri /cat TCO rpocf)i/j,a fidXicrraelvai rpia ravra, o re rrdrcvpos Kal rb Ka\ov-

crdpi Kal rpirov o ^vdaiov KO\Q\)GI.

Be 6 rrdrrvpos OVK ev J3d6ei rov vBaros

aXX' ocroi^ ev Bvo7r)'/%ecriv, evia%ov Be Kal ev

e\drrovi. Tra^o? /j.ev ovv TT)? |0t^5 r)\iKOV Kap-TTO? %et/30? dvBpbs evpoocrrov, /JLTJKOS Be vTrep re-

y (frverat Be vrrep TT)? 7/}? auTT;?,

rov 7rrj\bv KaOielaa \e-nrds Kal

Be TOU? rrarrvpovs Ka\ovfj,evov<; rpiyoovovs,

'yovv K.T.\.: text probably defective; what follows

appears to relate to rck

346

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vni. 1-3

plants growing in clumps. Byl herbaceous

'

I meanhere such plants as the marsh celery and the like ;

byl

plants growing in clumps' I mean reeds galin-

gale phleo rush sedge which are common to almostall rivers and such situations.

And in some such places are found bramblesChrist's thorn and other trees, such as willow abele

plane. Some of these are water plants to the extentof being submerged, while some project a little fromthe water ; of some again the roots and a small partof the stem are under water, but the rest of the

body is altogether above it. This is the case withwillow alder plane lime, and all water-loving trees.

These too are common to almost all rivers, for

they grow even in the Nile. However the plane is

not abundant by rivers, while the abele is even more

scarce, and the manna-ash and ash are commonest.At any rate of those x that grow in Egypt the list is

too long to enumerate separately ; however, to speakgenerally, they are all edible and have sweet flavours.

But they differ in sweetness, and we may distinguishalso three as the most useful for food, namely the

papyrus, the plant called sari, and the plant which

they call mnasion.2 The papyrus does not grow in deep water, but

only in a depth of about two cubits, and sometimesshallower. The thickness of the root is that of thewrist of a stalwart man, and the length above four

cubits 3;

it grows above the ground itself, throwingdown slender matted roots into the mud, and

producing above the stalks which give it its name'

papyrus'

; these are three-cornered and about ten

2 Plin. 13. 71-73.Se'/ca TTTj^eis MSS. See next note.

347

THEOPHRASTUS

co? Be/ca mj-^ei^, KO/MJV e^ovras d^pelovda6ev?i Kaprrov Be o\a>? ouBei'a' TOVTOVS 8' dvaBi-

4 Bcoffi Kara rro\\d/Jiepij. xpwvrai Be rat? aev

pi^ais dvrl %v\a)v ov /j.6i'ov rw Kaeiv a\\a Kal TCO

CTKCWJ d\\a Troielv ej; avr&v TravToBaTrd' TTO\V

(yap %i TO %v\ov xai KO\OV. auro? Be 6 ira-

Trupo? Trpo? TrXetara ^//'cnyuo?' Kal ^ap TrXota

TTOlOVCTiV % aVTOV, Kal K T?}? /3i(3\OV IffTLO, T6

ir\eKov(TL Kal 'fyidOovs Kal effdrfTa iiva KOL

cTT/aco/u^a? Kal cryoivia re Kal erepa TrXetco. Kal

e/jL(f)apecrrara Brj rot? ea> rd j3i/3\ia' /n.d\icrTa Be

l rr\Lari] j3o/]6eia Trpo? TTJV rpo^>r]V drf avrov. nacrSwrai 'yap drravres oi ev rfj %a)pa

rov rrdrrvpov Kal oifjiov Kal e<p@ov Kal brrrov Kal

rov /Jiev 'xykov Kararrivovai, TO Be udcni/jta eVySaX-\ov<Jiv. 6 /J.ev ovv rrdrrvpo^ roiovros re Kal rav-

ra? rrape^erai, Ta? ^peta?. ^Lverai, Be Kal ev

rrepl ri]v \i/j,vrjv evfj

Kal 6 /caXa/zo? 6' o6ev Kal 'Avriyovos et? ra? j^aO? errotetro

rdrp\^\ / i/ vi ~r/ \\fts.1 o oe aapi cpverai p.ev ev ra) voari rrepi ra 6A.>;

l rd rreBia, erreiBdv 6 7rora/j.os drre\6rj, pi^av Be

aK\ripdv Kal o-vvea-rpa^f^evi]i', Kal et; avrijs

(f)verat rd aapia KaXovueva' ravra Be /JLTJKOS ftei>

co? Bvo 7T?^e/?, Tra^o? Be 7/\tVoy o BaKrvXos 6

yue'7? T>)? ^iyOo?* rpiywvov Be Kal rovro, KaOdrrepo rrdrrvpos, Kal KG/A^V e^ov rraparr\i)criov. aa-

aa)/j,evoi Be eK/3d\\ovcrt Kal rovro TO /xacr^yua, rfj

pify) Be ol GiBrjpovpyol ^pcomai" rov yap dvOpaKarroiel ^p^arov Bid TO aK\ripov elvat, TO %v\ov.

To Be jAvdcriov rroiwBes eariv, war ovBe/J-iar

rrape^erai \peiav rr\rjv Ttjv et?

343

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vni. 3-6

cubits l

long, having a plume which is useless and

weak, and no fruit whatever; and these stalks the

plant sends up at many points. They use the roots

instead of wood, not only for burning, but also for

making a great variety of articles ;for the wood is

abundant and good. The '

papyrus' itself 2 is useful

for many purposes ;for they make boats from it,

and from the rind they weave sails mats & kind of

raiment coverlets ropes and many other things.Most familiar to foreigners are the papyrus-rollsmade of it ;

but above all the plant also is of very

great use in the way of food. 3 For all the natives

chew the papyrus both raw boiled and roasted ; theyswallow the juice and spit out the quid. Such is

the papyrus and such its uses. It grows also in

Syria about the lake in which grows also sweet-

flag ;and Antigonus made of it the cables for his

ships.4 The sari grows in the water in marshes and

plains, when the river has left them ; it has a hard

twisted root, and from it grow what they call the

.swzrt 5; these are about two cubits long and as

thick as a man's thumb ; this stalk too is three-

cornered, like the papyrus, and has similar foliage.

This also they chew, spitting out the quid ;and

smiths use the root, for it makes excellent charcoal,

because the wood is hard.

Mnasion is herbaceous, so that it has no use exceptfor food.

irrjxet* TerpaiTTix* 1 * MSS. The two numbers seemto have changed places (Bartels ap. Sch. ). cj. Plin. I.e.

2i.e. the stalk.

scj. Diod. 1. 80. 4 Plin. 13. 128.

6i.e. stalks, like those of the papyrus.

349

THEOPHRASTUS

Kat TO, /jLi> y^VKUTijn Bidcf)epovTd Tavrd ecm.erai Be KOL erepov ei> rot? \fft Kdl rat? \L/J.-

vais o ov (TwdfTrei TIJ yfj, Ti]i> fjiev (frvcriv 6/J.oior

rot? Kpivois, 7ro\v(f)v\\6repoi> Be Kdl Trap d\\ij\ara

pov ^Xei cr^oBpa. xp&vrai be ol larpol TT/OO? re

TCL yvi'di/cela avrca KCLI TT/QO? ra Kary/j.ara.7 [Taura 8e yiverai eV TO> Trora/jLw el

(JLTJ o p

e^e(j)pV av/jL/3aLV6L Se wcrre /cat arl P.>>>^ ~\

'~\

erepa o UTT avro)i> 7rA.etco.J

'O Be Ki>a/.ios (pverat fjiev ev rot? eXeai KCU \ifji-

o? Be avTOv /^T}A:O? p,ev o

(o uyovdrw.Be ev&oOev e%ei, Bt,' o\ov 5/etX?; yayu,eVa? o/Wa? rot?

/ \ / P>\ e r> / j/KriplOL^' TTl rOVTM O6 ?/ KCOOVd, TTdpOfJiOLa ff(p7JKLW

irepi(>epei, KOL ev e/cda'Tcp TMV Kurrdpoov KvaposfjLLKpov vTrepa'ipwv avTrjS, TrX^y^o? Be ol 7T\eiffTOt

Tpid/covTa. TO Be avOos Bi,7r\dcrioi> rj fjuqittovos,

Xpw/jLa Be ofjioiov pooM Kara/copes' errdvw Be rov

vBaros fjKtoBva. TrapaQverai Be (f>v\\d peydXa

Trap Ka<JTOi> TMI> Kvdfiwv, MV laa TO, /j.eyeOi)

rreracrw (*)eTTa\ifcy TOV avrov e^ovra KavXov TW

Kva^wv. crvvrptyavTi B' eKacrrov iwv Kud-

(j)di'6poi> edTL TO TTircpov avvea'Tpa/J./j.eL'ov, e

1 Ottdia alismoddes. See Index App. (18).2 ravra . . . irXelw conj. W. after Seh. ; I have also trans-

posed the two sentences, after Seh. The whole passage in [ ]

(which is omitted by G) is apparently either an interpolationor defective, ffljfialvfi Se &ffirep KO.\ a.iro<pfprdai- trepa 5e d^'

TO. TrAeTa- raCra 5e "yiveTaj tv r<f Trora/j.<f' cifj.1]

6 f>ovs

Aid. ; so also U, but a\nu>v

35

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vin. 6-7

Such are the plants which excel in sweetness of

taste. There is also another plant1 which grows in

the marshes and lakes, but which does not take hold

of the ground ;in character it is like a lily, but it is

more leafy, and has its leaves opposite to one

another, as it were in a double row;the colour is a

deep green. Physicians use it for the complaints of

women and for fractures.

Now these plants grow in the river, unless the

stream has thrown them up on land;

it sometimes

happens that they are borne down the stream, and

that then other plants grow from them. 2

3 But the '

Egyptian bean'

grows in the marshes

and lakes ; the length of its stalk at longest is four

cubits, it is as thick as a man's finger, and resembles

a pliant4 reed without joints. Inside it has tubes

which run distinct from one another right through,like a honey-comb : on this is set the '

head,' which

is like a round wasps' nest, and in each of the cells is

a 'bean,' which slightly projects from it; at most

there are thirty of these. The flower is twice as

large as a poppy's, and the colour is like a rose, of a

deep shade; the 'head' is above the water. Largeleaves grow at the side of each plant, equal

5 in size

to a Thessalian hat 6;these have a stalk exactly like

that 7 of the plant. If one of the ' beans'

is crushed,

you find the bitter substance coiled up, of which the

s Plin. 18. 121 and 122.4

/j.a\aK<3 Ald.H.G Plin. I.e. Athen. 3. 2 cites the passagewith fj.a.Kp<j>.

5tffa conj. W. ; Ka\ Aid.

6irerdffef conj. Sch. from Diosc. 2. 106; TR'AW Ald.H. ; ol

iTfTCKroi are mentioned below ( 9) without explanation. The

comparison is omitted by G and Plin. i.e.

7 '.. that which carries the Kudva.

351

THKOPHRASTUS

8 ov ryiverai o 77-4X09. TCIyu.ei>

ovv rrepl TOV Kaprroi'TOiavTa. r\ Be pi^a rra^VTepa TOV KaXdpov TOV

rra^vTarov Kal Bia<pv<Ti<; 6/^010)9 e%ovaa TMKCLV\W. eaOiovcn 8' avTijV Kal w^v Kal

KOL QTTT1}V, KOI 01 7Tpl TCL eX-Tj TOVTU) GITto

Tai. (f)Vrai /jiev ovv o TroXu? auro/xaro?' ov

a\\a Kal Kara/3a\\ovo'tv ev

ev fjL(i\a vrpo? TO KaTve%0fjval re /ecu iizivai tcai

i) $ia<j)6api}vai' Kal OVTM KaTao-fcevd^ovai TOV<;

av $ arra^

7aP 7 p Ka ov Troppa)

fr\rjv eTraKavOi^ovaa' 8t' o Kal 6

o^v KaOopav yiveTai Be ouro? Kal ev

Kal Kara KiTu/aay, dXX' OVK eKireTTOVcriv

at ^copai- Kal rrepl Topcovrjv rr}? XaXArtSf/c?}? ev

TLi'l /jLerpia TM /jieyeOei' Kal avTov Trerrerat

'O Be XCOTO? :aXou//ei'O? <pvTai fJLev o TrXetcrro?

ev rot? TreoioLS, OTav1} yjupa KaTaK\vcr0fj. TOV-

TOV Sei) [Jiev TOV Kav\ov </>vcri? o/j.oia Trj TOV

KvdfjLOV, Kal oi Treracrot Be wcraurco?, rr~\.r]v e'Xar-

TOU? Kal XeTTTorepoi. eVf^^erat Be oyLtota)? o

7ft) TOV KVa/AOV. TO CivOoS aVTOV \VKOVTrj aTevoTt]TL TWV <^v\\a)V rot? TOV

KP'LVOV, TroXXa Be Kal TTVKVCL err d\\rj\oi<; tyveTai.TavTa Be OTav fjiev o ?/Xto? Bvrj av/jL/jLvet Kal crvy-fca\v7TTi Trjv KwBvav, dfia Be Trj dvaro\f} Bioi-

1 b 7r?Aos UMV; T; 7r?Aos Ald.H. ; ? = germen Sch.2

c/. Diosc. 2. 107.8 Kal Kara@. c onj. \V. ; Karafi. Aid.; KOTO)3. 5' UMV.* Tlin. 13. 1U7 aud 108.

35 2

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vm. 7-9

pilos1 is made. So much for the fruit. The root

is thicker than the thickest reed, and is made up of

distinct tubes, like the stalk. 2They eat it both

raw boiled and roasted, and the people of the

marshes make this their food. It mostly grows of

its own accord ; however they also sow 3it in the

mud, having first well mixed the seed with chaff, so

that it may be carried down and remain in the

ground without being rotted ; and so they preparethe ( bean

'

fields, and if the plant once takes hold it

is permanent. For the root is strong and not unlike

that of reeds, except that it is prickly on the surface.

Wherefore the crocodile avoids it, lest he may strike

his eye on it, since he has not sharp sight. This

plant also grows in Syria and in parts of Cilicia, butthese countries cannot ripen it; also about Torone in

Chalcidice in a certain lake of small size ; and this

lake ripens it perfectly and matures its fruit.4 The plant called the lotos (Nile water-lily) grows

chiefly in the plains when the land is inundated.

The character of the stalk of this plant is like that

of the '

Egyptian bean/ and so are the ' hat-like'

leaves,5except that they are smaller and slenderer.

And the fruit 6grows on the stalk in the same way

as that of the ' bean.' The flower is white, resem-

bling in the narrowness of its petals those of the

lily,7 but there are many petals growing close one

upon another. When the sun sets, these close s andcover up the '

head,' but with sunrise they open and5

cf. 4. 8. 7.6

KapTrbs conj. W. ; XO>T&S MSS. Possibly the fruit wasspecially called \wr6s.

7cf. Hdt. 2. 92; Diosc. 4. 113.

85vT?, ffvp/J-vfL conj. St.; ffv^uvei MV; (rv/j./j.vr) U; ffv/j./^.vr)

(omitting Kal) Ald.H.

353

THEOPHRASTUS

Kai vTrep TOV uSaro? <yivrai. rovro

expi av rjKwSva e/cre\eo)6fj KOI TO, a

iO Trepippvf). Tf;9 Be Kcobvas TO /jieyeBof rj\iKoi>

T//9 /zfytcrrr;?, KOL Sie^wcrrai rat9 Kara-

TOI> avTOv rporrov rfj fjvq/ccovi* TrXrjv TTVKVO-

repo? eV raurai? 6 KapTros* CffTi Be TrapojAOiosw. ev & rw ^v^pdrrj TTJV Kw&vav

<f)acr}

i ra av6rj bvveiv Kai vrroKaTaftaiveiv TT}? o-v/aa?

VVKTWV KCLI Tti)

jap Kaievra rrjv Xe^Pa ^ySet^ elvai.

ravra orav opdpos 77 7rd\iv eTravievai KOI

fj/jLepav TL fjiaXkov, a/jLCL TM f)\l<p (f>avpov <ov>

VTrep TOV i/8aro? /cat dvoiyetv TO avOos, avoi%j9ev-TO? 8e eri dvaftaiveiv (TV)(i'ov 8e TO uTrepalpov* \r/P. V^ v ' ' 'A''

11 zivai TO vowp. Ta9 be KWOVCLS Taura? 01 ALJV-TTTlOl (TVv6eVTS 66? TO aUTO (TY]TTOV(JiV' 7rdv B

(TaTcf) TO K\V(f)OS, V T(0 TTOTa/HM K\V

povcn TOV KapTTOv, ^ripdvaines 8e Kai

TTOIOVCTL KOL TOVTM ^pWVTai (TLTIM.tj Sf

TOV \WTOV KaXeLTCLi /JLV KOpQ-lOV, CTT\ B

TO

(>\oio<; Se rrepiKeiTai Trepl avTrjv //,eAa? e/

T(o KaaTavaiictd Kapvy TO Se eVTo? \evKov,

fjievov & KOI oTTToo/jievov yuverat Xe/a$w>

ev Trj TTpoafyopa- eadU'rai Se KCU co/xr;, dpir>\>'r^Tr/^ 'j/3 v v ' ' N ^

be ev \TU)\ voaTi e0t/?; Kai OTTTT;. Kai TO,

ev Tot9 v8a(Tiv axe&ov TavTa eaTiv.

12 'Ey Se Tot? a^t/xcoSeo-/ ^wplois, a ecrTLV ov jroppa)

1c/. Uiosc. I.e.

2cf. C.P. 2. 19. 1 ; Plin. 13. 109.

36\l/ia.3 con]. W. from Plin. I.e. ; ? otffai Spay.

4 <&/> add. W.6

Kt\v<pos i.e. fruit : KapitAv i.e.. seeds.

354

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vm. 9-12

appear above the water. This the plant does until

the ' head'

is matured and the flowers have fallen off'.

1 The size of the ' head'

is that of the largest poppy,and it has grooves all round it in the same way as

the poppy, but the fruit is set closer in these. This

is like millet. 2 In the Euphrates they say that the

'head' and the flowers sink and go under water in

the evening3 till midnight, and sink to a consider-

able depth ;for one can not even reach them by

plunging one's hand in;and that after this, when

dawn comes round,, they rise and go on rising towards

day-break, being4 visible above the water when the

sun appears ;and that then the plant opens its flower,

and, after it is open, it still rises ; and that it is

a considerable part which projects above the water.

These ' heads'

the Egyptians heap together andleave to decay, and when the '

pod' 5 has decayed, they

wash the ' head'

in the river and take out the (

fruit,'5

and, having dried and pounded6

it, they make loaves

of it, which they use for food. The root of the lotos

is called korsion? and it is round and about the size

of a quince ;it is enclosed in a black '

bark,' like the

shell of a chestnut. The inside is white ; but whenit is boiled or roasted, it becomes of the colour of

the yolk of an egg and is sweet to taste. The root

is also eaten raw, though it is best when boiled in

water or roasted.8 Such are the plants found in

water.

In sandy places which are not 9 far from the river

6 irriffavrfs : cf. Hdt. 2. 92. 7cf. Strabo 17. 2. 4.

8 tcrBifTai . . . oiTT-n conj. Sch. from Plin. I.e. and G ; eV0.

8f Kal a>/j.6v dp/ffTTj Se ev rot's vScuriv avrr] U/ATI Aid.; ap(arr) 5e

Kal rois vSaaiv avrfyv UMV, then O/UTJ U, ii/i7j V, W/J.T) M ; apiffri}

fie (V T$ vSari f(f>6)) TJ Kal OTTTTJ H.9 ov was apparently not in Pliny's text ; (21. 88.)

355

THEOPHRASTUS

TOV Trora/jLOv, (frverai Kara 7/7? o Ka\eirat fjia\iv-

a6d\\ri, arpoyyv\ov TM a^jjfjLart yu,eye$o? Be

r)\LKOV }jiecrm\ov drrvpr/vov Be atyXoiov <$>v\\a

Be d<f)Lr}o~LV air avrov of^oia Kvrreipw' ravra

(Tvvdyovres 01 Kara ri)V %a>pav e^ovaiv ev ftpvru)^w CLTTO rwv KpiOwv KOI <yii>6Tai j\VKa cr(f)6$pa-

XpwvTiu Be Tra^re? wcnrep rpayij/jLacri.

13 Tot? St fioval Koi rot? 7r^o/3aTOt5 aTravra /Afv

ra $>vop.eva eBcoBi/^d eaTiv, ev Be rt yevos ev rat?

\Ljjivais xal TO?? eXecrt (frverai Biacfrepov, o Kai

ov ve/JLOinai /cat ^ijpaivovres Trape^ovaL Kara

rot? fiov&lv orav epydo-covrat,' Kal rd

a<i)fj,ara e^ovaiv ev airov d\\o \a[JLftdvovres

OV0V.14 "Ecrrt Be Kal d\\o rrapa^vofievov avro^arov

ev ru> crirw' rovro Be, orav o (Jtro? 77 KaOapos,VTroTrri&avres Karaj3d\\ova-i TOV ^eifj-wvo^ vy-

pdv et? yrjv fiXaanjcravrfx; Be re/jiovres Kal

i]pdvavres nrapk^ovai Kal rovro ftovcrl Kal

Kal rot? vrro^vyiois avv rw Kaprcw rw em-6 Be Kaprros fjieyeflos pev I]\IKOV <ji]-

, (rrpoyyv\o<? Be Kal ra> ^poo/jLari ^Xw^o?,Be Biafapovrcos. ev Alyvrrra) fjiev ovv

rd rrepirrd cr^eBbv ravra dv ns \dfBoi.

IX.r/

E-acrTot Be TCOP rrora^MV eoitcacriv iBioi>

n (frepeiv, axrrrep Kal rwv ^epcraicov. errel ovBt

6 T/9i'/3oXo? ev drraffiv ovBe rravra^ovd\\' ev rot? \(i)Be(Ti rwv rrorafjiwv' ev

Be (SdOei rrevram'^ei rj fjLiKpw /^ei^ovt, KaOdrrep

1 Plin. I.e. anthalium, whence Salm. conj. a.i'Qd\\iov.- Saccharum biflonim. See Index App. (19).8

ft> <rirov &\\o conj. W.; tufftTovvra Aid.

356

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. vm. i 2 -ix. i

there grows under ground the thing called malina-

Ihalle *; this is round in shape and as large as a medlar,

but has no stone and no bark. It sends out leaves

like those of galingale. These the people of the

country collect and boil in beer made from barley,and they become extremely sweet, and all men use

them as sweetmeats.

All the things that grow in such places may beeaten by oxen and sheep, but there is one kind of

plant2 which grows in the lakes and marshes which is

specially good for food : they graze their cattle on it

when it is green, and also dry it and give it in the

winter to the oxen after their work;and these keep

in good condition when they have no other 3 kindof food.

There is also another plant4 which comes up of its

own accord among the corn; this, when the harvest

is cleared, they crush slightly5 and lay during the

winter on '3 moist ground ;

when it shoots, they cut

and dry it and give this also to the cattle and horses

and beasts of burden with the fruit which forms onit. The fruit in size is as large as sesame, but roundand green in colour, and exceedingly good. Suchone might take to be specially remarkable plants of

Egypt.IX. Every river seems to bear some peculiar plant,

just as does each part of the dry land. 7 For not eventhe water-chestnut grows in all rivers nor everywhere,but only in marshy rivers, and only in those whose

depth is not more or not much more than five cubits,4 Corchorus trilocularis. See Index App. (20).8 G seems to have read inroinla-ai'Tfs (leviter pinsentes) ;

viroirr-ijaavres W. with Ald.H.6 els conj. W. ; r^v Aid.7 Plin. 21. 98; Diosc. 4. 15.

357

THEOPHRASTUS

Trepl rov STpuaova' a^eBw Be ev rocrovrco Kal

o /caXa/xo? /cat rd a'XXa. vrrepe^ei Be ovOev

avrov rr\rjv aura rd <pv\\a warrep emveovra/cal Kpvrrrovra rov rpi/3o\ov, 6 Be T^7t'/3oXo? ai'ro?

ev TW vBari vevwv ei? ftvOov. TO 8e (j)i>\\o's ecrrl

TrXaTU 7rpocre/jL(f)ep6<; TW TT}? TrreXea?, fjLia"^ov 8e

ii

t'^et a(f)6$pa /JLatcpov o ^e /cauXo? 6^ ciKpov

TTa^VTaTos, '69ev ra (f>v\\a /cat o Kapjros, raBe Kara) \67rrorepos del ^XP L T7

'5? p'1^1!^'

be arrorrefyvKora air avrov T/ar^coS?; ra

rrXelara rrapd\\i^\a ra 8e /cat rrapa\\drrovra,KarwOev drco TT)? pt^/9 aeydXa ra Be dvw del e\dr-

TO) TTpoiovcrLV, cocrTe T r\vrala ai/cpa Trdarrav

elvat, /cal rrjv Siacfropdv ueydXrjv rr]v drro TT)V

tcav\ov Kal 7rapa/3\acrr)')uara vrXetw /cat 7/?Ty3ta Kal rerrapa, ueyicrrov 8' atet TO rc\riGia,i-

repov T>}? piQlS* eira TO /ueTa rovro Kal raaXXa Kara \oyov. TO 8e 7rapa/3\dcrr7jad earn 1

warrep /cauXo? aXXo? \errrorepos {lev rov rrpu>rov,ra Be (/>uXXa /cat TW Kaprrov eyjav o/iotw?. 6

<Se /ca/JTro? yueXa? /cat o-/cX?;/3o? cr<j)6Spa. pit.avBe i]\iKr)V Kal rroiav e^t crKerrreov.

rj aev ovv

(f)ucrL^ roLavrrj. fyverai aev drro rov Kaprrovrov rrirrrovros Kal a0t7/(Tt ft\aaroi> rov r/pos'

3 0aert Se ot yLie^ et^at errerciov ol Be Biaueveiv

aev pl^av 6t? "fcoovov, ej; 179 /tat Tr/i> /3Xa-eivai rov Kav\ov. rovro aev ovv CTK-

rrreov. iBiov Be rrapd rd\\a ro rwv Trapac^voaevcovK rov Kav\ov T/at^wSwt'- ovre yap (j)v\.\a ravraovre /cauXo9' eVet TO ye T/}? 7rapa/3\acrr)'jO'a)^KOLVOV Ka\daov Kal d

353

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. ix. 1-3

as the Strymon. (In rivers of such a depth grow;ilso reeds and other plants.) No part of it projectsfrom the water except just the leaves

;these float as

it were and conceal the '

chestnut/ which is itself

under water and bends down towards the bottom.The leaf is broad, like that of the elm, and has a

very long stalk. The stem is thickest at the top,whence spring the leaves and the fruit

;below it gets

thinner down to the root. It has springing from it

hair-like growths, most of which are parallel to each

other, but some are irregular; below, starting fromthe root, they are large, but, as one gets higher upthe plant, they become smaller, so that those at the

top are quite small and there is a great contrast

between the root and the top where the fruit grows.The plant also has on the same stalk several side-

growths ;of these there are three or four, and the

largest is always that which is nearer to the root,the next largest is the one next above it, and so onin proportion : this sidegrowth is like another stalk,but slenderer than the original one, though like that

it has leaves and fruit. The fruit is black and

extremely hard. The size and character of the root

are matter for further enquiry. Such is the characterof this plant. It grows from the fruit which falls,

and begins to grow in spring. Some say that it is

annual, others that the root persists for a time, andthat from it grows the new stalk. This then is

matter for enquiry. However quite peculiar to this

plant is the hair-like character of the growths which

spring from the stalk; for these are neither leaves

nor stalk ; though reeds and other things have also

sidegrowths.

359

THEOPHRASTUS

Xrp \ \ f >/ /> / >/ ~> <'

. La fjiev ovv ibia uecoprjreov tdio>9 o?;Xoi> ori,

ra Be KOIVCL KOLVMS. Biaipeiv Be ^/?r; /cal ravra

Kara TOI>? TOTTOU?, olov el TO, /nv e'Xeta ra Be

\Lfjivala ra Be rrord/Jiia p,a\\ov rj teal Koiva rrdv-

rwv TOTTMV Siaipelv 8e teal rroia ravra iv rw

KOL rw fylpu> (frverai, /cal rrola ev ry vypwfiovov, a)? avrXw? elrrelv TT/JO? ra Koivorara elprj-

/jieva rrporepov.

'Ei/ 8' ovv rfj \ifjLV7} rrj rrepl 'Op%o/xevov ra'8'

eVrl ra fyvo/JLeva Sevbpa /cal v\r)fjiara, Irea

criSr) /taXa/zo? o re avXrjrttcos /cal 6

Kvrreipov <p\ea)$ rixfrr), eri ye fJLrjvavOos

ical TO KaXovjuevov ITTVOV. b yap rrpocrayo-

pevovcri \tifjiva rovrov ra rr\eia) Kad' v&aros ecrri.

Tovrwv $e ra fjiev ciXXa yvwpifJLa' o 8' e\aiayvo<$teal

1} (TiSt] /cal T) fjiijvavBos /cal7} i/c/j.r) /cal TO

Ircvov t'o-co? /j,ev fyverat /cal erepwOi, rrpoaayopeve-rai Be aXXoi? ov6fj.aaf \fcreov &e rrepl avrwv.

eari Se 6 p,ev e\aiayi>o$ (frvcrei fi,ev ^a/zi/co^e? /cal

rrapo/jioiov rot? ayvoLs, (f)v\\ov &e e^et TOOjj,ev

ayrm-an 7rapa7r~\.yj(nov fiaXa/cov Be, wcrrrep at

/jt,r)\eai /cal ^owSe?. avOos Be rw TJ}? Xev/cr]?

O^OLOV e\arrov Kaprrov Be ovBeva (frepei. <pverai

Be 6 7rXeto"To? fjiev errl ru>v rr\odBwv vrjaaiv elal

yap T^e? /cal evrav6a rr\odBe$, wcnrepev

1 ra 5e Koii'a KOIVWS conj. Sch. from G ;ra 8 KOIVUS Ald.H.

* ravTa conj. Sch.: raCra Aid.s

irpus TO. KOiv. &p. irp. conj. W. supported by G ;

irpoaeit)r]/j.fva. irporfpov Ald.H.

360

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. x. 1-2

Of the plants peculiar to the lake of Orchomenos (Lake Copais),

especially its reeds; and of reeds in general.

X. Plants peculiar to particular places must be

considered separately, while a general account maybe given of those which are generally distributed. 1

But even the latter must be classified according to

locality ;thus some belong to marshes, others to

lakes, others to rivers, or again others may be commonto all kinds of locality : we must also distinguish whichoccur alike 2 in wet and in dry ground, and which

only in wet ground, marking these off in a general

way from those mentioned above as being most

impartial.3

Now in the lake near Orchomenos grow the

following trees and woody plants : willow goat-willow

water-lily reeds (both that used for making pipes andthe other kind) galingale phleos bulrush ; and also( moon-flower

'

duckweed and the plant called

marestail : as for the plant called water-chickweedthe greater part of it grows under water. 4

Now of these most are familiar : the goat-willow

water-lily' moon-flower

'

duckweed and marestail

probably grow also elsewhere, but are called bydifferent names. Of these we must speak. The

goat-willow is of shrubby habit and like the chaste-

tree : its leaf resembles that leaf in shape, but it is

soft like that of the apple,5 and downy. The bloom 6

is like that of the abele, but smaller, and it bears nofruit. It grows chiefly on the floating islands ; (forhere too there are floating islands, as in the marshes

4 TOVTOV TO. v\fi(a KaQ' v5. conj. Sch. ; TOVTO TrAeiw TO /cafl* vS.

UM ; TOVTO irXciov rb Had' i>8. Aid.5

fj.v\(at perhaps here = quince (/j.ij\ea Kvtiavla).6 &v6os here = catkin.

361

THEOPHRASTUS

rrepl ra eA,?/ real ev (^earrpwriSi real ev aXXat? \ip.-

vaw e\drrcov $e read* voaros' 6 fjiev ovv eXauayvosroiovrov.

3 'H 8e (71817 rrjv fjiev jjiop(f>ijv ecrriv ofioia rfj

/ji/jrewvi' real yap TO dva) /evrivwSes roiovrov e^ei,

rr\i)v f^el^ov a><> Kara \oyov /Jieyedei Se 0X09 o\f f / ^-^ )' C^V^ ' ' ^ ^ \ ? /

rrepl avrrjv \evKoi, real errl rovroL^ e^codev <j>v\\a

wS/; rraparrX^aia T0t9 rwv po&wv orav ev

> wen, rerrapa rov

rea ov Trow /iteiovs reey^pov- rov 8e

nvd, KaOdrrep o TWI^ rrvpwv.Be rov Oepovs, /JLLCT^OV

Se e%et jxaKpov. TO

av6os ofjioiov poSov Kci\vKi t jjLei^ov B real a"%

$i7r\do~Lov TW /AcyeQei. rovro fj,v ovv real TO

drravdrjcrr) real avary TO TrepiredpTTiov, rearare\ive-

crdai (fracriv et9 TO vSwp ^d\\ov, TeXo9 Se avvdrrreiv

rfi yfj real rov reaprrov ere^elv.

4 K.aprro(f)opiv 8e rcov ev rfj \ifivr) rovro real TO

{3ovro/j,ov real rov <)\eu>v. elvai Se rov (Bovrofjiov

/j.e\ava, rq> be /AeydOei rraparc\rj(TLOv TW T?/9

TOU Be

. . . y'Saroj : sense doubtful. G. seems to render

a different reading.'2

i.e. the flower-head, which, as well as the plant,called ffiSr].

3/JLTJKUVI can hardly be right : suspected by H.

4ef. Athen. 14. 64.

''

i.e. petals.

362

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. x. 2-4

of Egypt, in Thesprotia, and in other lakes). Whenit grows under water, it is smaller. 1 Such is the

goat-willow.The water-lily

2is in shape like the poppy.

3 Forthe top of it has this character, being shaped like

the pomegranate flower,4 but it is longer in propor-

tion to the size of the plant. Its size in fact as a

whole is that of an apple ;but it is not bare, having

round it white membranes,5 and attached to these

on the outside are grass-green 'leaves,'5 like those

of roses when they are still in bud, and of these

there are four;when it is opened it shews its seeds,

which are red;in shape however they are not like

pomegranate7

seeds, but round small and not

much longer than millet seeds ; the taste is insipid,like that of wheat-grains. It ripens in summer andhas a long stalk. The flower is like a rose-bud,but larger, almost twice as large. Now this and the

leaf float on the water;but later, when the bloom is

over and the fruit-case 8 has formed, they say that it

sinks deeper into the water, and finally reaches the

bottom and sheds its fruit.

Of the plants of the lake they say that water-lily

sedge and phleos bear fruit, and that that of the

sedge is black, and in size like that of the water-lily.The fruit of phleos is what is called the '

plume,'1J

6i.e. sepals.

7ptais conj. Bod. from Nic. Ther. 887 and Schol. ; pifris

UMVAldH.8

irepiKapiriov conj. W. ; KaraicdpirLov MSS. Kara- probablydue to K.a.'ra.KKlvtffQa.i.

9cf. Diosc. 3. 118. ai>6ri\rii>, SC. Kapirliv ~li>at. But Sell,

suggests that further description of the fruit has droppedout, and that the clause $ . . . Kovtas does not refer to the

fruit.

363

THEOPHRASTUS

ft> Xpwvrai 777309 Ta9 Kovias. TOVTO 6 early olov

7r\aKOWTO)Be<; TL ua\aKov eTTLTrvppov. ert Be

fcal TOV <Xeft> /au rou ftovTOfiov TO ^tei> $77X1;

atcapTTOv, xptjcriuov Be Trpo? ra TrXo/mi/a, TO Se

appev a^pelov.

Hepl be TT}? 'iKfjiris KOI [jLrjvdvOovs Kal TOV VTTVOV

(TK7TTeOV.

Be rovra)v earlvrj rv(f)tj Kal ru>

atf>v\\ov elvat, /cat TO> ^LTJ 7ro\vppL^ov Tot? a'XXoj?' eVel TaXXa 01)^ rjrrov eh TCL Kara) rrfv

a ^ r*]v BvvafJiiv yuaXtcrTa Be TO

KVTreipov, OHTTrep Kal r) aypcocms, Bi o Kal Bva-a)-

\eOpa Kal ravra Kal oXco? airav TO 76^05 TO roiov-

TOV. 1} Be pi^a TOV Kvrreipov TTO\V TL TWV a

7rapa\\aTTei TTJ dva)/Jia\La, TW TO fjiev elvat,

TI Kal aapK&Bes avTrjs TO Be \TTTOV Kal

Kal Trj y8XacrT?;crei Kal TJJ yeveo-ei' fyveTai, yapdiro TOV 7rpejjLva)Bovs eTepa XCTTT^ Kara TrXdyiov,tT* ev TavTrj <jvvi(JTaTai TfcCkiv TO crapKw$es t ev co

o /3Xao-TO? d(j>'ov o Kav\6<$' dfiirjcrt, Be

TOV avTOv TpoTrov p/^ct9, Bi o Kal

a Bvcrci)\e0pov Kal epyov e^e\.eii>.

Be 7ra/9a7rX77<7ta)9 fyveTai rj aypwaTis eK

TWV yovaTwv at 'yap pi^ai <yovaT(t)Beis, ej; Ka-

(TTOV 8' d(f)it]o-ivavw /3Xao-Tov Kal KaTwOev

pi^av. waai/Tocx; Be Kal77aKavQa

77 dKavd)Brjs,

aXX' ov Ka\a/jL(*)Br)<; ovBe <yovar(t)Br)<s rj pi^a Tav-

1 Kovtas : ? Kovidatis (plastering), a conjecture mentioned

by Sch.

3 64

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. x. 4-6

and it is used as a soap -powder.1 It is something

like a cake, soft and reddish. Moreover the ' female'

plant both of phleos and sedge is barren, but useful

for basket-work,2 while the ' male '

is useless.

Duckweed ( moon-flower'

and marestail requirefurther investigation.Most peculiar of these plants is the bulrush, both

in being leafless and in not having so many roots as

the others ;for the others tend downwards quite as

much as upwards, and shew their strength in that

direction ;and especially is this true of galingale, and

also of dog's-tooth grass ; wherefore these plantstoo and all others like them are hard to destroy.The root of galingale exceeds all the others in the

diversity of characters which it shews, in that partof it is stout and fleshy, part slender and woody.So also is this plant peculiar in its way of shootingand originating; for from the trunk-like stock 3

grows another slender root 4sideways, and on this

again forms the fleshy part which contains the shoot

from which the stalk springs.5 In like manner it

also sends out roots downwards ; wherefore of all

plants it is hardest to kill, and troublesome to getrid of.

(Dog's-tooth grass grows in almost the same wayfrom the joints ;

for the roots are jointed, and from

each joint it sends a shoot upwards and a root down-wards. The growth of the spinous plant called

corn-thistle 6 is similar, but it is not reedy and its

2cf. Hdt. 3. 98. 3

i.e. rhizome.4

i.e. stolon ; cf. 1. 6. 8.

8 o<>' e>5 6 Kav\6s transposed by W. ; in Aid. these wordscome before lv $.

is I conj.; Keavcovos UMV; KtavwOos Aid.; ?j

most edd. ; G omits the word.

36 5

THEOPHRASTUS

raura /J,ev ovv errl rr\eiov Bid TTJV o

8' ev d/j.(f)OLV Kal ev Ty yfj Kal ev

to vBaTL Irea Ka\a/nos } rrXijv TOV av\r)TiKov,

Kvrreipov Tixpr) (f)\ecos fiovTojuos' ev Be TCO

IJLOVOV (TiBrj. Trepl yap TJ/? TixprjS dpKa\\io) Be Kal /zetVw TWV ev a/zc^o

alel TO, ev TW vBaTt, yiveadat, (>ao~i. fyveaOai 8'

evia TOVTCOV Kal eVt TU>V TrXodBwv, olov TO KV-

Treipov Kal TO ^OVTO/JLOV Kal TOV ^>\ecov, wcrre irdvra

TCIfJ^epif

TavTa KaTe^eiv.7 'E8co8f//a 8' e'cTTt TWV ev TT} \ijjivr) TaBe' 1} jjiev

ffiBij Kal avTrj Kal ra (j)v\\a rot? TrpoftaTOis, 6

B /3XaCTT09 T04? VCriV, Be KapTTOS TOi? dvOpCOTTOLS.TGV Be (f>\eu> Kal TT;? TU^)?;? Kal TOV /3ovTo/xov TO

Trpos Tat? jOt'^at? djraXov, o yuaX/crTa ecrOLeL TO,

TraiBia. pi^a 8' e'8co8tyao? rjTOV ^>Xea>

^ / ff ^ 1 \ *9 \

pO(TKi]/jiao~iv. oTav o au^/uo? T) /cat

TO KaTa K<pa\i]V vBu>p, cLTravTa av^fjiel TO, ev TTJ

\[/jLvr), /u-aXfcrTa 8e o tfaXa/zo?, vTrep ov Kal \OITTOV

eiTrelv vrrep ydp TWV d\\a)v cr^eBov eipijTai.

XI. Toi) 8^ KaXdfjLov Bvo (fcatflv elvuu yevrj, TOV

TC av\r)TLKov Kal TOV eTepov ev ydp elvai TO

yevos TOV eTepov, $ta<j)epeiv Be d\\ij\a)v lo"^vl<Kal Tra')^vT'r)Ti> KCLI XeTTTOT^Tt Kal daOeveia'

KoXovcri Be TOV fj,ev lo"%vpov Kal Tra%TOV 8' eTepov Tr\oKip,oi>' Kal fyvecrOai, TOV

1i.e. we have gone beyond the list of typical plants of

Orchomenus given 4. 10. 1, because \ve have found others of

which much the same may be said.2 cf 4 10 2.

3OUT^J : cf. 4. 10. 3 n.

366

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. x. 6-xi. i

root is not jointed. We have enlarged on these

matters 1 because of the resemblance.)The willow and the reed (not however the reed

used for pipes) galingale bulrush phleos sedge

grow both on land and in the water, water-lily onlyin the water. (As to bulrush indeed there is a

difference of opinion.) However they say that those

plants which grow in the water are always finer and

larger than those that grow in both positions ; also

that some of these plants grow also on the floating

islands,2 for instance galingale sedge and phleos ;

thus all parts of the lake contain these plants.Of the plants of the lake the parts good for food

are as follows : of the water-lily both the flower 3 andthe leaves are good for sheep, the young shoots for

pigs, and the fruit for men. Of phleos galingaleand sedge the part next the roots is tender, and is

mostly eaten by children. The root of phleos is the

only part which is edible by cattle. When there is

a drought and there is no water from overhead,4 all

the plants of the lake are dried up, but especiallythe reed ; of this it remains to speak, since we havesaid almost enough about the rest.

XI. 5 Of the reed there are said to be two kinds,the one used for making pipes and the other kind.

For that of the latter there is only one kind, thoughindividual plants differ in being strong and stout, or

on the other hand slender and weak. The strongstout one they call the '

stake-reed,' the other the'

weaving reed.' The latter they say grows on the

4 K t>a\ T]V UMVAld. ; for the case cf. Xen. Hell. 7. 2. 8

:md 11 ; K60aAT?j conj. W.6 Plin. 16. 168 and 169.6 Kal iraxvTriTi add. Dalec. from G.

36 7

THEOPHRASTUS

7r\OKLaov ejrl TWV 7r\odBu>v TOV Be ^apaKiav eVt

TOLS Kcouvai' KwuvOa? Be xaXovcri ov av 77 crvv-

rj&poicruevos tcdXaaos fcal avuTrerr\eyfjivos rat?

TOVTO Be yiverai /cad' 01)9 av TOTTOVS

TOV ^apaKiav KOI ov 6 av\r)TiKos, /JLa/cporepov

fjievTOV d\\ov %apaKLOU crK(i)\rjKO/3p(i)Tov Be.

TOVTOV iJikv ovv raura? \eyovcri ra? $ia(f)opds.

Hepi Be TOV av\r]TtKov TO JJLZV (frvecrOaL Bi' ev-

, warrep Tives </>acrt, Kal TavTi]v eivai

TCL^LV OVK aX^^e?, d\\a TO fjiev o\ov av^rj-

<yiveTai TT}? \ifj,vr}S' OTI Be TOVT eBo/cei

veLv ev rot? rrpoTepov %p6voi<> fidXicrTa Bi

evveaTijpiBo?, real Trjv ryeveatv TOV Ka\.dfj,ov Tav-

TYJV eiroiovv TO cruyU-^e/3?;/co? a>? Ta^iv \a/j,ftdvov-

3 re?. <ylveTai Be OTCLV eiro/jiftpias yevofievr]? e/x/jbevr]\ tf^. ^ /> V > ,. / ,\ \ A /

TO vbwp bv eTT) TOv\a^L<JTOV, av be TfXeiw tcai

TOVTOV Be fJLa\LGTa fjivrj/jiovevovcn,

OTO? TWV VCTTCpOV %pOV(t)V OT CTVVeftr) TO, 7Tp

Xaipcaveiav rrpb TOVTWV 'yap efyaaav eV>;

$aQvvQi]vai TTJV \L/J>VTJV /aera Be TavTa

&>? o \OIJJLOS eyevTO a(poBp6s, Tr\rjff6r}vai

avTJJv, ov /JieLvavTOS Be TOV vBaTOS dXX' eK\LTrov-

TO? ^efyLtw^o? ov jeveffOat, TOV /cd\a/jLOV' (fiaal <ydpKal BoKei /3a0vvo/J>evr)s T^? Xtyu.1^9 av^dveo-OaiTOV KaXaaov et? /JLTJICOS, aeuvavTa Be TOV eTTtovTa

eviavTov dBpvvea-0ai' teal <yivea6at, TOV aev dBpv-

%V<yiTr)v, a> B* av firj crv/jLTrapaueivy TO

: lit' bundles.'

2 5u' r conj. W.; 5<eT^ UAJVAld.3 B.C. 338.

368

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xi. 1-3

floating islands, the stout form in the ' reed-beds'l

;

this name they give to the places where there is athick mass of reed with its roots entangled together.This occurs in any part of the lake where there is

rich soil. It is said that the ' stake-reed'

is also

sometimes found in the same places as the reed usedfor pipes, in which places it is longer than the ' stake-

reed' found elsewhere, but gets worm-eaten. Thesethen are the differences in reeds of which they tell.

As to the reed used for pipes, it is not true, as some

say, that it only grows once in nine years and thatthis is its regular rule of growth ; it grows in generalwhenever the lake is full : but, because in former

days this was supposed to happen generally once in

nine years, they made the growth of the reed to

correspond, taking what was really an accident to bea regular principle. As a matter of fact it growswhenever after a rainy season the water remains in

the lake for at least two years,2 and it is finer if the

water remains longer ; this is specially rememberedto have happened in recent times at the time of thebattle of Chaeronea. 8 For before that period theytold me that the lake was for several years deep

*;

and, at a time later than that, when there was asevere visitation of the plague, it filled up ; but, as

the water did not remain but failed in winter, thereed did not grow ; for they say, apparently with

good reason, that, when the lake is deep, the reedincreases in height, and, persisting for the next year,matures its growth ; and that the reed which thusmatures is suitable for making a reed mouthpiece,

5

while that for which the water has not remained is

4ITT; ir\fl<a conj. Seal, from G ; in irAei'w UMV; IT*

Aid.5 See n. on -rb OTO^O. TWV yXurTuv, 4.

369

THEOPHRASTUS

vBu>p /3o/j</3vKiav. TrjV fj,ev ovv <yevecnv elvai

epeiv Be ra)i> aX\,(ov KaXdfAwv co? Ka(? 6\ov

evrpo<j)ia TLVL rrjs fyvcjews' ev7r\<

r)0la'T6pov

yap elvai real evaapKorepov Kal 0X0)9 Se 0?]\vv rff

Trpocrotyei. Kal jap TO <pv\\ov TrXarvrepov %etv

/cal \evKQTpov TTJV Be uv0Ti'j\r)v eXarrco ra)i>

a\\G)v, Tivas 5e oXw? OVK G^LV, oi)? KOI

ayopevovcriv evvov^ias' e^ wv apiara /LteV

Tives <yLV<T0ai ra evyr), tcaropOovv 8e oXuya

ITapa rrjv epyaaiav.r

Yr)i> Be ro/^r)i> topaiav elvai irpo'

'AvriyeviSov

fj*ei>, ^VLK TIV\OVV a7rXao"Tco9, UTT''

Ap/crovpov

yU.7/2'0?' TOV jap OVTto)

ivecr6aiuev erefftv vcrrepov <yvecrai xprai/jLov Ka Trpo-

BelcrOai TroXX/)?, av^^v^iv Be ru

TWV ^yXcoTTco^, o TTpos Trjv ftiaKTY}plciv elvai

6 r i(n,ov. 7rel Be , /ca

yj uTeKiv/]0r)' re/j.vova'i, yap Bij vvv TOV

irpo

VTTO TpoTrds. 'ylveo'Oai Be

re iaijiov Kal

iai'. In one kind of pipe the performer blew, not

directly on to the 'reed,' but into a cap in which it wasenclosed ; this cap, from the resemblance in shape to a

cocoon, was called /3o'uj3u|.'-'

f ~li>ai add. W.3 Plin. 16. 109 172. 4

September.6

i.e. between the free end of the vibrating 'tongue' and

370

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xi. 3-5

suitable for making a '

cap.'l Such then, it is said,

is2 the reed's way of growth.3 Also it is said to differ from other reeds, to speak

generally, in a certain luxuriance of growth, being of

a fuller and more fleshy character, and, one may say,* female

'

in appearance. For it is said that even theleaf is broader and whiter, though the plume is

smaller than that of other reeds, and some have no

plume at all; these they call ' eunuch-reeds.' From

these they say that the best mouthpieces are made,though many are spoiled in the making.

Till the time of Antigenidas, before which menplayed the pipe in the simple style, they say thatthe proper season for cutting the reeds was themonth Boedromion 4 about the rising of Arcturus

;

for, although the reed so cut did not become fit for

use for many years after and needed a great deal of

preliminary playing upon, yet the opening5 of the

reed-tongues is well closed, which is a good thing for

the purpose of accompaniment.6 But when a change

was made to the more elaborate style of playing, thetime of cutting the reeds was also altered

;for in

our own time they cut them in the months Skirro-

phorion7 or Hekatombaion 8 about the solstice or a

little earlier. 9 And they say that the reed becomesfit for use in three years and needs but little

preliminary playing upon, and that the reed-tongues

the body or '

lay'

of the reed mouthpiece : the instrument

implied throughout is apparently one with a single vibrating'

tongue'

(reed) like the modern clarinet.6

StaKT-npiav UMV; Siaicropiav Aid. ? irphs rb aKpoa-r-qptov,' for the concert-room '

; quod erat illis theatrorum moriiusutilius I'lin. I.e.

7 June. 8July.

conj. W. ; uffirepel UH.; us vepl MVAld.

371

THEOPHRASTUS

teal Karacnrda'/j.ara ra? 'yXooTra? io"%eivrovro Be dvayKalov rot? perd TrXacr/zaro? av

\OVCTL. rov fjiev ovv ^evyirov ravras elvai ra?

copa? rr}? TO/Z/}?.

'H S' epyacria yiverau rovrov rov rpoTrov OTav

av\\eJ;(JL>(Ti TiQzacriv vTralOpiov rov xei/nayi'os v

\/jL/j,ari' rov 5' 77/00? irepLKaOdpavres

et? rov TI\IOV eOecrav. rov Oepovsravra avvrefjiovres et? ra p,ecro*/ovria

inralOpiov nOeacri %povov rivd. TTpo<j\ei,TT overt,

Se TCO /jLecroyovariw ro TT/JO? TOU? /3\aarovs jovvra Be ^KTJ ra rovrwv ov yiverai Si7ra\aLarct)v

e'Xarrw. /3\riffra /J.EV ovv elvai rwv ^ecroyova-ricov 7T/)o? rrjv ^vyoTroiiav o\ov rov /caXdaov rd

/u,eaa- /j,a\aKO)rara Be icr^eiv ^evyrj rd Trpo?

7 /3XacTTOV?, afcX^porara Be rd TT/OO? rfj pL^rj'

(f)(i)velvBe ra? ^yXcorra? ra? K rov avrov /J.ecroyo-

variov, ra? Be aXXa? ov o-v^wvelv Kal r>jv /JLCV

rfj pL^rj dpicrrepdv eivai, rtjv Be Trpo? TOL?

Bejfidv. r/JL^6evro^ Be St%a rov pecro-

yovariov ro <rroyua TT}? y\a)rr7]<f e/carepas <yive-

crdau Kara rrjv rov Ka\dfjiov rofirfv edv Be d\\ov

rporrov epyaa-Qwcriv at <y\a)rrat, ravras ov jrdvv

77 /JLCV ovv epyacrua roiavrrj.

1Kara<nTaff/j.aTa : lit. 'convulsions'; i.e. the strong vibra-

tions of a '

tongue,' the free end of which is kept away fromthe body or '

lay'

of the mouthpiece. Such a ' reed ' wouldhave the efi'ect of giving to the pipes a fuller and louder tone.

2i.e. so as to make a closed end.

372

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xi. 5-7

have ample vibration,1 which is essential for those

who play in the elaborate style. Such, they tell us,

are the proper seasons for cutting the reed used for

the reed mouthpiece.The manufacture is carried out in the following

manner. Having collected the reed-stems they laythem in the open air during the winter, leaving onthe rind

;in the spring they strip this off, and,

having rubbed the reeds thoroughly, put them in

the sun. Later on, in the summer, they cut thesections from knot to knot into lengths and again

put them for some time in the open air. Theyleave the upper knot on this internodal section 2

;

and the lengths thus obtained are not less than two

palmsbreadths long. Now they say that for makingmouthpieces the best lengths are those of the middleof the reed, whereas the lengths towards the uppergrowths make very soft mouthpieces and those nextto the root very hard ones. They say too that the

reed-tongues made out of the same length are of the

same quality, while those made from different lengthsare not

;also that the one from the length next to

the root forms a left-hand 3reed-tongue, and that

from the length towards the upper growths a right-hand 3

reed-tongue. Moreover, when the length is

slit, the opening of the reed-tongues in either case

is made towards the point at which the reed wascut 4

; and, if the reed-tongues are made in any other

manner, they are not quite of the same quality. Suchthen is the method of manufacture.

3i.e. the vibrating 'tongues' (reeds) for the left-hand

and the right-hand pipe of the Double Pipe respectively.4

i.e. not at the closed end, but at the end which was' lower' when the cane was growing : cf. 6, irpoffXetirovffi 5e

K.T.A.

373

THEOPHRASTUS

Be TrXetcrTO? ^v /^era^v TOV

TOV MeXaz;o<r OUTO? Be 6 TOTTCK jrpocrayo-

peverai /uev Tle\Kavia' TOVTOV 8' eanv drra

\VTpoi Ka\ovfjievoi (3a6vo-p.aTa r?}? \L/J,VTJS, ev ol?

KuXkiffTov (frao-i yiveaOai" <<ylv(r6aL> e ical KaO'

oTI T\po/3aria Ka\ov^evrj Kara(f)prat' TOUTO S'

earl Trora/io? pewi> etc AeftaSeias. KciXXicrros Se

So/eel TravTwv yivearOaL irepl TrjV O^eiav /ca\ov-

fjievriv K.a/j,7n]V 6 Se TOTTO? OVTOS earns 6fij3o\r)

TOV Kt]<j)i(Tov. ryeiTVici 8' aviu) Tre&iov evyeiov, o

9 Trpoo-ayopevovo'i 'iTTTriai'. Trpuo-ftoppos 8e TOTTO?

aA,Xo? r?}? 'O^ta? Ka/^TT^ eariv, uv KCL\OV(TI

BorjSpiav fyveaOai Be (pacn KCU Kara TCLVTTJV

evyevrj TOV KaXafjLOi1. TO Be o\ov, ou av 17 {3a0v-

<yeiov Kal ev^eiov %wpiov teal t'XuwSe? /cat o

/cal TT/QO? TOVTOIS J3d0vcr/J,a

<yivaQai KaXa/j.oi'. rrepl

yap T^V \)j;Lav Ka/i7r?/z^ Kal TIJV l&or)$p'iav Truvra

TavTa vTrdpxeiv. OTL Be o K?/(/)fcro? /xeydX^v e'^et

TO TTOielv KCL\OV TOV Ka\ajLlOV <Tr)fjLLOV

/ca$' or yap TOTTOV o MeXa? KCL\OV/xez^o?

e/jL/3dX\,ei (3a6elas 0^0-77? T/}? Xtyu^? /cat TOU

odd>ov? evyeiov KOI IXvwSovs, rj oXw? yLt'/ ytveffdat

rj (f>av\ov. r) fiev ovv yeveGis Kal Averts TOV

av\ijTLKOv Kalr; KaTepyacria Kal Tivas eX tl ^La ~

(fropds Trpo? TOU9 aXXou? iKavws elp/jcr0co.

10 Fevr) Be ov TavTa [JLOVOV aXXa vrXeta) TOV /caXa-

Tvy^dvei fyavepas e^ovTa TTJ ai<j6i]G.i Bia-

s' 6 /Jiev yap TTVKVO^ Kal Ty aapK\ Kal

1c/. Plut. /S//tt, 20.

2i.e. the so-called ' Lake '

Copaia.s Ka l add. W.

374

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xi. 8 10

This reed grows in greatest abundance betweenthe Kephisos and the Black River 1

;this district is

called Pelekania, and in it are certain <

pots/ as theyare called, which are deep holes in the marsh,

2 andin these holes they say that it grows fairest

; it is also 3

said to be found 4 where the river called the '

SheepRiver

'

comes down, which is a stream that flows fromLebadeia. But it appears to grow fairest of all near

'the Sharp Bend';

this place is the mouth of the

Kephisos ;near it is a rich plain called Hippias.

There is another region north of the Sharp Bendcalled Boedrias

;and here too they say that the reed

grows fine, and in general that it is fairest whereverthere is a piece of land with deep rich alluvial soil,

where also Kephisos mingles5 his Avaters with the

soil, and where there is further a deep hole in the

marsh;for that about the Sharp Bend and Boedrias

all these conditions are found. As proof that the

Kephisos has a great effect in producing the reed of

good quality they have the fact that, where the river

called the l Black River'

flows into the marsh, thoughthe marsh is there deep and the bottom of goodalluvial soil, it either does not grow at all or at best

but of poor quality. Let this suffice for an accountof the growth and character of the reed used for

pipes, of the manufacture, and of its distinctive

features as compared with other reeds.

But these are not the only kinds of reed; there are

several others with distinctive characters which are

easily recognised ;there is one that is of compact

growth in flesh and has its joints close together ;

4yiveadat add. Sch.; <pa<rr yivevdai 5e nad' t> UMVP; so

Aid., but /ca0' *oi>.

6ava/j.tffyerai : ? ai'a/j.icryrj'rai ; cf. Plat. Suit. I.e.

6 Plin. 16. 164-167 ;Diosc. 1. 85.

375

THEOPHRASTUS

yovacriv, o Be pavo? KOI o\iyoy6i>aro<t' teal 6 /uer

KOtXo9, ov KaXovai rives (rupiyyiav, ovoev yap &>?

elirelv e%ei %v\ov Kal erap/coV 6 8e crrepeos Kal

av/jL7r\j]pri<; fjiiKpov. Kal o fjiev (Bpcfxvs, o 8e

Kal vi\o<$ teal vrai;?. o 8e Xevrro?

, e

6'Xco? 8e TToXXai rti^e? eiVt &ia(f)opal Kara ra?* 6/cacrro? 70/0 TT^O? eVacrra

&e ci\\ot

KOIVOTCLTOV 8e TTw? 6 Sovat;, bv Kal

ye (fraaiv elvai Kal /jLaXicrra fyvecrdau Trapa

l Ta? \i[jLvas. Sia^epew 8' O/

o? Ka\a/jiov TTO\V rov re ev TW ^ipy Kal TOV

ev rot? vSacri fyvofjievov. I'Sio? Se /cat o ro^/co?, o^

Be TTCIVTCOV Kal

, /cat oXw? ayeadat Swafjievos a>?

0pfjiaivop,evo<s.

12 "E^ofcu 6e, wffTrep \e^0rj, Kal Kara ra (j)v\\a

/^eyaXa? $ia<j)opas ov 7r\i]6ei Kal fjieyeOei /JLOVOV

aXXa /cat ^pota. Troi/ctXo? 7/3 6

Ka\ov/j,vos. eri, Be rfj deaec Kal

KarwOev yap evioi rr\elcrra (frepovcri rwv <pv\\a)v,

avros & warcep CK 0d/jLi>ov TretyvKe. cr^eBov Be

rives (fiacriKal rcov \i/j,vata)V ravrr]v elvai, rrjv

&ta(f)opdv, TO 7ro\v(f)V\Xov Kal Tiapo/JLOLOv ej^eiv

rpojrov riva TO (frv\\ov ru> rov wneipov Ka\

376

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xi. 10-12

another that is of open growth, with few joints ;

there is the hollow reed called by some the 'tube-

reed,'1 inasmuch as it has hardly any wood or

flesh ; there is another which is solid and almost

entirely filled with substance ; there is another whichis short, and another which is of strong growth tall

and stout ; there is one which is slender and has

many leaves, another which has few leaves or onlyone. And in general there are many differences in

natural character and in usefulness, each kind beinguseful for some particular purpose.Some distinguish the various kinds by different

names ;commonest perhaps is the pole-reed, which is

said to be of very bushy habit, and to grow chiefly

by rivers and lakes. And it is said that there is a

wide difference in reeds in general between those

that grow on dry land and those that grow in the

water. Quite distinct again is the ' archer's'

reed,which some call the ' Cretan

'

: this has few jointsand is fleshier than any of the others

;it can also be

most freely bent, and in general, when warmed, maybe turned about as one pleases.The various kinds have also, as was said, great

differences in the leaves, not only in number and

size, but also in colour. That called the ' Laconian'

reed is parti-coloured. They also differ in the

position and attachment of the leaves ; some havemost of their leaves low down, and the reed itself

grows out of a sort of a bush. Indeed some say that

this may be taken as the distinctive character of

those which grow in lakes, namely, that these

have many leaves, and that their foliage in a manner

1ffvpiyyiav con]. Sch. from Plin. I.e., syringiam; cf. Diosc.

I.e., Geop. 2. 6. 23. ffvpiyt U; avpiyyi MV; trvpiyya, Ald.H.

377

THEOPHRASTUS

<f)\w KOI Opvov teal fiovro/jLov

Set TOVTO.

13 FevosBe TL Ka\d/j,ov (frverai KOI eTriyeiov, b OVK

et? opOov aXX' eVt 7/7? a^irjcn TOP Kav\6v,

rj aypaffTis, teal oi/rw? Troielrat

ecrri Se 6 fjiev apprjv crre/oeo?, /caXetrat Se VTTO

TIVWV etXerta?. . . .

'O Be 'IvBiKos ev /^ejia-rrj &ia<f)0pa KOI wcnrep

eTepov oA.&)9 TO 76^09* ecrTi Sc o /^ef apprjv crrepeo?,

6 Se 0rj\v<? Kol\o$' Siaipovffi jap teal TOVTOV

appevi Kal 0)j\ei. (frvovrciL 8'

TroXXol /tal 01) Xo^/LtcoSei?* TO 5e (f)v\\ov ov

pov aXX' OJJLOLOV rfj tVea* TW Se

Kal evTrayeis, axrre aKovrious

8e OVTOL Trepl TOVy

A.Ke<j'ivi]v Trora^ov.

/caXayu,o? eu^wo? /tal Te/jLv6/j,evos teal

Ka\\Lwv {3\a<rrdvt' ert e Tra^vppi^o^ teal TTO-

s, oY o /cat 8vato\0po<;. 77e /5t^a <yova-

wcnrep TJ T^? dypwcrTL&os, 7T\rjv ov 7rai>TO?

ta)?. aXXa, 7re/)i /xey KaKu^wv iKavw^ elprjcrOw.

XII. KaTaXotTroi' e CLTrelv a)crav etc rov <yevov<?

TOVTOV Trepl G^ovov tea yap tea TOVTO

0TOV. GTL & avTOv Tpia

&iaipovcrii>, 6 Te o%vs Kal axapTros, bv

Ka\ovcnv cippeva, Kal o KdpTrijjios, bv

1Qpvov, a kind of grass (see Index ; c/. Horn. //. 21. 351),

conj. Soh. ; &pvov MSS. ; however Pint. Nat. Quaest. 2 givesBpvov along witli rvfy-r) and <Aea>s in a list of marsh plants,

2 5e SerroDro conj.W.; 6e TOVTO UMVAld.

378

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xi. i2-xn. i

resembles that of galingale phleos thryon1 and sedge ;

but this needs 2 further enquiry.There is also a kind of reed (bush-grass) which

grows on land, and which is not erect, but sends out

its stem over the ground, like the dog's-tooth grass,and so makes its growth. The 'male' reed is solid :

some call it eiletias 3

The Indian reed (bamboo) is very distinct, andas it were a totally different kind

; the ' male'

is

solid and the ' female' hollow (for in this kind too

they distinguish a 'male' and a 'female' form); a

number of reeds of this kind grow from one base and

they do not form a bush ;the leaf is not long, but

resembles the willow leaf ;these reeds are of great

size and of good substance, so that they are used for

javelins. They grow by the river Akesines. 4 All

reeds are tenacious of life, and, if cut or burnt down,

grow up again more vigorously ;also their roots are

stout and numerous, so that the plant is hard to

destroy. The root is jointed, like that of the dog's-tooth grass, but this is not equally so in all kinds.

However let this suffice for an account of reeds.

Of rushes.

XII. It remains to speak of the rush,5 as though

it belonged to this class of plants, inasmuch as wemust reckon this also among water plants. Of this

there are three kinds 6 as some distinguish, the

'sharp' rush, which is barren and is called the

'male'; the 'fruiting' kind which we call the 'black-

3 Sch. marks a lacuna ; there is nothing to correspond to

6 /j.ev &ppr)t>.4 Chenab.

5cf. 1. 5. 3 ; 1. 8. 1 ; Plin. 21. 112-115 ; Diosc. 4. 52.

6fc>ee Index.

379

THEOPHRASTUS

Ka\ovuev Bia TO fj,e\ava rov Kaprrov e^eiv, 7ra%v-

T/009 Be OUT09 Kal CrapKO)$6CrTpOS' Kal T/9/TO9 Tto

fj.ejeOei Kal ry Tra^vrtjn Kal evcrapKia Biatyepwi'6 Ka\OV/J,VOS 0\6<T')(OLVOS.

'H /JLeV OVV fJL\a^Kpavl^ a^TO? Tt? KdO' aVTOV 6

8' o^L/9 fcal oKoayoivos e/c rov avrov (pvovrar o

/cal aroTTOV (fraLverat,, Kal dav^aarov 7' rjv ISeiv

o\rjs KOfJLiaOeicrris T^? cr^o^ta?' oi TroXXot yapfjaav a/capTTOi Tre^f/core? t'/c rov avTov, KdpTriuoiBe oXijoi. TOVTO fiev ovv eirLcrKeTTTeov. e\dr-

& oX&>9 oi KtipTTifJiOL' TTpo? jap TO, TrXey/iara6 o\ocr"%oivo<$ Sta TO crap/ccoSe? /ecu

Kopvva 8' oXw? o Kdpmuos ei; avrovrov ajiucaovs eoi?cra9, /caTretra

KaOdrrep

rrapa7r\a<yiov<;

vrro^acrKOvcra^- eV rovrow Be TO aTrepad-nov aKiwes eari \av e/cacrra)

3 TW TOI) dcrrepicTKOv TrXrjv dfjievrivorepov. pi^av Be

e^(i, /jLa/cpdv Kal rra^yrepav rro\v rov a")(pivov'

avrr) B' avaiverai KaO' eKacrrov eviavrov, eWerepa 7rd\iv drro rijs K<j)a\rjs rov o~%oivov K

rai' rovro Be Kal eV rfj o-^rei fyavepov ISetv

ava<$ rd? Be %Xa)/3a9 KaOie/JLevas' rjBe A

rfj r&v Kpofjivwv Kal rfj rwv yrjreicav, o*uyu-

16. -y TIV ISe'iv conj. W. from G ; 0. lv y ei'Selv U; 6. ev yt

Tv MVP ; 6. Iviteiv Aid.2

oi Kdpiri/j.01 conj. R. Const.; ol Kapirol Ald.H.3yap seems meaningless ; G has autem.

q. ; cf. 3. 5. 1.

conj. R, Const.; yoa/j./j.w8tis Ald.H.

380

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. XH. 1-3

head'

because it has black fruit;this is stouter and

fleshier : and third the ' entire rush/ as it is called,

which is distinguished by its size stoutness andfleshiness.

Now the ' black-head'

grows by itself, but the'

sharp'

rush and the ' entire'

rush grow from the

same stock, which seems extraordinary, and indeed

it was strange to see it 1 when the whole clump of

rushes was brought before me;

for from the samestock there were growing

' barren'

rushes, whichwere the most numerous, and also a few 'fruiting'ones. This then is a matter for further enquiry.The 'fruiting'

'2 ones are in general scarcer, for 3 the

' entire rush'

is more useful for wicker-work because

of its fleshiness and pliancy. The 'fruiting'

rush in

general produces a club-like 4 head which swells

straight from the wiry stem, and then bears egg-likebodies ;

for attached to a single wiry5 base it has its

very spike-likea branches all round it, and on the

ends of these it has its round vessels borne laterallyand gaping

7; in each of these is the small seed,

which is pointed and black, and like that of the

Michaelmas daisy, except that it is less solid. It

has a long root, which is stouter than that of the

ordinary rush ;this withers every year, and then

another strikes down again from the ' head' 8 of the

plant. And it is easy to observe that some of the

roots as they are let down are withered, some green.The ' head

'

is like that of an onion or long onion,

seems an impossible word ; ? Trepl

rovs ffTaxvwfieis.7

viroxaffKovcras conj. Sch.; 7rt<rxa(/>u<ras Aid. H.8

i.e. the part above ground ; cf. Plin. I.e. Sch. has dis-

posed of the idea that KC^OATJ is here a ' bulbous'

root.

THEOPHRASTUS

7re<f)VKvld TTW? CK rr^eiovwv els ravro KOI rr\arela

KarwOev e^ovcra Ke\v(f>7] vrrepvOpa. crvfjiftaivei &ovv iBcov ejrl rwv PL^MV el avalvovrai Kar eviavrov

Kal e'/c rov dv(o9ev 7rd\ivf) yevecris. TWV /j-ev

ovv ayo'ivwv roiavrTj TL$ (frvcris.>5>\ \ f /D' vf -\ ' vr>/ /

L oe /cat o paro? Kai o 7ra\iovpos evvopa TTCO?

rj TrdpvSpa, KaOaTrep via%ov, (fravepal cr^e-

&ov Kal ai TOVTCOV 8ia(f)OpaL' Trepl a/Ji^olv yapeipyjrai Trporepov.

[Twi^ Be l>7J(T(i)V TtoV 7T\odWV TO)V V '0/3^0/ie^Wra {iev ^eyeOri TravroSaTra Tvy%dvei, rd Se yu,e-

yiara avrwv ecmv oaov Tpiwv crraSlaov TT)/-'

fierpov. ev AlyvTrrw Se fJLa\icrTa /j.eyd\a

ware KOL 5? ev CLVTCUS eyyivecrQat

u?, ou? Kal KvvrjyerovcrL 8ia/3aivovT6s.] Kal

Trepl /jiev evvtipayv ravr elp/jo-Qa).

XIII. Ilepl Be fipaxvfiioTrjTos (frvrcov Kal Bev-

Spcov TWV evvSpwv eVt TOCTOVTOV e^o^iev &>9 av

o\ov \eyovres, on /3pa%vBi(i)Tepa ra)v

eari, KaOaTrep Kal rd wa. TOU? Be Ka9' cKacrrov

/3toi^? l(TTopi}(Tai Bet TWV %epcraicov. rd fiev ovv

dypid (pa&Lv ovSe/jiLav e^eiv a>? ei7re.lv ol opOTViroi

Siatyopdv, d\\a Trdvra eivau /ActKpofiia icdl ovOev

/3pa%v/3iov avTO fiev rovro Tcrw? aX^;(9e9 \eyov-

re?* diravTa yap inrepreivei TTO\V rrjv TWI> d\\o)v

ovfJLrjv

aXX* o/*f9 ecrrt, rd /j.ev jjid\\ov rd

fjrrov fjiaKpoftia, KaOdirep ev rot9 t'j/Atpois' rrola

13. IS. 3 and 4

; 4. 8. 1.

382

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xn. 3 -xni. i

being, as it were, made up of several united together ;.

it is broad, and underneath it has reddish scales.

Now it is a peculiar fact about the roots of this plantthat they wither every year and that the fresh

growth of roots comes from the part of the plantwhich is above ground. Such is the character of

rushes.

Bramble and Christ's thorn may be considered to

some extent plants of the water or the waterside,as they are in some districts

;but the distinctive

characters of these plants are fairly clear, for we have

spoken of both already.1

The floating islands of Orchomenos 2 are of various

sizes, the largest being about three furlongs in cir-

cumference. But in Egypt very large ones form, so

that even a number of boars are found in them, andmen go across to the islands to hunt them. Letthis account of water-plants suffice.

Of the, length or shortness of the life of plants, and the causes.

XIII. As to the comparative shortness of life of

plants and trees of the water we may say thus muchas a general account, that, like the water-animals,

they are shorter-lived than those of the dry land.

But we must enquire into the lives of those of the

dry land severally. Now the woodmen say that

the wild kinds are almost a without exception long-

lived, and none of them is short-lived : so far they

may be speaking the truth;

all such plants do live

far longer than others. However, just as in the case

of cultivated plants, some are longer-lived than others,

2c/. 4. 10. 2, to which this note perhaps belongs.

3 is enretV conj. Sen.; o>$ etVel U^; us eftrot MY; (is &j/ tlitoitv

Ald.H.

383

THEOPHRASTUS

Be ravra (TreeTrreov. rd Be -rj/j,epa (fravepa)1? Bia-

(frepei ry TO, p,ev elvai /J.arcp6/3ia rd Be jSpa^vftia'

co? 8' ttTrXco? elrrelv rd dypia rwv rj/^epcov fjiarcpo-

ftiwrepa real 6'Xco? TCO yevei real ra avriSirjprjfjLeva*

etcacrrov, olov KQTIVOS e'Xaa? real a%pa<; cnriov

eptveos o-vrcrjS' Ia")(yp6repa yap real

yovoorepa rot?

/jLaprvpovariv eVt 76

real ^/Jiepwv real dypuwv real al

i Trapa rwv /jLV0o\6<y(ov' e\dav /JLCV yap

\eyovcri rrjv 'A.Oijvrja'i, ^OIVIKCL Se rbv ev

KOTLVOV Be TOV ev 'OXu/iTTta, a0' ov 6 crre

<f)Tjyoi><;Be ra? ev 'IXt<w ra? eirl TOV "iXou

TO?' rives Be (paai real rrjv ev AeX^ot? TrXdravov

*A.yafjieiJLVova (pvrevcraL real rrjv ev Ka^uai? T?}?

'ApreaSias. ravra fjiev ovv OTTO)? e^ei rd^ av

erepo? elr) \6yos' OTL Be can /jieydXrj Biatyopd

TWV BevBpcov (fravepov parepoftia /j.ev yap rd re

Trpoeiprj/jieva real erepa TrXetco- ^pa^v/Sia Be teal

ra roiavra 6/J,o\oyovf4eva)$, olov poid avrei} /jLrj\ea,

real rovrcov 77 rjpivr) H,CL\\OV Kal 77 y\vreeia rfjs

o^eias, wcTTrep rwv pocov 77 aTrvpijvos. /3pa%v/3iaBe real d/A7re\wv evia yevrj real f^dXiara ra TTO\V-

reaprra' Boreel Be real rd rrdpvBpa

1 Kal ra avr. conj. W. ; Kara avr. UMV; TO avr. Ald.H.2

trfptKapiriois : cf. G.P. 1. 17. 5.s On tlie Acropolis : c/. Hdt. 8. 55 ; Soph. O.G. 694 foil.

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xm. 1-2

and we must consider which these are. Cultivated

plants plainly differ as to the length of their lives,

but, to speak generally, wild plants are longer-livedthan cultivated ones, both taken as classes, and also

when one comparesl the wild and cultivated forms

of particular plants : thus the wild olive pear and fig

are longer-lived than the corresponding cultivated

trees ; for the wild forms of these are stronger and of

closer growth, and they do not produce such well-

developed fruit-pulp.2

To the long-lived character of some plants, both

cultivated and wild, witness is borne also by the tales

handed down in mythology, as of the olive at Athens,3

the palm in Delos,4 and the wild olive at Olympia,

from which the wreaths for the games are made;

or again of the Valonia oaks at Ilium, planted on the

tomb of Ilos. Again some say that Agamemnonplanted the plane at Delphi, and the one at Kaphyai

5

in Arcadia. Now how this is may perhaps be

another story, but anyhow it is plain that there is a

great difference between trees in this respect ; the

kinds that have been mentioned, and many others

besides, are long-lived, while the following are ad-

mittedly short-lived pomegranate fig apple : and

among apples the '

spring'

sort and the ' sweet'

apple are shorter-lived than the f sour' apple, even

as the ' stoneless'

pomegranate is shorter-lived than

the other kinds. Also some kinds of vine are short-

lived, especially those which bear much fruit; and it

appears that trees which grow by water are shorter-

* Under which Leto gave birth to Artemis and Apollo : cf.

Paus. 8. 48. 3; Cic. de Leg. 1. 1.; Plin. 16. 238.6 Its planting is ascribed to Menelaus by Paus. 8. 23. 3.

385

THEOPHRASTUS

ra)i> tV T0i9 r/pois elvai, olov irea \evKtj

3 "Rvia Be jrjpacrfcei aev Kol cnJ7r6Tai

7rapa/3\aa-rdvei Be rrd\iv e,v rwv avrwi', wairep at

Kal ai ur)~\.eat re Kal at poai /cat TWV

ra TroXXa- irepl a>v Kal aK.^ CUT av

Trorepa TCtvra Bel \ej6iv rj erepa' KaOdirep ei

Tf? TO (TTeXe^O? aTTOKO^raS, WCTTTep TTOLOVaiV 01

ryewpyou, TiaKtv dvaOepaiTevoi rou? /3\a(TTOv<>, rj el

real oXco? Kfc6\jseiv a%pi TWV pi^wv Kal eTTitcav-

creiev Kal <yap ravra iroiovcnv, ore Be Kal OLTTO

rov avTO/j,drov av^aiv^i' Trorepa &rj rovro ravro

Bel \eyeiv rj erepov; y fjiev jap del ra j^epi] ras

Kal (frOLffets (fiaiverai rrapa\\drrovraen ra? BiaKaOapaeis ra? vrr avrwv, ravryav 86%eie ravrbi> eivai' ri <ydp av errl rovra)i>

4i) KLVC0v Siatyepoi; y & wcrrrep ovaia Kal

rov SevSpov /jaXfcrr' av tfcaivoiro TO

uera\\drry rovro, KCLV TO 0X0^ erepov v

Tt?, el ar) dpa Bia TO arro rwv avrwv dp^cov elvai

ravro deiy Kairoi TroXXa/a? av/ufiaivei Kal

pi^as erepas elvai Kal /jLerafidXXeiv rcov aev

aevwv ra)v 8' e dp^js B\ao~ravova-&>v. errei, edv

76 T^e9 (/>acrt, Ta9 ayuTreXoL'9

c/. G. P. 2. 11. 5.

-ai'aOfpairevoi COllj. W. ; afaBepa-rrevft Aid.

'

^ et Kal oAcoy conj. W.;a fl Kal KO\U>S U; afl /col

MV; al ei /caAws Ald.H.4 So. and then encourage new growth.

386

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xm. 2-4

lived than those which live in dry places : this is true

of willow abele elder and black poplar.Some trees, though they grow old and decay

quickly, shoot up again from the same stock,1 as

bay apple pomegranate and most of the water-

loving trees. About these one might enquirewhether one should call the new growth the sametree or a new one ;

to take a similar case, if, after

cutting down the trunk, one should, as the husband-

men do, encourage2 the new shoots to grow again,

or if 3 one should cut the tree right down to the

roots and burn the stump,4

(for these things are

commonly done, and they also sometimes occur

naturally) ;are we then here too, to call the new

growth the same tree, or another one ? In so far as

it is always the parts of the tree which appear to

alternate their periods of growth and decay and also

the primings which they themselves thus make, so

far the new and the old growth might seem to be the

same tree ;for what difference can there be in the

one as compared with the other ?5 On the other

hand, in so far as the trunk would seem to be above

all the essential part of the tree, which gives it its

special character, when this changes, one mightsuppose that the .whole tree becomes somethingdifferent unless indeed one should lay down that to

have the same starting-point constitutes identity ;

whereas it often 6happens that the roots too are

different and undergo a change, since some decayand others grow afresh. 7 For if it be true, as someO *

assert, that the reason why the vine is the longest8 i.e. how can the substitution of one set of 'parts' for

another destroy the identity of the tree as a whole?6 TroAAa/as cunj. Seh. from G ; iroAXa /caJ Ald.H.7 And so the '

starting-point' too is not constant.

337

THEOPHRASTUS

elvai rw /ur) <f>veiv erepas a\\* e avrwi

del <rvvai>arr\ripovcr0ai, ye\o2ov av fcr&>? SoKOifj roi-

avrrj crvy/cpicris eav <y^?)> fJLevrj TO crreXe^o?'

yap olov vrrbOe&is Kal fyvais BevBpwv. rovro

ovv 07roTe/9&)9 TTore \KTeov ovOev civ Sievey/cai

7T/OO9 ra vvv. fd^a S' av eirj /jLaKpofiicorarov TO

7rai/Tft)5 Swdf^evov dvrapKeiv, waTrep rj e\da tca\

TO) <7TeXe^et KOI rfj Trapa/BXaarrio'ei KOIr> -v r/~t >' \ f/ i C- "^^'

)XC7/30L'9 6^i^ Ttt? pi(,a<;. COKL

76 /i-ta? elvai, tcaO' bv TO (TTeXe^o? ^et

TiQkvja fJL^Tpov dvafjLrpLV rbv

//.a\t(7Ta Trept 6T>7 &iaKocria. el 6' oVe/? eVt

7rapaipov/j.eva)v

Kara /itepo? Svvarai Bta/JLtveiv TO crTeXe^o?,t 77 0X7; (frva-is o/Jioia Kal 6/jioio(p6pos OTTOCTOVOVI'

, /JLatcpofiiooTarov av elf] irdvrwv. <>CLG\ 5t

Seiv OVTCO TToielv orav ijBr) SOKJJ Kara<f)t~pa-(}ai-

K\ij/jiard re e7rtj3dX\.eiv Kal KaprrovaOai rbv

eviavrbv fiera Be ravra KaraaKa^avra err]

6drepa rr)<$ dfirceKov rrepiKaOapai Tracra?

etr e/^TT^crai- (frpvydvwv Kal e

6 rrjv yrjv rovra) pev ovv ru> erei

d(j)6opa, Tc5 8' varepw /3e\rtov, rw Be rpirw

1 2 avrwv Aid., 8C. TWV f>i<*>v ; (K ruv avruv conj. W.2

i.e. such an argument practically assumes the permanenceof the trunk, which in the case of the vine can hardly beconsidered apart from the root. SOKO/TJ TOJOUTTJ crvyicpiats I

conj. from G ; SiKatordrr] avyKpiais MVAld. ; SiKaioTarrji

avyKplfffis U ; SoKoirj (Tvai ri ffuyKpuris conj. Sch. ; so W. in

his earlier edition : in his later editions he emends wildly.

388

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xm. 4-6

lived of trees, is that, instead of producing new

roots, it always renews itself from the existing ones,1

such an illustration must surely lead to an absurd con-

clusion,2 unless 3 we assume that the stock persists,

as it must do, since it is, as it were, the fundamentaland essential part of a tree. However it cannot

matter much for our present purpose which account

is the right one. Perhaps we may say that the

longest-lived tree is that which in all ways is able to

persist,4 as does the olive by its trunk, by its power

of developing sidegrowth, and by the fact that its

roots are so hard to destroy. It appears that tnc

life of the individual olive (in regard to which oneshould make the trunk the essential part and standard 6

in estimating the time), lasts for about two hundred

years.6 But if it is true of the vine, as some say, that,

if the roots are partly removed, the trunk is able to

survive, and the whole character of the tree remains

the same and produces like fruits for any period,however long, then the vine will be the longest-livedof all trees. They say that, when the vine seems to

be deteriorating, this is what one should do : oneshould encourage the growth of branches and gatherthe fruit that year ;

and after that one should dig on

one side of the vine and prune away all the roots on

that side, and then fill the hole with brushwood and

heap up the soil. In that year, they say, the vine

bears very badly, but better in the next, while in the

3 I have inserted /J.T),which G seems to have read.

4avrapKelv U, cf. Ar. Eq. 540 ; avrapKelv Aid.

6 nad' t>v rb ffTf\fXos ^e * TV o-pxriv TiQfVTa I conj. ; SO G;

K0.9' by ffT\exos fjSrj TV apxV T0eVra fterpov Ald.H. ; ei

Set for f)5r) U; /ra#' f> TOV ffT(\Xovs ^ 6 * T\>V OJKOV riOevTa fj.frpov

conj. W. ; Ka.6' t>v rb ar. ^877 apxV KCI p-fTpov xpb conj. Sch.

cf. end of 4. Plin. 16. 241.

389

THEOPHRASTUS

rerdpra) rcaQicrraaOai /cal (frepeiv TroXXoi/9 /cat

c5crT6 fJLrjbev Siatyepetv r) ore tf/c/j,a%V'

Se 7ra\-LV a7T07r\^jfj, Odrepov fJiepos rrapa-

real Oeparceveiv o/Wo>?, /cal ovrax; aid

iroieiv Be rovro fia\ia-ra &L e-r&v &fca-

O Kttl K07TTLV OvSeTTOTC TOL/9 TOVTO TTOLOVVTCLS,

7rl ryeveas TroXXa? ravra ra a-reX-e^rj Sia-

/jiViv, ware /jirj&e ^^vr\(jQai TOU? (f)vrevcrajna<;'

rovro [lev ovv tcrco? TWV TreTreipa/LLevwv aKovovra

Bel Tuareveiv. ra Se fiafcpofiia real /Spa^i/ftta

a)v elprjfievwv Oewprjreov.

XIV. Nocr?;/taTa &e TOi? yui/ dypiois ov<f>acri

wv avaipovvrai, <$av\ws & Sia-

KOL .aXiara 7Ti$i\a>s orav

rrr)dfi f) (SKacrrdveLV /j,eX\,ovra rj dp%6/jiva 77

dvdovvra, real orav ?; Trvev^a -^rv^pov rj Oeppov

eTriyevrjTai Kara TOUTOU? rou9 Kaipovs. VTTO Bef/ / '5>V*' /O^-v-vraiv (opaiwv %i/JL(0va)V ovoe av vTTppa\\ovre<;axjLv ov&ev Trdcr^eiv, d\\a /cal ^vntyepeiv TTCLCTL

XeifiacrOijvai' /JLTJ 'yf.i^aaQkvra yap tcafcoj3\acrr6-

2 repa ryiveaOai. rot? e rj^epoi^ Herri TrXeta) voarj-

/cal ra /j,ev warrep KOLVCL -rraaivr) rotv

ra S' i$ia /card yevr). KOLVCL &r] ro re

o-fca)\rjKovcrQai KOI darpo(Bo\ior6ai /cal 6(r<f)a-

diravra yap a>9 elirelv /cal

T; conj. Sch.1 Plin. 17.' 216.

'

8c/. C.P. 5. 8. 3.

4KO.TCI yfVTj conj. W.; al ra yevr) UMV; Kal Kardi ytvy Aid.

390

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xni. 6-xiv. 2

third and fourth it becomes normal again and bears

many fair clusters, so that it is quite as good as whenit was in its prime. And when it goes off again/they say one should dig on the other side and applythe same treatment ; and that so treated the tree

lasts for ever ; and this should be done at intervals of

about ten years. And this is why those who adoptthis treatment never cut down the vine, but the samestems remain for many generations, so that eventhose who planted the trees cannot remember doingso. However perhaps one should enquire of thosewho have had experience before accepting this state-

ment. These examples may serve for consideringwhich trees are long-lived and which short-lived.

Of diseases and injuries done by weather conditions.

XIV. 2 As to diseases they say that wild trees

are not liable to diseases which destroy them, butthat they get into poor condition, and that most

obviously when they are smitten with hail wheneither they are about to bud or are just buddingor are in bloom

; also when either a cold or a hotwind comes at such seasons : but that from season-able storms, even if they be violent, they take no

hurt,3 but rather that it is good for them all to be

exposed to weather : for, unless they are, they donot grow so well. Cultivated kinds however, theysay, are subject to various diseases, some of which

are, one may say, common to all or to most, whileothers are special to particular kinds. 4 Generaldiseases are those 5 of being worm-eaten, of beingsun-scorched, and rot. 6 All trees, it may be said,

6KOIVO. 5); r6 re conj. W. ; KOIVU. KO.\ rJre UMV; noiva- olov

r6re Ald.H. scf. 8. 10. 1.

391

THEOPHRASTUS

TT\^V rd fiev eXdrrovs rd Be Tr\eiovs, KaOd-

irep av/crj firf\'ea KOL aVto?. a>? Be avrXco? elrreiv

rjKicrra crKCi)\rjKOvvrai rd Bpi/jLta fcal OTTO^T;, fcal

dtfrpo/BoXetrai waavrws' /J,d\\ov Be rot? veois r)

rols eV aKfirj rovro avfjifBaivei,rndv rrwv &e /iaXfcrra

TTJ T (TVKTj (COL TTJ djjL7T\(p.CH 8* e'Xaa TT/SO? rw Toi/9 cr/ccoX^Ka^ LCf^eiv, o't

Brj real Trjv (TVKrjv SiafyOeipovaiv evTLKrovres, <f>i>i

KOL r)\ov ol 8e /jLVfcrjra Ka\ovcriv, evioi Be

TOVTO

8' eviore fcdl at veai eKdat, Sid r^v VTrep/BoXrjv

178e ^copa KOI o

K,oy\Lai crv/cfjs elcrw ov iravra^pv 8e rovro

rat? erf/cat?, aXV eouce Kal rd

yiveaOai /card rovs TOTTOU?, uxrirep rot?

eVel Trap' eWot? ov tyuipi&crt, KaOdirep ouSe

Trepl rrjv Alveiav.'

A\i(TK6rai, oe ffVKrj pakicrra Kal o~(f)aK6\icr/jLa)

Kal Kpdoa). Ka\eiraL Be cr^>a;eXt(7yu.o? pev orav al

pi^ai fjLe\av6wGi, Kpdoos S' orav ol K\dBof Kal

yap KaX-ovGL rwes Kpdoovs, oOev Kal rovvo^a rfj

vbcrw' o 8' e/oi^eo? ovre KpaSa ovre afyaKeki^eiovre tywpia ovre o~K(i)\^Kovrai rat? pt^al? oyLtotw?'

ovoe &rj rd epivd rives drro(3d\\ovcriv ovS* edv

<TVKr]v.

? UMVAld.; tvAS-n H., evidently from Plin. 17. 221.

c/. O.P. 5. 9. 4 and 5.2 XoiraSa : Plin. 17. 223, patella. The |/\oj is an abortive

bud, called in Italian novolo.*

f)\lov Kavtris conj. Seal, from Plin. I.e. veluti solis exustio :

SO also G; r)\otavTov U; ?i\oi avr^v V; $}Ao ai'Twi' M ; ^Aoioiv Aid. whicli W. prints provisionally.

392

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xiv. 2-4

have worms, but some less, as fig and apple, somemore, as pear. Speaking generally, those least liable

to be worm-eaten are those which have a bitter

acrid 1juice, and these are also less liable to sun-

scorch. Moreover this occurs more commonly in

young trees than in those which have come to their

strength, and most of all it occurs in the fig and thevine.

The olive, in addition to having worms (whichdestroy the fig too by breeding in

it), produces also

a f knot'

(which some call a fungus, others a bark-blister 2

),and it resembles the effect of sun-scorch. 3

Also sometimes young olives are destroyed by exces-sive fruitfulness. The fig is also liable to scab, andto snails which cling to it. However this does not

happen to figs everywhere, but it appears that, as

with animals, diseases are dependent on local con-ditions ; for in some parts, as about Aineia,

4 the figsdo not get scab.

The fig is also often a victim to rot and to

krados. It is called rot when the roots turn black,it is called krados when the branches do so

;for

some call the branches kradoi b(instead of kladoi},

whence the name is transferred to the disease. Thewild fig does not suffer from krados rot or scab, nordoes it get so worm-eaten in its roots 6 as the culti-

vated tree; indeed some wild figs do not even shed

their early fruit not even if they are grafted7 into

a cultivated tree.

4cf. 5. 2. 1. 6

Evidently a dialectic form.6

_ (floats PAld. ; GVKCUS W. after conj. of Sch.7

lp.(pvTeu6wffiv conj. Sch.; Zvi <f>vr. UMV; evia. <pvr. Aid.Apparently the object of such grafting was the '

caprification'

of the cultivated tree (cf. 2. 8. 3) ; but grafting for this

purpose does not seem to be mentioned elsewhere.

393

THEOPHRASTUS

5 'H Be "^rcopa fjLa\io~ra yiverat, orav vBcop errl

r-r-v 'V ' \ \ ' >V \ -\ ' >

\.LA,eiaoi yevrjrai /j,r)rroKv eav oe TTO\V, arro-

K\verai' o-v/jL/Baivei Be rore Kal ra epivd drrop-

pelv Kal rovs o\vv6ovs. rwv Be O~KO)\^KO)V rwi>

ev rals o-VKais oi fj,ev e^ avrrjs juvovrat, 01 Be

evriKrovrai vrro rov Ka\ov/j,evov Kepdorrov rrdvres

Be els Kepdcmjv drroKaOiaravrai' (^deyyovrat, Be

olov rpiyuov. voo~el Be CTVKYJ Kal edv eTrojijSpia

rd re yap Trpbs rrjv pi^av Kal avrrj i]

wcrrrep fjiaBa- rovro Be Ka\ovai \o7rdv.

817

8' ayu,7reXo? rpaya" rovro Be fjLaXicrra avrfjs

ear i TT/OO? rw a<TT/oo/3oA,etcr#at, fj orav vrro

(3\ao~roKorrr)0fi i] orav rn epyaaia

rj rplrov vrrria rfir]0f).

'Pi/a? Be yuverai, o Ka\ov(ri rives ^iveaOai,orav 7rivi(j)6f) Kara rrjv drravdrjaiv r) orav

KpeirrwOf)' ro Be rrdOos earlv Mare drroppelv rds

pdyas Kal rds eiri/JLevovo-as elvai fiiKpas. evia Be

Kal piywcravra vocrei, KaOarrep 77 a/XTreXo?' da-

/3\ovvrai yap ol 6(f)6a\/jLol TT}? rrpwroro^ov Kal

rrd\iv vrrepOepfJLavOevra- fyrel yap Kal rovrwv rrjv

o~vp,[jLrpiav wcnrep KOL rfjs rpo(f)T)s. oXco? Be rcdv

ro rrapd (frvaiv erriKivBvvov.

1

c/. C.P. 5. 9. 10; Col. 5. 9. 15.2

c/. 5. 4. 5; C.P. 5. 10. 5 ; Plin. 17. 221.

3OUT?? T] p/a I conj. ; aurV i"V pi^av U ; oin. Aid.

4c/. C. P. 5. 9. 12 ; Plin. 17. 225.

8 i.e. shedding of the 'bark' of the roots, \oirav conj.

Sch., c/. C.P. 5. 9. 9 ; AoWSa Ald.H., c/. 4. 14. 3; but theword here points to a different disease.

' yTTTia TOfjii] seems to be a technical term for pruning in

such a way that the growth of the new wood is encouraged

394

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xiv. 5-6

Scab 1chiefly occurs when there is not much rain

after the rising of the Pleiad ;if rain is abundant,

the scab is washed off, and at such times it comes

to pass that both the spring and the winter figs dropoff. Of the worms found in fig-trees some have their

origin in the tree, some are produced in it by the

creature called the f horned worm '

;but they all turn

into the ' horned worm '

;

2 and they make a shrill

noise. The fig also becomes diseased if there is

heavy rain ;for then the parts towards the root and

the root itself 3 become, as it were, sodden,4 and this

they call'

bark-shedding.'5 The vine suffers from

over-luxuriance ; this, as well as sun-scorch, specially

happens to it either when the young shoots are cut

by winds, or when it has suffered from bad cultivation,

or, thirdly, when it has been pruned upwards.6

The vine becomes a 'shedder,'T a condition which

some call'

casting of the fruit,' if the tree is snowed

upon at the time when the blossom falls, or else

when it becomes over lusty;8 what happens is that the

unripe grapes drop off, and those that remain on the

tree are small. Some trees also contract disease

from frost, for instance the vine ;for then the eyes of

the vine that was pruned early become abortive ;and

this also happens from excessive heat, for the vine

seeks regularity in these conditions too, as in its

nourishment. And in general anything is dangerouswhich is contrary to the normal course of things.

and so there is less fruit : exact sense obscure ; ?' from

below' (i.e. with the blade of the knife pointing upwards).

cf. G.P. I.e.', Col. 4. 24. 15 ; Plin. I.e., in supinum cxcisis.7

cf. C. P. 5. 9. 13.8

KptiTTcaQft : i.e. the growth is over-luxuriant. The wordoccurs elsewhere only in the parallel passage G.P. I.e., whereoccurs also the subst. Kpfirrcaffis, evidently a technical term.

395

THEOPHRASTUS

MeyaXa Se %v/jL(3d\,\eTai /cal ra rpav/^ara Kal

al 7r\r)yal TWV TrepiaKaTTTovTwv et<? TO arj <f>epeiv

ra? /jL6Ta/3o\d<? rj Kavfjbdrwv rj %eiu(t)vci)V

jap bv Sid TTJV e\Kwaiv KOI TOV TTOVOV

TOTaTov eo~Ti rat? V7rp/3o\ai<;. cr^eSoz^ Se, w? rives

OLOVTCII, TO, TrXetcrra rwv vocrrnjidi'wv CLTTO

yiverat' Kal yap ra acrrpo/SX^ra Ka\ov/jievara (T<aKe\iovra $La TO CLTTO ravrt<f eivai

TOV TTOVOV. oioVTCLl 6 KOL $VO TaVTCLS GlVCU

i/ocrou?' ov /ATJV aX\.a TOVTO<y

OVK ayai'

S' dcrQevecTTaTOVr) yLt^Xea rj rjpivrj

TOVTWV 77 y\vKelaJ\"Ez>mt Se TDipciMreis OVK et9 (f>dopav yivovraL

o\wv aXX* t9 aKapTTLav olov lav Tt? T?)? TUTUO?

d(f)e\r) TO aKpov r) TOV (froivtKos, aKapTra yiveo~9aial ov% 0X0)9 dvaipelo~6ai.

YlvovTai Be VQGQI Kal TWV Kapirwv avTwv, eav

KaTa Kaipov TO, rrvevfiaTa Kal TCL ovpdviaavuftaivei yap OTG uev drroftdXkeiv

yvofjievu>v 77 arj yevofJievwv vSaTwv, olov Ta? <rvKas,

OT6 Be %eipovs yiveaOai crijTrouevovs Kal KaTarrviyo-

/ae;'OL'? TJ Trd\LV dva^rjpaivoaevovs Trapa TO Seov.

yjeipLO-Tov be edv drravdovo'L Ticnv efyvcrr), Ka0drrepe\da Kal d/^TreXft)' avvarroppei yap 6 Kaprros Si

dcrQeveiav.

1 Plin. 17. 227.2

fvxeipuTOTa.Toi' conj. W. after Lobeck ; eixe'p^TaTol/ Aid.3 TTOVOV conj. H. from G ; T^TTOV MVAld.4 This sentence is clearly out of place : the plural TOVTUV

has nothing to refer to. c/. 4. 13. 2. It is represented how-ever by Plin. I.e.

396

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xiv. 7-8

1 Moreover the wounds and blows inflicted by menwho dig about the vines render them less able to bearthe alternations of heat and cold

;for then the tree is

weak owing to the wounding and to the strain putupon it, and falls an easy prey

2 to excess of heat;md cold. Indeed, as some think, most diseases

may be said to be due to a blow;for that even

the diseases known as ( sun-scorch'

and 'rot' occurbecause the roots have suffered in this way.

3 In

fact they think that there are only these twodiseases

; but there is not general agreement on this

point.The '

spring apple'

and especially the sweetform of it. has the weakest constitution. 4

5 Some mutilations however do not cause destruc-

tion of the whole 6tree, but only produce barrenness ;

for instance, if one takes away the top of the Aleppopine or the date-palm, the tree in both cases appearsto become barren, but not to be altogether destroyed.There are also diseases of the fruits themselves,

which occur if the winds and rains do not comein due season. For it comes to pass

7 that sometimes

trees, figs, for example, shed their fruit when rain

does or does not come, and 8 sometimes the fruit is

spoilt by being rotted and so choked off,9 or again

by being unduly dried up. It is worst of all for

some trees, as olive and vine, if rain falls on them as

they are dropping their blossom ;

10 for then the fruit,

having no strength, drops also.

6 Plin. 17. 228 and 229.

l\uv conj. W.; TIVUV P2Ald.H. cf. G.P. 5. 17. 3 and 6.7

cf. G.P. 5. 10. 5.8 Seadd. Sch. cf. G.P. I.e.

10a.ira.vQovff(. conj. Sch. from G and Plin. I.e. ; litavBovtri Ald.H.

397

THEOPHRASTUS

e 'Ey MtX^Ta) Be Ta? e'Xaa?, orai/ W(TJ TTC/H TO

avOelv, icdfjLTrai KarecrOiovcriv, at fiev ra (f>v\\a al

Be ra av0rj, erepai rw yevei, /cal tyt\ovcri ra

BevBpa' ryivovrai Be eav y vorta teal evBietvd* eav

Be 7ri\d/3r) Kavfiara ptfyvvvrai.

Tlepl Be Tdpavra Trpofyaivovai nev aei nrdXvv

teapTTov, VTTO Be TTJV cnrdvOrfcriv ra TroXX' aTroX-

\vrai. ra /JLCV ovv roiavra rwv rorcwv iBia.

10 YLverai Be /cal aXXo vocrrjfia Trepl ra? eXaa?

dpd%viov rcaXov/jievov (frverai, <yap rovro /cal Bia-

(frdeipet, rov Kaprrov. emicdeL Be /cal KavfjLardnva /cal e\dav /cal fiorpvv /cal aXXou? Kaprcov^.ol Be /capirol GKw\r\icovvrai rivwv, olov e'Xaa?

dirlov yu-^Xea? /i6<77r/X?79 poa?. /cal o <ye rfjs e'Xaa?

crKa>\^ eav /JLev VTTO TO Bepfj,a yevrjrai Bia^deipeirov Kaprrbv, eav Be rov Trvpfjva Biatydyrj w^eXet.KwKverat, Be vrco ry Bep/jiart, elvau vBaros eV'ApKrovpy yevofjievov. yivovrai Be fcal ev Tat?

BpVTreTrea'i <rKco\i]fces, a'lrrep /cal ^eLpov^ ei? rrjv

pvcriv oXw? Be /cal Bo/cov(nv elvat, craTrpai' BL o

/cal jivovrai, TO?? voriois ical yu-aXXoi/ ev TO??

<f)vBpoi<$. eyyivovrai Be KOI Kvlrces ev ncri rwv

BevBpwv, warrep ev rfj Bpvt /cal rf) crv/cfj' teal

Bo/covaiv e/c TT}? vypor^ro^ avviaraaOai T/}? vrro

rov <j)\oibv GvviGrapevriv avrrj Be eari <y\vtceLa. yivovrai Be /cal ev \a%dvoi<; nariv,

1cf. C.P. 5. 10. 3.

Tarentum: cf. C.P. I.e.

3a-rrdvOrja-iv conj. W.; &v6r]ffiv Aid.

4 Plin. 17. 229-231.*apdxvtov conj. Sch. after Meurs. ; apixi'iov UPa ;

MVP ; ipxliHov Aid. cf. C.P. 5. 10. 2.

398

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xiv. 9-10

1 In Miletus the vines at the time of flowering are

eaten by caterpillars, some of which devour the

flowers, others, a different kind, the leaves;and they

strip the tree ;these appear if there is a south wind

and sunny weather ;if the heat overtakes them, the

trees split.

About Taras 2 the olives always shew much fruit,

but most of it perishes at the time when the blossom

falls. 3 Such are the drawbacks special to par-ticular regions.

4 There is also another disease incident to the

olive, which is called cobweb;

5 for this forms 6

on the tree and destroys the fruit. Certain hot 7

winds also scorch both olive vine-cluster and other

fruits. And the fruits of some get worm-eaten,8 as

olive pear apple medlar pomegranate. Now the

worm which infests the olive, if it appears below the

skin, destroys the fruit; but if it devours the stone it

is beneficial. And it is prevented from appearingunder the skin if there is rain after 9 the rising of

Arcturus. Worms also occur in the fruit which

ripens on the tree, and these are more harmful as

affecting the yield of oil. Indeed these worms seemto be altogether rotten ;

wherefore the}^ appear whenthere is a south wind and particularly in dampplaces. The knips also occurs in certain trees, as

the oak and fig, and it appears that it forms from the

moisture which collects under the bark, which is

sweet to the taste. Worms also occur 11 in some

6(pvfTai Aid.; f/*<pveTai conj. Sell, from G. P. I.e., but the

text is perhaps defective.7

cf. G.P. 5. 10. 5.8

cf. C.P. 5. 10. 1.9 eV conj. Sch., cf. G.P. 5. 10. 1 ; fa' U; a*' Ald.H.

10cf. 2. 8. 3.

11 The subject of ylvovrai is probably (r/cwATj/ces, not

399

THEOPHRASTUS

evda Be Kaajrai Biatyepovcrrjs Brj\ov on rrjs

11 Kal ra fxev voa-jjaara o"%eBbv ravra KOL ev

rovrois earLv. evia Be rrdOr] rwv Kara ra? wpasKOI rwv Kara rou? rorrovs ryivo/j,ei>a>v dvaipeiv

, a OVK av rt? e/L7roi vocrovs, olov \6jco rr/v

Kal o Ka\oi>(rl rives KavOfjiov. aX\a Be

Trap' Kacrroi<; rrefyvKe rrvevfjiara arro\\vvai

arroKaeiv olov eV \a\KiBi r^)? EuySotorav rrvevar) fiiKpov rrpo rporcwv rj fjiera

? ^Jrv)p6s' arcoKaei jap ra BevSpa Kal

ava rroiel Kal ^pa co? ovB' av vfi rf\Lov

Kal xpovov TTO\\OV ryevoir av, $C o Kal

Kav0/J,6v eyevero Be rrporepov Tro\\dKis ^eV 'AP^LTTTTOV BS ercov rerrapciKovra

12 TIovovaL Be ^d\icrra ra)v rorrwv ol Kol\ot KOI

ol av\)ve<i Kal oaoi rcepl rovs Trora/zoi/? Kal

ol drrvevaroraroL' rwv BevBpwv Be jmdXio-ra

Bevrepoi' Be eXaa. e'Xda? Be ua\\oi> 6

eTTOvrjaev Io"%vp6repos wv, o Kal

ai Be d/jLvyBa\al ro rrdfjirrav arca9els'

Be Kal al /i^Xeat Kal al amoi Kal ai poat, t<yevovro'

BC o Kal rovro rjv Oav/jLaarov. drroKaeraL Be

evOvs eK rov crre~\.e%ovs, Kal oXw? Be /zaXXoi^ Kal

rrporepov &)? elrrelv drrrerat, <ra ava)> rwv Kara).

cf)avepa Be yiverai ra p,ev a^ia rrepl rrjv

1 Plin. 17. 232.s TUV Kara rovs r6irovs conj. Sch. from Plin. I.e. ; TUV

abra Aid.

conj. Sch.; e/c7r\7jj,/ UMP2Ald. cf. G.P. 5. 12. 2,

4cf. G.P. 5. 12. 4.

400

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xiv. 10-12

pot-herbs, as also do caterpillars, though the originof these is of course different.

Such are in general the diseases, and the plantsin which they occur. Moreover 1 there are certain

affections due to season or situation 2 which are likelyto destroy the plant, but which one would not call

diseases : I mean such affections as freezing3 and

what some call '

scorching.' Also 4 there are windswhich blow in particular districts that are likely to

destroy or scorch ; for instance the '

Olympian'

wind of Chalcis in Euboea, when it blows cold a

little before or after the winter solstice; for this

wind scorches up the trees and makes them more

dry and withered than they would become from thesun's heat even in a long period ; wherefore its effect

is called '

scorching.' In old times it occurred veryfrequently, and it recurred with great violence in

the time of Archippus, after an interval of forty

years.5 The places which suffer most in this way are

hollow places, valleys, the ground near rivers, and, in

general, places which are least open to wind; the

tree which suffers most is the fig, and next to that

the olive. The wild olive, being stronger, suffered

more than the cultivated tree, which was surprising.But the almonds were altogether unscathed, as also

were the apples pears and pomegranates; whereforethis too was a surprising fact. The tree gets scorched

by this wind right down to the trunk, and in generalthe upper are caught more and earlier than the lower

parts.6 The effects are seen partly at the actual

5cf. C. P. 5. 12. 7 ; Plin. 17. 232 and 233.

B Ka.ru UMVP ; &vw W. after Sch.'s conj. : text probablydefective ; I have added TO. &vca. cf. G.P. 5. 12. 5.

401

THEOPHRASTUS

?;Be e'Xaa Bia rb aeUj>v\\ov varepov oaai aev ovv

av (f)V\\ol3o\rjO'(i)o'tv dva/3io!)crfcovrat. TrdXiv, ocrai

& avfjirj reXew? arro\\vvrat. Trap

1

eviois Be rives

aTTOKavOelaai KCU rwv <pv\\a)v avavOevrcov ave-

ftXdcrrrjcrav rcd\iv dveu rov u7ro/3a\iv KOI ra

cj)v\\a aveftiwcrev. Via%ov 8e KOI

TOVTO av/jiftaivei, KaOairep KOL eV

is Ta 8' eKTrayevTa, OTCLV/jirj re\e&)9

rd^icrra avajSXaa'Tdvei, ware ei/Ovs rrjv

Kap7ro(f)0peii>, oxTTrep ev erraXta. ev be

irepl TlavTLKaTraiov ai /xev

ore jiev VTTO v'ov$ eav

77 TO ero9, ore ^e VTTO Trdyoov edv ye TTO\VV

afi^orepa Be /ndXiara

Tpoiras irepi ra9 TeTrapaKovra.Be ol fiev Trdyoi, rat? alOpiai^, ra Be

>} K7rr)j;i<; oTav aWpia? ovcr^s ai

epwvTat,. ravra B' early coaTrep ra

TrXarvrepa, teal (f)epo/j.eva <fcavepa Trecrovra

Be ov Bia/jLevei' Trepl Be TI^V paKijv eKTrij-yvvvrai.14 'AXXa jap ai jjiev voaoi iroaai re KOI Trolau KOI

/cal 7rd\ii> ai BC virepftoXr/v

(f)6opal /cal ai Bia Trvev-

rj OepaorijTa Bia TOVTWVwv evLd? ovOev av KW\VOL /cal rot?

eivat KOLVCLS KCU, Kara rrjv 6\r]v

BevBpwv (>0opav /cal en fjLa\\ov Kara rr]V rwvo /cal crvjnfiaivov opw/nev OVK evKaprrel

1 Plin. 17. 233.2

tKirayevra conj. Sch.; ^KirXayevra U; fKTr\ijytvra Aid.8 lav 76 conj. Sch.; lav 5e U ; ai/ TT. %. 8. 76 Aid.

402

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS IV. xiv. 12-14

time of budding, but in the olive, because it is

evergreen, they do not appear till later; those trees

therefore which have shed their leaves come to life

again, but those that have not done so are completely

destroyed. In some places trees have been known,after being thus scorched and after their leaves have

withered, to shoot again without shedding their

leaves, and the leaves have come to life again.Indeed in some places, as at Philippi, this happensseveral times.

1 Trees which have been frost-bitten,2 when they

are not completely destroyed, soon shoot again, so

that the vine immediately bears fruit, for instance

in Thessaly. In Pontus near Panticapaeum the

frost-bite occurs in two ways, either just from cold,

if the season is wintry, or from long8

spells of

frost ;in either case this generally occurs in the 4

forty days after the winter solstice. The frosts

occur in fine weather, but the cold spells, whichcause the frost-bite, chiefly when in fine weather the1 flakes

' 5 fall ; these are like filings, but broader,and can be seen as they fall, but when they have

fallen, they disappear though in Thrace they freeze

solid.

Let this suffice for consideration of the diseases,

their number and nature, including the fatal effects

of excessive cold and heat or of cold or hot winds.

And it may well be that certain of these also affect

wild trees, producing entire destruction of the tree

and still more that of the fruit. Indeed we see this

actually happen ;for wild trees also often fail to

4iffpi conj. Sch., cf. G.P. 5. 12. 4 ; ^ra UMVAld.

8 \eirt5fs conj. Seal, from G (squamimdae) ; e7r/5es Aid. cf.

Hdt. 4. 31.

403

THEOPHRASTUS

yap ov<? eKeiva iroXKaKis, aXX* ov% oyuot'w?

rraparerr)pr]raL.

XV. AOITTOV'

elrrelv o&a rrapaipov/Aevcov

nvwv fjioplwv a-TToXXureu. KOLvrj /JLZV &rj rracri

(f)0opa rov (f)\oiou Trepiaipefleuros KVK\U>' TTCLV

yap a)? L7reiv OI/T&)? diroXXvadat So/cet

dv$pdx\i]' KOL avrrj 5e edv TLS rrjv (rdp/ca c

Triearj Kal rbv /zeXXoi/ra /SXacrroz/ Biarco-fry 7T\rjv

el apa 0eXXoO' rovrov ydp fyacn KOL evcrOevelv

fjia\\ov Trepiaipov/jievov Sr/Xov OTI rov e^w /cat

rov Kara) 7T/30? rfj aap/ci, Kaddrrep Kal TT)? dv8pd-?. evrel Kal rov Kepdcrov rrepiaipelrai

dfirre\ov Kal r?;? (friXvpas, e ov ra

KOI fj,a\d')(r)s rwv eXarrovcoi 1

, aXX' ov% 6

ou8 o 7ryowT09, aXX o eTrjTroX?}?, 09 Kal

eviore drrorrircrei Sia rrjv vrrofyvcriv Oarepov.Kal yap (f)\oioppayij evia rwv SevSpcov eariv,

Kalfj dvBpd^Xrj Kal

T] 7rXara^o9. a>9 Se

Oiovrai, rrdKiv V7ro(j)verat, veos, 6 $e e

Ka pyvvrai Ka avro/j,aros

aXX*

ovv, a>9 oiovrai, rrdvra Trepiaipov-

Be rw Oarrov Kal fipaSvrepov Kal

1 Plin. 17. 234; cf. C.P. 5. 15. 1.2

cf. 1. 5. 2.sflXaarbv conj. Sch. from G

; Kapirbv UAld.H.4 Plin. 17. 234-236.

404

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xiv. i 4-xv. 2

produce a good crop of fruit; but, I imagine, they

have not been so well observed.

Of the effects on trees of removing baric, head, heart-wood,roots, etc.; of various causes of death.

XV. l Next we must mention what trees perishwhen certain parts are removed. All perish alike, if

the bark is stripped off all round ; one may say that

every tree, except the andrachne,2perishes under

these circumstances; and this tree does so also, if

one does violence to the flesh, and so breaks off thenew growth

3 which is forming. However oneshould perhaps except the cork-oak; for this, theysay, is all the stronger if its bark is stripped off, that

is, the outer bark and also that which lies below it

next the flesh as with the andrachne. For thebark is also stripped from the bird-cherry the vineand the lime (and from this the ropes are made),and, among smaller plants, from the mallow

; but in

these cases it is not the real nor the first bark whichis taken, but that which grows above that, whicheven of its own accord sometimes falls off becausefresh bark is forming underneath.

4 In fact some trees, as andrachne and plane, havea bark which cracks. 5 As some think, in many casesa new bark forms 6

underneath, while the outer barkwithers and cracks and in many cases falls off of its

own accord ; but the process is not so obvious as it is

in the above mentioned cases. Wherefore, as theythink, all trees are destroyed by stripping the bark,

though the destruction is not in all cases equally

6cf. C.P. 3. 18. 3. <f)\otoppa.yr) %via conj. Mold.; <f>\oiop-

payta pia UMV; <pv\\opoyla p.ia Aid.

conj. W.; viro<pvti Ald.H.

405

THEOPHRASTUS

/j,d\\ov Kai TITTOV. evia jap 7r\eiay %povov Bia-

uevei, KaOdirep crvtcfj /cal <f>i\vpa Kal Bpvs' ol Be

Kal fjv <f)a<ri ravra, >)v Be KOI 7rre\eav Kal

TT}? Be (>i\vpas Kal crv^veaOai TOV^ " C> \ "-\ -\ T ~

)V fJLLKpOV TWV O a\Xd)V OLOV TTCOpOV-

adai KOI IBiav TIVCL fyvcnv e^etv. tSorjdelv Be

Treipwvrai Sia7r\aTTOVTS 7rrj\w KCU TrepiBovvresKal Ka\d/j,oi<? teal TO?? TOLOVTOIS, OTTCO? /j,r)

ciTro^rjpaivijTat,. Kal rjBrj (^acrl TTOV

dvacfrvvai, KaOaTrep Kal ev 'HpaK\6ia rfj Tpa^ivia,3 ra? crvKcis. Bel Be a/j,a rfj r?}? '%u>pas dperfj

rj TOV depos Kpdaei KOL rd eTrvyiyvo/jieva roiavra

elvai' ^ei^wvwv yap rj Kav/jLaTutv eTTiyivofjievciyv

<T<f)oBpwv ev0vs diro\\vvraf Btacfrepovcri Be Kal

al wpai' Trepl yap rrjv ^KdaTi^cnv eXdrrj? fj

, ore Kal XOTTOXTL, TOV apyrf\iwvo<s rj

vos av Ti? 7repie\rj, Trapa^prjfia cnr-

TOV Be xei/jLtovos irXelw ^povov OLVT-

ra la^vpoTaTa, KaOdirep Trpl-

Kal Bpvt' ^poviwTepa ydp rj TOVTWV <$6opd.4 Bel Be Kal TTJV Trepiaipecriv e-^etv TI

irdvTtov fiev fid\i(JTa Be TWV la^ypoTaav Ti? uiKpdv Tra^reXw? Tronjcrrj, ovOev CLTOTCOV TO

arj dTro\\vcrdat,' KaiTOi (^aai ye Tives, edv OTT-

OGOVOVV, crvu<f)0ipe(rdai TrdvTws' aXX' 7rl

TOUT' etVo?. evia ydp KCLV urj

KVK\(D irepiaipeOf) <$>6eipecr6ai fyacnv, a Kal

1 KO\ add. W. (text defective in MSS. except U).

406

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xv. 2-4

rapid or complete. Some in fact, as fig lime and oak,survive for some time ; indeed some say that these

recover, and also the elm and date-palm, andthat the bark even of the lime almost entirelycloses up again, while in other trees it forms as it

were a callus and 1acquires a peculiar new character.

Men try to help the tree by plastering it with mudand tying pieces of bark reeds or something of thekind about it, so that it may not take cold norbecome dried up. And they say that the bark has

been known to grow again ;

- for instance that that

of the fig-trees at the Trachinian Heraclea did so.

However this does not only depend on the quality of

the soil and on the climate ; the other circumstanceswhich ensue must also be favourable

; for, if greatcold or heat ensues, the tree perishes at once. Theseason also makes a difference. For if one strips thebark of a silver-fir or fir at the time when the budsare shooting during Thargelion or Skirrophorion,

3 at

which season it is separable, the tree dies at once.

If it is done however in winter, the tree holds out

longer ; and this is especially true of the strongesttrees, such as kermes-oak and oak

; these it takes

longer to kill. However the piece stripped off mustbe of a certain breadth to cause the death of the

tree, especially in the case of the strongest trees; for,

if one does it only a little, it is not surprising that

the tree should not be killed; though some indeed

say that, if it is done at all,4 the tree certainly dies

;

this however is probably true only of the weakerkinds. For some, they say, if they are in bad barren

2avatyvvcu conj. Seal, from G ; <f>vi>at Aid. H.

3May-June.

4 biroaovovv conj. Sch. from G ; o-jriaaovy Aid.

407

THP:OPHRASTUS

\V7rpdv e%L 'Xtopav Kal aTpO(>oi>. avTi] [iev 67;,

KaOdjrep eiprjTai, KOIVTJ cf)0opd TTCLVTWV.

XVI. *Hv $e Kokoucriv ^TTLKOTT^V TWV BevSpcop,

fjiovov TrevKrjs e'XaTT?? TTLTVOS $>OIVIKO<$, ol Be Kal

KeBpov teal KvirapiTTOv (fraai. ravra yap, eav

TrepiaipeOfj TTJV Kofjur/v avwOev KOI 7riK07ry TO

aKpov, <f)@eipeTai TrdvTa /cal ov {3\aa-rdvei, KaOd-

Trep ov& eTTLKavdevra?} Trdvra

77evia. TO, 8'

a\\a Trdvra Kal TrepiKOTrevra ftXacTTavei, Kal

evia <ye KaXXico ryiverai, KaOdjrep 77e\da. Sia-

(f)0eiperai Be ra 7roX\.a KCLVa"%i.crdfj TO areXe^o?'

ov$ev jap V7ro/j,eveiv SOKCL 7rXr)z^ dfJLTreXou Kal

GVKrjs Kal poa? Kal fJLi]\.a^' evia $e Kav eX.Kw9f)Kal [Jbel^ov Kal fiaOvrepov aTroXXurai. ra S'

ovSev 7rdcr%i, KaOdirep r) TrevKrj SaSovpyov/Aevr),Kal e wv Srj ra? prjTiva? crv~\,\eyovcriv, olov e'Xa-

TT;? TepfJiivOov Kal yap 8rj TOVTWV et?

l yap e d(f)6pcov

KOI

2 Ta Be Kal 7re\eKr)o~ii> inro/Aevei KOL opdd Kal

TrecrovTa inro Trvev/jiaTOS, coo-re 7rd\iv dvic

Kal ijv Kal (^acndveiv, olov trea Kal

oTrep awe/By Kal ev 'AvTavBpy Kal ev> / \fj// \>eKTt<jov(TT)<$ yap &>? ajreKO'urav TOI)?

Kal eTce\eK^<jav, dve(j)v>] VVKTWP rj

KovfyiaOelcra TOV ftdpovs Kal dveftia Kal 6

7T6pi(j)V 7rd\iv. 7rapa7T67re\eK'rj/uLevrj1 ^^./ f. <? r>\ \ pv / r. /

K TWV ovo fjiepwv rjv oe TO oevopov peya

1 Plin. 17. 236 ; cf. 3. 7. 2; C.P. 5. 17. 3.2

cf. 3. 9. 5.3 frvudti' Koi conj. W. : Kal UvuQev Aid.4

c/. 1. 3. 3; 1. 14. 2.

408

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xv. 4-xvi. 2

soil, die even if the bark is not stripped all round.

This then, as has been said, is a universal cause of

death.

XVI. * The process which is called topping of

trees is fatal only to fir silver-fir Aleppo pine2 and date-

palm, though some add prickly cedar and cypress.

These, if they are stripped of their foliage at the

top3 and the crown is cut off, perish wholly and do

not shoot again, as is the case with some, if not with

all, if they are burnt. But all other trees shoot

again after being lopped, and some, such as the

olive,4 become all the fairer. However most trees

perish if the stem is split ;

5 for no tree seems able to

stand this, except vine fig pomegranate and apple ;

and some perish even if they are wounded severelyand deeply. Some however take no harm 6 from

this, as the fir when it is cut for tar, and those trees

from which the resins are collected, as silver-fir andterebinth ; though these trees are in fact then deeplywounded and mangled. Indeed they actually becomefruitful 7 instead of barren, or are made to bear

plentifully instead of scantily.Some trees again submit to being hewn both

when they are standing and when they have beenblown down, so that they rise up again and live and

shoot, for instance the willow and the plane.8 This

was known to happen in Antandros and at Philippi ;

a plane in Antandros having fallen and had its boughslopped off and the axe applied to its trunk, grewagain in the night when thus relieved of the weight,and the bark grew about it again. It happened that

it had been hewn two thirds of the way round ; it

5cf. G.P. 5. 16. 4

; Plin. 17. 238. 8cf. C.P. 5. 16. 2.

7<f>opd5es conj. Sch.; QopiSes Aid. 8 Plin. 16. 133.

409

THEOPHRASTUS'

7 eKarDj^u, Tra^o? wcrre

3 az/ TrepiX-aftelv Terrapa? avBpas. ?;e eV

trea TrepieKOTTij ^ev rot)? aicpe/JLova^, ov/J,TJI>

//.aim? Be Ti? eireicrev avrovsOvalav re TroielcrOai KOI Tijpeii' TO Sevfipov &>?

crrj/jieLov ayaOov 7670^09. avecrrr) Se /cal eV

^rayeipoi^ ev ry /JLovaeiw \VKY} ri? eKireaovcra.

Tr}? 8e /jLijrpas egaipovfJLevrjs ovOev &)? elirelv

Sev&pov. o-rj/jieiov Be on TroXXa Kol\a

/.iey0os e^ovrwv BevSpwv ta-riv. ol 8e Trepl

fyaal ^XP L Ttv S ^ v nv TO SevSpov,

e^ airavTOS e%atpe0eicrri<$ KOI

KOI eXar^y KOLI a\\o TTCLV.

Kotvrj 8e (f)0opa nrdvrwv K.CLV al

KOTTWCTIV TI rracrai TI al 7r\L(TTai teal

Kal /cvpiwrarai, rov t,r\v. aurat, JJL^V ovv

'H S' VTTO rou eXalov Trpocrdedei, rivl fjia\\ov i]

afyaipeaei' iro\e^Lov jap Srj Kal rouro Tracr

ekaiov eTTL^eovai rot? inro\ei/.i/iacri TWV

la"Xyei 8e /.ia\\ov TO eXauov eV roZ? viois Kal ap-n

(pvo/jLevow acrQevicfTepa 'yap, St' o Kal aiTTecrOai

K(i)\vovcri.

<&0opal Be Kal VTTJ

aX\i]\a)v elcrl TW Trapai-

pelcyOai ra? Tpofyas Kal ev rot? aXXot? e/jLiroSi^eiv.

^aXeTro? Be Kal 6 KLTTOS Trapa^vo/jLevo^, ^aXe?ro9Be Kal 6 KVTicros' aTro\\vcn a iroLvO a>? elirelv

1 rivbs /j.fv {TJV rb S. conj. W. ; TIVOS Ikv (corrected) rov

U; TWOS f|j?pe'07jrov 5. MVAld.

2c/. Plin. 17. 234 ; C. P. 5. 15. 6.

8 Traor Kal f\atov tirixfovvi conj. Sch.; iruffiv $\aioy

ova iv UMPoAU.

4IO

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xvi. 2-5

was a large tree, more than ten cubits high, and of

such girth that four men could not easily haveencircled it. The willow at Philippi which grewagain had had its branches lopped off, but the trunk

had not been hewn. A certain seer persuaded the

people to offer sacrifice and take care of the tree,

since what had occurred was a good omen. Also at

Stageira an abele in the school gardens which hadfallen got up again.

Hardly any tree is destroyed by taking out the

core ; a proof of which is the fact that many largetrees are hollow. The people of Arcadia say that

the tree under these circumstances lives for a time,1

but that, if the tree is entirely deprived of its core,fir or silver-fir or any other tree perishes.

All trees alike are destroyed when the roots are cut

off, whether all or most of them, if those removed are

the largest and the most essential to life. Suchthen are the causes of death which come from the

removal of a part of the tree.

On the other hand the destruction which oil 2

causes is due rather to a kind of addition than to

removal ; for oil is hostile to all trees, and 3 so men

pour it 4 over what remains of the roots. Howeveroil is more potent with young trees which are just

growing ; for then they are weaker ;wherefore men

do not allow them to be touched at that time.5Again trees may destroy one another, by robbing

them of nourishment and hindering them in other

ways. Again an overgrowth of ivy6 is dangerous,

7

and so is tree-medick, for this destroys almost any-4

i.e. to complete the destruction of a tree. cf. Plut.

Quaest. Conv. 2. 6. 2.6 Plin. 17. 239 and 240. 6

cf. C.P. 5. 15. 4.7xa\firbs Se /cal Aid.; xa^fir ^ s 8' cffrlv conj. W.

411

THEOPHRASTUS

l<j"XypoTepov Se rovrov TO aXt/jiov a7r6\\vcri yapTOV KVTICTOV.

o "Ewa Be ov <f)0ipi /Jiev %t/3co Be Troiel rals

$Vvd/jL6(Tl TMV %V\)l> Kdl TWV OGfJitoV, 010V T)

KCU r

yap (fracri teal \K(,v. Si o KOI orav 6

7T\r)a-LOV yemyrai 7rd\iv dvacrrpefyeiv KOI dcfropav

co? TroXe/^ta? oi;cr^? r^? ocr/z?}?. 'AvbpOKvSris &e

KOI TrapaBeiy^an TOVTW Kare^prjcraTO TT/JO? TTJV

Tr)V a7ro TT}? patydvov yivo/jLvrjv 777)09

OI^ olvov, co? e%e\avvovo-av TTJV /jieOrjv (frevyew

yap Srj real ^wcrav rrjv afJureXov rrji> offfirfv. al

ovv (frOopal TTW? re yivovrai /cal Trocrai teal

(fravepov ere TWV

1 (\K(i : lit. 'draws it in'; cf. f\Kfiv ae'pa, /ne6u, etc.2

cf. C.P. 2. 18. 4. 6 /SAacrrbs ir*T}fflov conj. Dalec. from G ;

ir\T]fflov fi\a<TT6s Ald.H.

412

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xvi. 5-6

thing. But halimon is more potent even than this,for it destroys tree-medick.

Again some things, though they do not cause

death, enfeeble the tree as to the production offlavours and scents; thus cabbage and sweet bay havethis effect on the vine. For they say that the vinescents the cabbage and is infected 1

by it. Whereforethe vine-shoot,

2 whenever it comes near this plant,turns back and looks away,

3 as though the smellwere hostile to it. Indeed Aiidrokydes

4 used this

fact as an example to demonstrate the use of cabbageagainst wine, to expel the fumes of drunkenness

for,5 said he, even when it is alive, the vine avoids the

smell. It is now clear from what has been said

how the death of a tree may be caused, how manyare the causes of death, and in what several ways theyoperate.

3a.(f>opav conj. Sch.; evtyopftv U; acpopfiv Aid.; averti G;

recedere Plin. I.e. ; ^KX^p^f conj. W.4 A medical man who preached temperance to Alexander

;

cf. Plin. 14. 58; 17. 240.

8yap STJ Kal conj. Dalec. from G ; yap Sel /caJ Aid.

413

BOOK V

E

I. Ilepl &e T/}? I/XT;?, rrola re ecrriv >cdcrrrj,

KOI 7ro$' wpaia Te/nvecrOai, KCLI TT/OO? Trola TWV

epywv %pr)ai,/j,r), KCLI Trola Svcrepyos rj euepyos, KGU

el ri d\\o TT}? Toiavrrjs icrropta? e

Tov

Srj T6/iLvecr0ai TWV %v\u>v ra fiev ovv

arpoyyvXa KCU ocra TT/JO? ^>XoicrJJLOV QTCLV f3\a-

cnavri' Tore yap evjrepiaipe'ros o (f)\oios, o Bi)

Ka\ovcn \o7rav, Sia TTJV vyporrjra rr)V VTTOJIVO-

avTw. /zera 8e ravra SuaTrepiaipeTos /cal

TO %v\ov jJieXav yiverai Kal Bvcrei&es. ra

yu-era TOV \07n~iTov dcfraipeirai yap

f) 7T6\Kr}ats rr/v &v(TL$eiav. oXto? TTCLV

lcr)(yv wpaiorarov ov H.QVQV TreTravpevov

/3Xao-TJ;'(re&)9 aXX' ert /AaXXop eKTreiravav TOV

Kapirov. aXXa Sia TOV (f)\o'icr/j,bv dwpois ovaiv

o-vfjLJBaivei yivecrOai rot9 arpoyyvXois,

wcrre evavriai al wpai Kara (rvufie/Brj/cos. ev-

1 Plin. 16. 188. 2cf. 3. 5. 1.

3$vo-nfpicupfT6s conj. Sell.; SvffirfpiKd.6a.pTos Aid.

416

BOOK V

OF THE TIMBER OF VARIOUS TREES AND ITS USES.

I. IN like manner we must endeavour to speak of

timber, saying of what nature is that of each tree,

what is the right season for cutting it, which kinds

are hard or easy to work, and anything else that

belongs to such an enquiry.

Of the seasons of cutting.

1 Now these are the right seasons for cuttingtimber : for ' round

'

timber and that whose bark is

to be stripped the time is when the tree is cominginto leaf. For then the bark is easily stripped

(which process they call f

peeling' 2

)because of the

moisture which forms beneath it. At a later time it

is hard to strip,3 and the timber obtained is black

and uncomely. However square logs can be cut

after the time of peeling, since trimming with the

axe removes the uncomeliness. In general any woodis at the best season as to strength when it has not

merely ceased coming into leaf, but has even ripenedits fruit ;

however on account of the bark-strippingit comes to pass that ' round

'

timber is in season 4

when it is cut before it is ripe, so that, as it happens,the seasons are here reversed. Moreover the wood

4i.e. in practice the timber is cut before the ideally

proper time.

417

THEOPHRASTUS

%pov(7Tpa Se ra e\driva yiveTai Kara TOV

TTpWTOV \OTTrjTOV.

'E?ret Be /iaXtcrr' rj JJLOVOV TrepiaipoiKTi TOV

(f)\OLov e'XaTT/9 rrevKrfs TTLTVOS, ravra fiev Te/jiverai

TOV ?;/309* TOTE yap r) /3Xao"n7<rts' ra Se aXXa ore

/ue/' /itera TcvpoTOp,iav, ore 8e /^era TpvyrjTov KOI

'AprcTovpov, olov apia TTTeKea cr<^e^8a/ti/o? /jL6\ia

%vyia o^va (j)i\vpa ^^709 re Aral oXco? ocra

KaTOpvTTTaL' S/9V9 ^e o^riaiTara Kara %ei/Awva

fJLGTCi TO /jL6T07ra)pOV O.V $6 V7TO TOV \07T1JTOV

o"iJTrTai Ta^iaTa a)? elirelv, lav re efji-

(iv T6 ci(f)\oio<;' KOL fiu\io~Ta /JLCV TO, ev

TW TrpcoTM \orrr)T(f), SevTepa Se ra eV rwra eV TW TiTW' ra

/zera Tr/2^ TreTravcriv TMV Kapjrwv ciftpwTa Sta/uLVi,Kav aXoTTicrra 77' Tr\r)V VTTO TOV (f)\oibv VTTO&VO-

fjLevoi (TKa)\riKe<> l7rnro\rj<i eyypd(j)ovcri TO

ot9 ^at a^paylcn %pMVTai TLves* wpalovdev TO Spvivov a(ja7T9 Te /cat d0pi,7rr)$ecrTaTov

<yivTai Kal crKXrjpbv KCU TTVKVOV wcnrep /cepas'

Ttav yap ojjLOiov CTTIV ey/capSifi)' Tr\r]V TO ye Tt]<;

d\i(j)\oLOV Kal Tore (pau\ov.Be Kal TOVTO inrevavTiov, oiav re

KCLTO, TT)V aCTTrjO'lV T/ilVU)VTaL Kttl OTaV /jLTO

TOi/9 KapTrovs. Tore /Jiev yap dva^ifpaiveTai ra

a-T\)(r) Kal ov ftXaaTavei TO, SevSpa' /xera 8f

Be

1c/. 3. 5. 1. M add. Sch.

3$7j7<fs T conj. Seal.; irr)y6s re U; (f>rjy6ffiv T V;

re MAld.4KaropuTTerai conj. Sell, from G ; opv-ncrai Aid. c/. 5. 4. 3;

5. 7. 5. 6 Plin. 16. 189.

418

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. i. 1-3

of the silver-fir is of a better colour at the time l of

the first peeling.But since they strip the bark of 2

hardly any trees

except silver-fir fir and pine, these trees are cut in

the spring; for then is the time of coming into leaf.

Other trees are cut sometimes after wheat-harvest,sometimes after the vintage and the rising of

Arcturus, as aria (holm-oak) elm maple manna-ash

zygia beech lime Valonia oak,3 and in general

all those whose timber is for underground use.4

The oak is cut latest of all, in early winter at the endof autumn. 5 If it is cut at the time of peeling, it

rots almost more quickly than at any other time,whether it has the bark on or not. This is especiallyso if it is cut during the first peeling, less so duringthe second, and least during the third. What is cut

after the ripening of the fruit remains untouched byworms, even if it has not peeled : however worms getin under the bark and mark the surface of the stem,and such marked pieces of wood some use as seals. 6

Oak-wood if cut in the right season does not rot andis remarkably free from worms, and its texture is

hard and close like horn;for it is like the heart of a

tree throughout, except that that of the kind called

sea-bark oak is even at that time of poor quality.7

Again, if the trees are cut at the time of cominginto leaf, the result is the opposite of that whichfollows when they are cut after fruiting : for in the

former case the trunks dry up and the trees do not

sprout into leaf,8 whereas after the time of fruiting

they sprout at the sides. At this season however

6cf. Ar. Thesm. 427 : Opnr^SearTa ff(f>payi$ia.

7cf. 3. 8. 5.

8ftXaffravti M ; TrapaB\a<jTdvei W. with Aid.

419

THEOPHRASTUS

Sid rrfv (TK\i]p6rr)ra Kara ravrrjv rrjv wpav.K\uovcri Be Kal BeBvKVia? TT}? (re\yvr)s

co? a~K\r)porepwv Kai dcrarrecrrepwverrel Be al Trex^ei? rcov Kaprcwv TrapaXXdrrovai,

Bf)\ov on /cal at d/c/j,al vrpo? frjv TOfjLrjv 7rapa\-\drrov(Tiv del ^dp o^iaiTepai al TWI> otyi/cap-

4 TTOTepwv. 81 o teal 7Tipa)VTai Tire? opi^etv Ka6"

efcdarrjv olov irevKi^v /JLZV fcal \drt]v orav VTTO-

XoTTwaiv en 8e o^vav /cal <fy'i\vpav Kalcrcfrei'-

&a[j,vov Kal wyiav rrjs ovrco^a?' Spvv Be, axnrep

el'prjrai, /zera TO tyOivoTrwpov. <paal Be Ttve^:

TTCVKVJV aipalav elvai TOV T//OO?, oTav ye e^rj rr)v

fa\ov/j,vr)v Ka^pw, Kal Trjv TT'LTVV orav 6

avrfjs avBrj. rrola /j,ev ovv oopaia K

OVTCO SLaipovvrai. Trdvrwv Be Bf)\ov onTO, rwv aKfjLa^ovrwv BevBpwv rj TWV viwv

Kal yeyrjpaKOTWv rd fjbev jdp vBarwSr), ra

Be 76a>5?;.

IlXetcrTa9 Be p^/oeta? Kal /jLejiara^ rj eXdrrj KOL

i] TrevKTj 7rape%ovTai, Kal mvra KaXXiara KOL

/jLeyta-ra TWV %v\wv eari. Btaffrepovai Be d~\Xi]\a)v

ev TroXXot?' ?; jjiev yap TrevKi) dapKcoBecrrepa re

Kal 6\iyoLi>o<f 7}8' eXdrtj Kal TroXuiVo? Kal

daapKO<;, ware evavrlws eKarepov e%eiv rwv

, ra? [lev tz/a? lo-%vpds TTJV Be <rdpKa

1 al add. Sch.2 viro\oir><nv conj. Sch. ;

d TreAftr fieri U; vnt\fivfi<ri)> MV ;

VTTf\lV(t)(TlV Aid.

TavTTjv conj. St.; Kal rV Aid. H.

%

3

42O

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. i. 3-5

the) are harder to cut because the wood is tougheiIt is also recommended to do the cutting when themoon has set, since then the wood is harder andless likely to rot. But, since the times when thefruit ripens are different for different trees, it is

clear that the right moment for cutting also differs,

being later for those 1 trees which fruit later.

Wherefore some try to define the time for the

cutting of each tree ; for instance for fir and silver-

fir the time is, they say, when they begin to peel2

:

for beech lime maple and zygia in autumn; for oak,

3

as has been said, when autumn is past. Some how-ever say that the fir is ripe for cutting in spring,when it has on it the thing called (

catkin/4 and the

pine when its 'cluster' 5is in bloom. Thus they

distinguish which trees are ripe for cutting at various

times ; however it is clear that in all cases the woodis better when the tree is in its prime than when it

is quite young or has grown old, the wood of quite

young trees being too succulent, and that of old onestoo full of mineral matter.

Of the wood of silver-Jir and fir.

Silver-fir and fir are the most useful trees and in

the greatest variety of ways, and their 6 timber is

the fairest and largest. Yet they differ from oneanother in many respects ; the fir is fleshier and hasfew fibres, while the silver-fir has many fibres and is

not fleshy, so that in respect of each component it is

the reverse of the other, having stout fibres 7 but soft

4cf. 1. 1. 2n.; 3. 5. 5.

6i.e. the male inflorescence.

TO.VTO. conj. Sch. from G ; avra Ald.H.7

cf. 3. 9. 7 ; Plin. 16. 184.

421

THEOPHRASTUS

Kal uavrjv Si o TO p.ev ftdpv TO Be

Kov<pov TO fA.ev jap evSaSov TO Be aSaBov, f)

6 \evKOTepov. ^Xei ^ Ka ^ o^of? TrXeiou

irevKri, crfcXtiporepovs Ber) e\aTr) TTO\\(D,

Be Kal aK\tjpOT(iTOv<! TrdvTwv du<pa) Be TTVKVOVS

Kal KepaToiSeis Kal TW ^pu>^aTi %av6ov<$ Kal

oTav Be T/jLijOaxri,, pel Kal CK TWV T/)?

Kal eK TWV Ttjs TrevKrjs eVt TTO\VV ^povovKal /jid\\ov eK TWV Trjs e'Xar^?. (TTI Be

Kal 7ro\v\oTrov i] \a,T^, KaOtiTrep Kal TO Kpofjivovdel yap e^et Tiva vTroKarw rov <paivo/jLevov, Kal

7 K TOLOVTWV T) oXlJ. 8t' KOL Ttt? KOOTTaS J;VOVT$

dcfraipelv TreipwvTai Kaff1

eva Kal o/xaX&)9' ea^ 7^dcfraipaicriv, tcr^upo? 6 KWTrewv, edv Be

Kalfj,r)

KaTacnraxTiv OyLtotw?, dcrOe-

ydp OL/T&)?,

Be Kal uaKpoTaTOV T] e\dTr) Kal o

Si? o Kal ra? Kepalas Kal TOVS /CTTOL/? e/c raur?;?irotovcrtv.

8 e/z0a^e<TTaTa? TrdvTwv. av^dveTai Be

6t? fjbrjKos, a^pi ov Si) e(f)iKijTai TOV rjXio

oi>T6 o^o? ouSet? ovTe TrapafB\d(jTri<jL^ OVTC

ueTa Be ravTa et? /9a^o9 Kal

al TWV oa)v eKtyvaeis Kal 7rapaft\a(TTij(7i<;

1 rb fj.ev yap ti>5. con]. St. from G ; tv$. yap Aid.8

cf. 3. 9. 7.3

cf. 3. 9. 7, jioVov oi 5ta(/>ayry, whence it appears tliat the

epithet refers to colour.4 Plin. 16. 195. 6 i.e. the annual rings, cf. I. 5.2; 5. 5. 3.

cf. Horn. Od. 12. 172.7 KaracnruHTiv conj. W. ; Kara iraffiv UMV; Kara Trovra Aid.8

c/. Plin. I.e.8

c/. 1. 2. 1.

10tfj.tyavfffTaTas conj. \V.

; evytveffrdras Aid.11 56 conj. Sch.; al UAld.H.

422

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. i. 5-8

tlesh of open texture. Wherefore the timber of the

one is heavy, of the other light, the one lbeing

resinous, the other without resin; wherefore also it

is whiter. Moreover the fir has more branches, but

those of the silver-fir are much tougher, or rather

they are tougher than those of any other tree ;2 the

branches of both however are of close texture,

horny,3 and in colour brown and like resin-glutted

wood. 4 When the branches of either tree are cut,

;>ap streams from them for a considerable time, but

especially from those of the silver-fir. Moreover the

wood of the silver-fir has many layers, like an onion :5

there is always another beneath that which is visible,

and the wood is composed of such layers throughout.Wherefore, when men are shaving this wood to makeoars,

6they endeavour to take off the several coats one

by one evenly : for, if they do this, they get a strong

spar, while if they do the work irregularly and donot strip

7 off the coats evenly, they get a weak one ;

for the process in this case is hacking instead of

stripping. The silver-fir also gives timber of the

greatest lengths and of the straightest growth ;

wherefore yard-arms8 and masts are made from it.

Also the vessels 9 and fibre are more clearly10 seen in

it than in any other tree. At first 11 it grows in

height only, until it has reached 12 the sunshine; andso far there is no branch nor sidegrowth nor densityof habit ;

but after that the tree proceeds to increase

in bulk 13 and density of habit, as 14 the outgrowingbranches and sidegrowths develop.

12&XP1 ' ^<piKi]ra.i conj. Sch.; &XP 1 v ^ K^IKT/ITCU U;

axpis OVK a.<piKr\rai MV; &XP IS v aX^/f7?Ta ' Ald.H.

13cf. 4. 1. 4.

14 Lit. 'this being the effect of the outgrowth.' irdx^s-

ourus Aid.; iraxoj > SrovCOnj. W.423

THEOPHRASTUS

Tavra p,ev ovv iBia rf}<; \drr)s, rd Be K.OIVCL /cat

Kal eXaTT?? /cal rwv d\\wv. eari yap ?';

rerpd^oos ?;Be BL^OOS. /caXovcrt, Be Terpa

ocrais e'(/>' e/cdrepa rry? eVre/ofco^? Svo

el&lv evavriav e^ovaai TT)I/ (fr

tcaO' efcarepav T^V KTrf^ova TTOiovvrai rrjv TreXe-

evavrias ra? TrXrjyas Kara KTrjSova (frepov-

OTCLV e'0' e/cdrepa T>}S VTepiu>vr)<$ r;

TOVTO yap e dvdy/crjs

bid ir]V (frvcriv TWV KTrj&ovwv. ra?

e'Xara? ~at TrevKas rerpa^6ov<; KaXovcn. elcrl Be

/cal TTyoo? ra? epycKrias avrai tcdXXicrTai' TTVKVO-

rara yap C^OVCTL rd v\a Kal ra? aiyiSas avrat

10 fyvovcriv. al BL^OOI $e KTrfiova nev e^ouat p,iav

e'0' eK.drepa TT)? evTepi&vrjs, raura? Se evavrias

d\\7J\ais, wcrre Kal rrjv 7r\Krjcriv elvai Bnr\f)v,

fjiiav KaO' eKarepav Krrj&ova rat? TT^yyais evav-

Tiaw aTraXcorara ^kv ovv ravrd fyaviv e^eivra t;v\a, ^eipiara Be 7rpb<$ ra? epyacrias" Sia-

yap fjidXicrra. yuot'O^oou? Be KaXovcri

e^oucra? p.iav /JLOVOV KrrjSova" TTJV Be TreXe-

tcr]crLV avTwv ylveaOai rrjv avr^v e^>' eKarepa

evTepicovr}?' (paal Be flavorara p,ev e^eivrd %v\a ravra TT/^O? Be ra?

rot?

IBovres ev0vs TO BevBpov

Plin. Lc.2 The meaning of ' four-cleft' etc. seems to be this :

(S^t-Clert. (^\2-CleFt: (^}/-C/ef.

424

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. 1.9-11

These are the characteristics peculiar to the silver-

fir. Others it shares with the fir and the other trees

of this class. 1 For instance, sometimes a tree is

'

four-cleft/ sometimes ' two-cleft'

; it is called ' four-

cleft' when on either side of the heart-wood there

are two distinct and diverse lines of fissure : in that

case the blows of the axe follow these lines in cases

where the hewing is stopped short on either side of

the heart-wood. 2 For the nature of the lines of fissure

compels the hewing to take this course. Silver-firs

or firs thus formed are said to be efour-cleft.' And

these are also the fairest trees for carpentry, their

wood being the closest and possessing the aigisfThose which are ' two-cleft

'

have one single line of

fissure on either side of the heart-wood, and the lines

of fissure do not correspond to each other, so that

the hewing also is performed by cuts which follow

the two lines of fissure, so as to reach the two sides

of the heart-wood at different angles. Now such

wood, they say, is the softest, but the worst for

carpentry, as it warps most easily. Those trees whichhave only a single

4 continuous line of fissure are

said to be 'one-cleft,' though here too the cuttingis done from either side of the heart-wood : and such

wood has, they say, an open5texture, and yet

6 it is

not at all apt to warp.7 There are also differences in the bark, by obser-

vation of which they can tell at once what the

3of. 3. 9. 3. 4

fjilav conj. W.; /tfa? 8e P2Ald.6^av6rara conj. W. ; pavJTTJTU Aid.

6 TO uAa . . . ras conj. Sch. ; ra vAa- TO.VTO, 5e irpbs rcty

Ald.H. ' Plin. 16. 195 and 196.

425

THEOPHRASTUS

Trolov TL earr TWV /jLcv yap evKTr)B6vwv KCLL

daTpaftwv KOI 6 c^Xo^o? Xeio? Kal opQos,8' evavTLWV Tpa%vs re Kal Biea-Tpa/A/jLev

Be Kal eirl TWV \OLTTWV. aXX' ecrTt,

fj,ev o\iya /jLOVo^oa Se TrXeto) TWV ci\\wv. airaaa

&i] v\tj fJLi(DV KOI op&orepa KOI darpaffecrTepa

real aTi(f)poTpa Kal oXw? Ka\\icov Kal 7r\eiwv

TI eV rot? Trpoa-fiopeiois, wcrTrep Kal irpoTepov

eXe'Xjdri' KOI avTov TOV BevSpov 8e TO, 77/909

(Boppav TTVKvoTepa /cal veavLKWTepa. ocra be

vTTOTrapafioppa Kal eV Trep'nrvw, TavTaKal 7rapa\\aTT6i irapa jjuxpov 6 /Sopea?,eivai, 7rapecrTpa/uL/j.V)]v avTwv TIJV lArjTpav Kal

12 ou KaT opOov. <TTL 8e 6\a /jiv TO, ToiavraTO

Ka\ovcn Se ol

Sia TO Trpos TIJV %peiav OVTCO

e %//)&> TO, K TWV e(j)vypa)v Kal eu-

Sieivwv Kal Tra\iGKiwv Kal orvvijpefywv Kal 77/309

TTfV TGKTOVLKrjV ^peiav Kal 7T/90? TTJV

TLK1]V. at /jLV OVV TOiaVTai Sia(j)0pal TTyOO?

TOTTOI;? elcrlv avTwv TWV ofj-oyevwv c5? yeelrreiv.

II. Aiaipovcri ydp Tives KaTa ra? ^co/)a?, icai

criv dpi(JTr)v /nev elvai TT)? v\r)<; TT/JO? Trji'

TOviKijv ypeiav rf}? et? TJJV EXXaSa jrapa-

yivo/j,evr)<; TTJV MaKeboviKijv Xe/a re ydp ecrrt

Kal da-Tpafirjs Kal e^ovcra dvlov. SevTepav

T7]V TIOVTIKIJV, TplTrfV Be Tr]V aTTO TOV 'P

irvKs : cf. Xen. Cyr. 4. 3. 5.

3viroirapdQoppa. conj. St.; virb irapd^oppa Aid.; i>tr60oppa

Trapdfioppa COnj. Sch.

426

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. i. n-i,. i

timber of the tree is like as it stands. 1 For if thetimber has straight and not crooked lines of fissure,

the bark also is smooth and regular, while if thetimber has the opposite character, the bark is roughand twisted ;

and so too is it with other points.However few trees are '

four-cleft/ and most of

those which are not are 'one-cleft.' All wood, as

was said before, which grows in a position facing

north, is bigger, more erect, of straighter grain,

tougher, and in general fairer and more abundant.Moreover of an individual tree the wood on thenorthward side is closer and more vigorous. But if

a tree stands sideways to the north 2 with a draughtround it, the north wind by degrees twists and con-

torts 3it, so that its core becomes twisted instead of

running straight. The timber of such a tree while

still in one piece is strong, but, when cut, it is weak,because the grain slants across the several pieces

Carpenters call such wood ' short lengths/ because

they thus cut it up for use. Again in general woodwhich comes from a moist, sheltered, shady or con-

fined position is inferior both for carpentry and for

fuel. Such are the differences, generally4speaking,

between trees of the same kind as they are affected

by situation.

Of the effects on timber of climate.

II. 5Someindeed make adistinction between regionsand say that the best of the timber which comes into

Hellas for the carpenter's purposes is the Macedonian,for it is smooth and of straight grain, and it contains

resin : second best is that from Pontus, third that

3irapa\\drrei conj. Dalec. ; Trapa\\dyfi U; irapa\-f)yti Aid. ;

TrapaXvyi^ft CODJ. H. Steph.47 conj. Sch.; 5e Aid. Plin. 16. 197

427

THEOPHRASTLJS

rerdprrjv 5e rrjv klviaviKr]V' ^(eiplaT^v Se rrjv re

HapvacriaKTiv teal rrjv TZvfioiKrjv /ecu yap o^c

/cal rpa^eias KOL ra%v G^TTZG&CU. jrepl Se

2 'la^vporara Se TWV %v\wv earl ra ao^a\eici' teal rfj otyei $e Tavra /caXXicrra.

Se yiverai ra KCLKOTpo<$r)OevTa Kal r}ioi

7Ti6(T0ei>Ta rj /cal a\\q> TLVL roiovry TO

o\ov rr)V TroXvo^iav elvai evSetav

orav Be KaKOTpo^aavra dva\d/3rj 7cd\Lv Kal ev-

crQevrjcrr], avfjiftaivei KaTairiveaQai rot/? o^ou?VTTO TT}? Treptfyvcrews' evrpcxfrovv yap /cal av-

dvaXa/j,/3dvi /cal TroXXa/a? e

\elov TO %v\ov SiaLpovpevov

(f>dvrj.8i' o /cal cncoTrovvrai TWV crj^Larwv ra?

' edv yap avrai e^ftofftv o^ou9, od)Sr) /cal

TO, eVro?' /cal ovroi aXeTrcureQot TWV /CTOS /ca

3 Tivowrai Se Kal al airelpai, $ia ^e^/AW^a? re

/cal /caKorpocf)[av. cnreipas $e /caXovaiv orav yrt? tV avrfj pei^wv /cal KVK\OL<; irepi-

7T\eio(nv ovd^ axnrep o o^b? aTrXw? ovd*

TI ev avT(p rq> ^uXw* Si o\ov yap7ra>5 ainrj /cal 6/jLa\iov(Ta' %a\7T(t)Tpov Be

TOVTO TroXu /cal Bvaepyorepov rwv o^wv. eoiice

/cal ft>? e rot?

1 A river which flows into the Propontia on the Asiatic

side.2 Near Mount Oeta. AtVitm/oji' conj. Palm, from Plin.

I.e.; omweV PaAld.H.8 ravra Ka.\\Krra- o^wSrj 8e conj. Seal.; ravra KO.\ /j.li\iffra

yiv. Ald.H. ;ravra /j.d\tffra- 0^*817 tie y(v. U.

428

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. n. 1-3

from the Rhyndakos,1 fourth that of the country

of the Ainianes,2 worst is that of Parnassus and that

of Euboea, for it is full of knots and rough and

quickly rots. As to Arcadian timber the case is

doubtful.

Of knots and f

coiling'

in timber.

The strongest wood is that which is without knots

and smooth, and it is also the fairest in appearance.3

Wood becomes knotty when it has been ill nourished

and has suffered severely whether from winter or

some such cause ; for in general a knotty habit is

supposed to indicate lack of nourishment. Whenhowever, after being ill nourished, the tree recovers

and becomes vigorous, the result is that the knots

are absorbed 4by the growth which now covers them

;

for the tree, being now well fed and growingvigorously, recovers, and often the wood is smooth

outside, though when split it is seen to have knots.

And this is why they examine the core of wood that

has been split ; for, if this contains knots, the out-

ward 5parts will also be knotty, and these knots are

harder to deal with than the outer ones, and are

easily recognised.6 (

Coiling'

of the wood is also due to winter or ill

nourishment. Wood is said to ( coil' when there is

in it closer twisting7 than usual, made up of an

unusual number of rings : this is not quite like a knot,nor is it like the ordinary curling of the wood, whichruns right through it and is uniform. '

Coiling'

is

much more troublesome and difficult to deal with than

knots ; it seems to correspond to the so-called

4 Ka-rairiveffBai : ? KaTa\a/j.^dvf<r6ai. cf. below, 3.

6i.e. outward in regard to the core. 6 Plin. 16. 198.

7jf ffvffTpof-fi conj. Seal.; p fvarpoty-f) U; y fvrpa<f>rj Aid. etc.

429

THEOPHRASTUS

TO, Ka\ov/jLva KevTpa. on 8'17 Trepltyvcns K.aia-

TOU? o^ovs <$>avepa)T(LTOv e avTtjs TT}?

ovJJLTJV

d\\a Kal e'/c TWI> a\\a)v

6/j.oLcov TroXXtt/a? <ydp avrov TOV bevbpovTI GweXi'ifyOri VTTO OdTepov crf/x^uo^ <yevo-

/JLCVOV Kal edv TIS eKyXvtyas 6f) \l6ov eis TO

BevSpov 77 Kal d\\o TL TOLOVTOV, KaraKpvirreTai

7Tpi\r](f)6V VTTO TT}? Tre/Ji^ucreo)?1

ojrep Kal irepl

TOV Korti'ov crvvefir) TOV ev Weydpois TOV ev Trj

dyopa,' ov Kal KKOTTVTO<; \oyiov TJV d\wvai Ka\

TIJV TTO\LV orrep eyeveTo ....ev TOVTM yap Siaa"%io/jLev(i)

arra

Kpep-aaTa, TOV KOTLVOV ov dvT07j TO

yKOL\avdevTO<f. TOVTOV S' ert

TO \OLTTOV. TToXXa^ou 5e Kal d\\o6i

Tr\eiova TOiavTa. Kal raOra ftev, atarrep etprjTaL

KOIVCL 7T\l6vCOV.

III. Kara Se ra? t'^/a? CKUO-TOV cfrvcreis ai

TOiavTai elo~i &ia<popai, olov TTVKVOT^ [JLavoTrjs

KOV(j)OTrj<; o-K\r)poTt]<; fiaXaKOTt^, axrav-

e Kal CL Ti? d\\rj TOiavTr)- Kotval Be o/Wco?Kal TWV ^^epwv Kal TWV dypicov, wcrre rrepl

V 7) con}. W.; '6n 8), UMV; 8r ^ Aid.8

C/. /caraTTtVeff^aj, above, 2.1 Plin. 16. 198 and 199.4

fxy\v\^as 0rj conj. W. ; f'/cAityaj ef) U; iK\iea<r6r) Ald.H.6 Text defective.fl

j.e. the bark had grown over these, c/. Plin. /.c.

43

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. H. 3-111. i

' centres'

which occur in marbles. That 1

vigorous

growth covers 2up the knots is plain from simple

observation of the fact and also from other similar

instances. 3 For often some part of the tree itself is

absorbed by the rest of the tree which has growninto it ; and again, if one makes a hole in a tree and

puts4 a stone into it or some other such thing, it

becomes buried, being completely enveloped by thewood which grows all round it : this happened withthe wild olive in the market-place at Megara ; there

was an oracle that, if this were cut open, the citywould be taken and plundered, which came to passwhen Demetrius took it.

5For, when this tree was

split open, there were found greaves and certain

other things6 of Attic workmanship hanging there,

the hole 7 in the tree having been made at the placewhere the things were originally hung on it as offer-

ings. Of this tree a small part still exists, and in

many other places further instances have occurred.

Moreover, as has been said, such occurrences happenalso with various other trees.

Of differences in the texture of different woods.

III. 8Corresponding to the individual characters of

the several trees we have the following kinds of

differences in the wood : it differs in closeness,

heaviness, hardness or their opposites, and in othersimilar ways ; and these differences are common to

cultivated and wild trees. So that we may speak ofall trees without distinction.

7tyyatrius KpffjLaffra rov KOT'IVOV ov I conj. from G and

Plin. I.e. (certain restoration perhaps impossible) ; /ce^7jo"n o

fffnv ff Korlfcf- ol U; Aid. has Kepwo-rl, M Kpf^aarrl, V nep-/j.d<TTQ)v ; St. suggested Kpf/j.affT<H>v oir\<av &s words of the

original text. 8 Plin. 16. 204-207.

43 1

THEOPHRASTUS

HvKvorara fiev ovv So/eel teal ftapvrara'ai Kal efievo?' ovBe yap ovB' eVl rov vBaros

ravr eirivei. teal7; fjiev rrv^os 6\r), TT}? Be e/3evov

77 fir^rpa, ev 77 KOI77

rov ^/ow/xaro? eanWZ^ 8' a\\wv 6 XCOTO?. TTVKVOV Se /cat

77 TT}?

/Aijrpa, r)v KaKovai p,e\dv$pvov Kal ert fjia\\ov rj

rou tcvTicrov irapofJLoia yap avrT) So/eel rfj efievyelvai.

M.e\av 8e cr(f)6$pa KOL TTVKVOV TO rrjs rep-

elvai TT)? eftevow Kal K rovrov yap Kal ra?

TWV ey^eipcBiwv Troteladai, TopvevecrOaiBe % avrwv Kal KV\i/ca<i r)piK\Lovs, wcrre

av Siayvwvat, TT/^O? ra? xepa/neas' \afi-

dveiv 8e TO eyKapSiov &elv Be d\el$eiv TO

ovro) yap yivea6ai Kal KCL\\LOV Kal

Be Kal a\\o TL BevBpov, o ajua rfj

Kal TTOiKiXiav TIVCL e%et virepvOpov, ware elvai

TT]V O^TLV axrav e/Sevov Trof/aX?;?' Troieladai S' e'^

avrov Kal K\ivas Kal Btypovs Kal TCL a\\a ra

arrovBa^ufjueva. TO <Be> BevBpov f^eya a(f)6BpaKal Ka\6(f)v\\ov elvai o^oiov Tat? aTrtoi?.

Taura /JLCVovv ayua rfj /j,e\avia Kal TTVKVO-

T>]Ta e%ei. TTVKVOV Be KalT) atyevBa/jivos Kal

77 %vyia Kal oX&>9 Trdvra ra ov\a' Kal77 e'Xaa

Be Kal o Korivos, d\\a Kpavpa. fiava Be ra)v

dypicov Kal epe^i/jicov ra e\driva

1

c/. Arist. Meteor. 4. 7 ad fin.2

c/. 1. 6. 1.3

c/. 3. 15. 3.

4Probably so called from their resemblance in shape and

43 2

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. in. 1-3

Box and ebony seem to have the closest andheaviest wood

;for their wood does not even float on

water. This applies to the box-tree as a whole, andto the core of the ebony, which contains the black

pigment.1 The nettle-tree also is very close and heavy,

and so is the core of the oak, which is called ' heartof oak,' and to a still greater degree this is trueof the core of laburnum 2

; for this seems to resemblethe ebony.The wood of the terebinth is also very black and

close-grained ; at least in Syria3they say that it is

blacker than ebony, that in fact they use it for makingtheir dagger handles

;and by means of the lathe-

chisel they also make of it' Theriklean

'

cups/ so

that no one could 5distinguish these from cups made

of pottery ; for this purpose they use, it is said, the

heart-wood, but the wood has to be oiled, for thenit becomes comelier and blacker.

There is also, they say, another tree 6which, as

well as the black colour, has a sort of reddish

variegation, so that it looks like variegated ebony,and of it are made beds and couches and other things

^O

of superior quality. This tree is very large and lias

handsome leaves and is like the pear.These trees then, as well as the black colour, have

close wood;so also have maple zygia and in general

all those that are of compact growth ; so also havethe olive and the wild olive, but their wood is

brittle. 7 Of wild trees which are used for roof-

limbers the wood of the silver-fir is the least corn-

colour to the cups made by Therikles, a famous Corinthian

potter ; see reff. to comedy in LS. s.v.6

^urjSfVa hv conj. W. ; ^rj5' &v '<iva Aid.6 Sissoo wood. See Index App. (21).7 a\Aa Kpavpa conj. Sch.; oAAa KOI avpa MVAld.

433

THEOPHRASTUS

TCOV 5' a\\(t)i> ra d/eriva teal rd avxiva /eai

rd T?}? /tt?/Xfc'a? /cal TO, TT}? Sd<pvrjs. cr/e\ij-

porara Be TO. Bpviva teal rd uyiva teal TO.

dpias' teal ydp vTro/Spe^ouai ravra TT/JOS

TpvTrrjartv /xaXa^ew? %dpiv. p,a\.atca Be

o\ov [JLev ra /j.ava KCU %avva' T&V ^e

LaXiara <f)i\vpa. So/cei Se KOI 0ep-eh>aL rovro' arujLelov $e ore fj,d\ia-ra

d/jL/3\vvei rd (nS/jpia,' Ti}V yaprrjv Oepfj.6rr)ra.

4 epp,ov $ teal KLTTO^ teal Bd<f)vr] teal o

t?

^ wv Ta TTVpela yLverai' Me^ecrra)/? Se

teal avKayiivov. ^v^poTara 8e rd evv&pa teal

vSarwSrj. teal <y\ia"%pa Se rd ireiva teal d/j,-

rreXiva, $1* o teal ra? da-rriBa^ e/e rovrcov rroiovai'

<ydp rr\i]yevra' Kovfyorepov Be TO -n'yv

fj.avorepov <ydp, St' o teal rovrco {j,d\\oi>

TO Be TT}? irXardvov y^a-^porrjra [lev

Be vyporepov rovro teal TO T/}? rcre-

Xea?. crrifjielov Be eanv, fierd rrjv ro/Ji^v opObi*orav crraOfj, rro\v vowp dcfrirjcri,. rb Be rfjs crvtea-

fiivov TTVKVOV dp.a teal y\ia")(pov5 "Eo-Tt Be /eal dcrrpafiecrrarov rb TT}?

8t' o KOI TGI/? arpocfreis rwv Ovp&vrrreXeivovs' edv yap ovroi /jLevwa-i, teal al 6vpai

/jievovcriv dcrrpafBels, el Be /IT;, BiaarpecfrovraL.rroiovcrt 8' avrovs e[Jirra\iv nOevres rd %v\a TO

T6

1

viro0pfxova'

1 conj. Harduin from Plin. 16. 207 ; a

Alil.H. ; airo&pfxovai niBas.-

c/. 5. 5. 1, which, referring to this passage, hardly agreeswith it as now read.

434

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V in. 3-5

pact, and among others that of the elder fig appleand bay. The hardest woods are those of the oak

zygia and aria (holm-oak) ;in fact men wet l these

to soften them for boring holes. In general, woodswhich are of open porous texture are soft, and of

those of fleshy texture the softest is the lime. Thelast-named seems also to be the hottest

; the proofof which is that it blunts iron tools more than anyother ; for they lose their edge

2by reason of its

heat.

Ivy and bay are also hot woods, and so in generalare those used for making fire-sticks

;and Menestor 3

adds the wood of the mulberry.4 The coldest woods

are those which grow in water and are of succulent

character. The wood again of willow and vine is

tough ; wherefore men make their shields of these

woods ;for they close up again after a blow

; butthat of the willow is lighter, since it is of less com-

pact texture; wherefore they use this for choice.

The wood of the plane is fairly tough, but it is

moister in character, as also is that of the elm. Aproof of this is that, if it is set upright

5 after beingcut, it discharges much water. 6 The wood of the

mulberry is at once of close grain and tough.7 The wood of the elm is the least likely to warp ;

wherefore they make the '

hinges' 8 of doors out of

elm wood ; for, if these hold, the doors also keep in

place ; otherwise they get wrenched out of place.

They make the '

hinges'

by putting wood from theroot above 9 and wood ' from the foliage

'

below,9 thus

3cf.l. 2. 3 n. 4 Plin. 16. 209.

6opdbv '6rav conj. W. : so G ; opdbs %Tav MV; Zrav bpfa Aid.

6cf. 5. 1. 6. Plin. 16. 210.

8 Sc. an arrangement of cylindrical pivot and socket.*

i.e. as socket and pivot respectively ; cf. 5. 5. 4.

435

THEOPHRASTUS

Ka\ov<Ti Be ol TCKTOves TO djro TOV (f)v\\ov TO

dvco' evap/JLoaOevTa yap d\\ij\oi<> etcdrepov KCO-

\vei 7T/309 rr)V op/j.tjv evavTLws ej(ov. el Be e/ceiro

Kara <^V<JLV, ovirep rj poiri] evTavda irdvTwv av

TJ (popd.

Ta? B 6vpa<$ OVK ev@vs <TVvre\ov(nv, d\\a<? (f)l(TTd(Tl, KClTTClTa VCTTpM Ot Be T(D

LTfo eret <7weTe\ecrav edv fjid\\ov crTrovBd^wai'

TOV fiev <ydp Oepovs dva^ipaivo^kvwv BucrTavTai,

TOV Be %ei//-co^o? av/jL/jLvovaiv. aliiov 8' ort T/^ra fjiavd KOI aapKcoBrj e\Kei TOV depa

6 'O ^e (froivij; Kovtyos KOI evepyos teal

6 c^eXXo?, fteKTiwv Be TOV (f)\\ov OTL <y\i-' e/celvo Be Opava-Tov. Bid TOVTO ra eiBa>\a

VVV eK TOV TWV <J)OIVIKQ)V TTOLOVO'L, TOV Be (>e\\OV' \ ? ^VJ C-' r'-\ " ' C1 ' ' v

Trapijtcaa-i. ra? LVCLS oe ov OL o\ov e%ei ovb emTTO\V Kal fJLaicpds ovB* cocrauTO)? Trj BeaeL eytcei-

/j,eva<; Tracra? d\\d Tra^ToSaTrco?. dvafyipBe /cal \eaivo/jievov KOL 7rpi6fj,evov TO %v\ov.

To Be Ovov, ol Be Ovav /caXovcri, Trap1 "

re <yiVTai Kal ev TTJ Kvprjvaia, TIJV /lev

O/AOIOV KvrrapiTTU) Kal TO?? /cXaSo^? /cat rot?

Kal TO) a-T\e^eL Kal TW Kapirw, /uid\\ov B'

KVirdpLTTos dypia* TTO\V pev Kal OTTOV

: Sch. adds Qarepov from G.2 fxetTo conj. W. ; tKelvo Aid.5 i.e. the 'upper' wood in the upper position.4 TravTuv MSS. (?) ; irdi>T<as conj. W.6

i.f. there would be no resistance, fy after &y add. Sch.

436

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. in. 5-7

reversing the natural position : (by wood ' from the

foliage'

joiners mean the upper wood). For, whenthese are fitted the one into the other, each counter-

acts l the other, as they naturally tend in oppositedirections : whereas, if the wood were set 2 as it

grows,3 all the parts

4 would give where the strain

came. 5

(They do not finish off the doors at once; but, when

they have put them together, stand them up, andthen finish them off the next year, or sometimes the

next year but one,6 if they are doing specially good

work. For in summer, as the wood dries, the workcomes apart, but it closes in winter. The reason is

that the open fleshy texture of the wood of

the silver-fir 7 drinks in the air, which is full of

moisture.)8 Palm-wood is light easily worked and soft like

cork-oak, but is superior to that wood, as it is tough,while the other is brittle. Wherefore men now maketheir images of palm-wood and have given up the

wood of cork-oak. However the fibres do not run

throughout the wood, nor do they run to a goodlength, nor are they all set symmetrically, but run

in every direction. The wood dries while it is being

planed and sawn.9Thyon (thyine wood), which some call thya, grows

near the temple of Zeus Ammon and in the district

of Cyrene. In appearance the tree is like the

cypress alike in its branches, its leaves, its stem, andits fruit

;or rather it is like a wild cypress.

10 There

6cf. Plin. 16. 215.

7 Of which the door itself is made.8 Plin. 16. 211. 9 Plin. 13. 100-102.10

KvirdpiTTos aypla conj. Sch.; nvirapiffoov ayplav MAld.

437

THEOPHRASTUS

vvvf) 7roA.9 ecrTL, real en Bta/jLV7j/j,ovvovair

o00(a9 rtvas rwv ap^aicov ovcras. dcrarres yap6'Xw? TO %v\ov ov\orarov be r^v pi^av ecrrl' /ca\

K ravrrjs ra crrrovBaiorara rroielrai rwv epywv.ra

KVirapiTTOV \d)TOv TTV^OV ra S' eXarra) KOI eV

TWV eXatvtov pi^wv dppayeis yap avrai KCL\

o/xaXco? 7ra)9 o-aptcw&eis. ravra fj,ev ovv I8io-

rijrd TWO, TOTTWV Kal cf)u<re&)? /cat

IV. Bapea Be KOI Kovcfra SrjXov 009 TTJ TTVKVO-

Kal fj,avorrjTi Kal vyporrfTi Kal ^ijpoTTjri Kal

rat y\oi(i)Bei Kal crK\rjporijrL Kal ^aXaKorrjn

\7j7TTeov. evia fj,ev ovv a/^a <TK\ripa KOI ftapea,

TTI^O? Kal &pv<>' oaa Be Kpavpa Kal rfj

o-KXyporara, Tavr OVK %et. ftdpos.

ajravra Be ra aypia rcov r)/jiepa)v Kal ra appevarwv 6r{\iwv rrvKVorepd re Kal aK\rjporepa

fiapvrepa Kal TO o\ov Icr%vp6repa, KaOdrrep

rrporepov elrrofiev. a>9 S' eVt TO rrav Kal ra

aKaprcorepa rwv KapTTifJiwv Kal ra 'xeipw rwv

Ka\\LKap7Torepwv elfj,?]

TTOV Kaprrifjiwrepov ro

appev, warrep d\\a re fyacn Kal r^v Kvirdpirrov

Kal rrjv Kpdveiav. d\\a rwv ye d/Jirrekwv <f>a-

vepws al 6\iyoKap7r6repai Kal rcvKvo(^>9a\^orepai

Kal cyrepewrepai' Kal nrjKewv Be Kal rcov a\\a>v

438

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. in. y-iv. i

is abundance of it where now the city stands, andmen can still recall that some of the roofs in ancient

times were made of it. For the wood is absolutely

proof against decay, and the root is of very compacttexture, and they make of it the most valuable

articles. Images are carved from these woods,

prickly cedar cypress nettle-tree box, and the small

ones also from the roots of the olive, which are

unbreakable and of a more or less uniformly fleshycharacter. The above facts illustrate certain

special features of position, natural character anduse.

Of differences in timber as to hardness and heaviness.

IV. Difference in weight is clearly to be determined

by closeness or openness of texture, dampness or

dryness, degree of glutinousriess, hardness or softness.

Now some woods are both hard and heavy, as boxand oak, while those that are brittle and hardest

owing to their dryness, are not heavy.l All wood of

wild trees, as we have said before, is closer harder

heavier, and in general stronger than that of the

cultivated forms, and there is the same difference

between the wood of ' male'

and of ' female'

trees,

and in general between trees which bear no fruit andthose which have fruit, and between those whichbear inferior fruit and those whose fruit is better

;on

the other hand occasionally the ' male'

tree is the

more fruitful, for instance, it is said, the cypress the

cornelian cherry and others. However of vines it is

clear that those which bear less fruit have also more

frequent knots and are more solid,2 and so too with

apples and other cultivated trees.

1 Plin. 16. 211. 2cf. G.P. 3. 11. 1.

439

THEOPHRASTUS

2 ^Aaarri} be (fivcrec /cvrrdpirros /ceBpos eftevos

Xa>To? ?ri/os% eXaa /corivos rrev/crj evBaBos a/)ta

pD? /capva ]Lv/3oi/ci). rovrwv Be ^poviwraraBo/cel ra /cvrrapLrriva elvai' TO, yovv ev

'

a)v at Ovpai rov vewcnl veu>,

e/ceiro yeveds. /Jiova 8e /cal crTL\/3r)$6va

t' o /cal ra cnrovSa^ofAeva rwv epyutv e/c

TTOLOIKTI. TMV Se aXXwv acraTrecnaTov

ra tcwnapiTriva KOL ra Ovco&r) rr]v avKa-

elvai (fracri,Kal ia%vpov a^a /cal evepyov ro

yiverai Be ro v\oi' [/cal] 7ra\aiov/j,evoi'

w<jrrep XWTO?.

3 "Erf Be a\\o rrpos aXXo /cal ev aXX&) aaarres,

olov TrreXea /JLV ev rq> aepu, Bpvs Be /caropvr-

ro/jLevi] /cal ev rw vBart Kara^pe^ofievt]' Bo/cel

yap 6'A.w? acravre? elvai,' BiS o /cal ei? TOU? rrora-

//-ou? /cal el<$ Ta? \LfjLva<? e/c rovrwv vavTrijyovcriv

ev Be rfj 0a\drrr) cnjTrerai. ra Be aXXa Btafievei

fjLa\\ov, orrep /cal ev\oyov, rapL^evo/neva ry

4 Ao/cet Be /cal 77 o^vrj rrpos rb vBwpelvai /cal fteXriwv yivecrOai ft/oe%o/jbevrj . /cal

rj

/capva Bei] }Lvj3oi/crj daamft. cfiacrl Be /cal rrjv

rrev/crjv eXdrrjs fjLa\\ov vrrb repyBovos e

rijv /jiev yap elvai fyipdv, rr)v Be rrev/crjv

y\v/cvrr)ra, real ocrw evBaBayrepa, fjLa\\ov rrdvra

1 Plin. 16. 213.8

rf6rjffavpi(T/j.ei^a . . . fKfiro conj. Bentley;. . . tKftvTo Ald.H.

;P has

440

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. iv. 2-4

Of differences in the keeping quality of timber.

1Naturally proof against decay are cypress prickly

cedar ebony nettle-tree box olive wild olive resinous

fir aria (holm-oak) oak sweet chestnut. Of these thewood of the cypress seems to last longest ;

at least

the cypress-wood at Ephesus, of which the doorsof the modern temple were made, lay stored up

2

for four generations. And this is the only woodwhich takes a fine polish, wherefore they make of it

valuable articles. Of the others the least liable to

decay after the wood of the cypress and thyine-woodis, they say, that of the mulberry, which is also

strong and easily worked : when it becomes old, this

wood turns black like that of the nettle-tree.3Again whether a given wood is not liable to

decay may depend on the purpose to which it is putand the conditions to which it is subjected : thus theelm does not decay if exposed to the air, nor the oakif it is buried or soaked in water

;for it appears to be

entirely proof against decay : wherefore they build

vessels of it for use on rivers and on lakes, but in sea-

water it rots, though other woods last all the

better ; which is natural, as they become seasoned with

the brine.4 The beech also seems to be proof against decay in

water and to be improved by being soaked. Thesweet chestnut under like treatment is also proof

against decay. They say that the wood of the fir

is more liable to be eaten by the teredon than that

of the silver-fir;for that the latter is dry, while the

fir has a sweet taste, and that this is more so, themore the wood is soaked with resin 5

; they go on to

3 Plin. 16. 218. * Plin. 16, 218 and 219,5

cf. 3. 9. 4.

441

THEOPHRASTUS

8* ecrOieaQai repyjBovi rr\rjv Korivov K.CLI

rd Be ov, Bid ri-jv rriKporrjra. eaOierai Be rdev rrj 6a\drrr) cn]rr6/j.eva vrrb repr)Bbi>o<>, ra 8' eV

rfj yfj vrrb <TKw\r)KO)V Kal VTTO Opnrwv ov yapyiveTai repii&cov a\\' 77 eV Trj 6a\drrrj. eari 5c

TJ repificov rfo fiev neyeOei /Ai/cpdv, K<pa\i]V 8'

Kal o&ovras' ol Se Opines OJJLOLOL

wv TiTpaiverai Kara /j.iKpov ra

Kal ecrn ravra eviara"

yap orav els TTJV 6d\arrav e\KU(70fj areyei' rd

Be VTTO rwv reptf^ovwv dviara. rwv Se

rcov ev rols %V\OLS ol [JLev el&iv IK

(rrj^frecos,ol 8' evriKrovrwv erepwv evriKrei ydp,

wcrrrep Kal rot? BevSpois, 6 Kepdarrjs Ka\ovfJievos,orav nrpdvrj Kal Koi\dvrj rrepiarpanels acrrrepel

avoSo^ov. <f)i>yei Be rd re ocryaco8r; Kal rriKpd Kal

orK\r)pd SLO, rb /Jirj Svvaadai rirpdvai, KaOdrrep

rtji> rrv^ov. (fraal Be Kal rrjv e\drr)v t^olcrOelcravvrro r^v /3\darr)a~iv daarrrf ^La^eveiv ev TCO vBari'

(fiavepbv Be yevecrdai ev Qevero rr}? 'ApKaBias, ore

avrois eXiuvGoOij rb rreBlov (^pa^Oevros rov fiepe-

Opov rbre ydp ra? yefyvpas rroiovvres e\arivas

Kai, orav errava^aivrj rb vBwp, d\\t]v Kal aXXtji'

e<f)icrrdvres, a>? eppdyt) Kal drrrj\de, rrdvra evpe-

Qr\vai rd %v\a ddarrrj. rovro aev ovv K <TV/JL-

1 Plin. 16. 220 and 221.2

TiTpalverai conj. Seal, from G ; TiTpivfrai UVo. ;

MVAld. 3c/ 4. 14. 5.

4oxTTrepel fj.voS<$x oif conj. W. ; Siff-jrep ol ^v6x^oi MSS.J G

omits. Tho word /j.vo56\os does not occur elsewhere as a

eubst.

442

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. iv. 4-6

say that all woods are eaten by the teredon exceptthe olive, wild or cultivated, and that these woods

escape because of their bitter taste. l Now woodswhich decay in sea-water are eaten by the teredon,

those which decay on land by the skolex and thrips ;

for the teredon does not occur except in the sea.

It is a creature small in size, but has a large headand teeth ;

the thrips resembles the skolex, and these

creatures gradually bore through2 timber. The harm

that these do is easy to remedy ; for, if the wood is

smeared with pitch, it does not let in water when it

is dragged down into the sea;but the harm done by

the teredon cannot be undone. Of the skolekes whichoccur in wood some come from the decay of the wood

itself,some from other skolekes which engender therein.

For these produce their young in timber, as the wormcalled the ' horned worm ' 3 does in trees, having bored

and scooped out a sort of mouse-hole 4by turning

round and round. But it avoids wood which has a

strong smell or is bitter or hard, such as boxwood,since it is unable to bore through it. They say too

that the wood of the silver-fir, if barked just before

the time of budding, remains in water without de-

caying, and that this was clearly seen at Pheneosin Arcadia, when their plain was turned into a lake

since the outlet was blocked up.5 For at that

time they made 6 their bridges of this wood, and,as the water rose, they placed more and more atopof them, and, when the water burst its way throughand disappeared, all the wood was found to be

undecayed. This fact then became known by meansof an accident

5cf. 3. 1. 2. <t>paxOfvros conj. Sch. ; ^pa^vros Ald.H.

6iroiovvTfs, tyiffravres nom. pendens.

443

THEOPHRASTUS

7 'Ei/ TuXw Be TTJ vi](T(t) TTJ irepl TTJV 'Apaftiav

elval TL (fracu %v\ov ei; ov TO. TrXota vavTrrjyovvTaL'

TOVTO Be ev /j,ev Ttj 0a\aTTrj o"%eBov d<jrj7rTov

elval' Bia^evei ydp er?; TrXetco r) BiaKoaia /cara-

/3v0i%6/jivov edv Be ej~w, %p6viov /^ev OCLTTOV Be

o~r)7reTai. (0avfJiaaTov Be Kal eTepov \eyovo~i,

ovBev Be Trpo? TTJV cr-n&iv. elvat ydp TL BevBpov

ov ra? fiaKTrjpias TepvecrOaL, Kal yiveaOat,

a<p6Bpa rroiKiXiav Ttvd e%ov<Tas ofiolav TO*

TOV Tiypios Bep/JiaTL' ftapv Be a^oBpa TO %v\ovTOVTO' OTav Be rt? ptyy TT/JO? aTepeu>Tepov TOTTOV,

KaTayvvcrOai KaOdrrep ra Kepd^ia.^

Kal TO T^? /jLVpLKrjs Be ^v\ov ov% axiTrep

evTavda daOeves, aXX' la^vpov wcnrep irplvwov i]

aXXo TL TWV la"xypwv. TOVTO fiev ovv d/ua

%d)pas T6 Kal ae/oo? $ia<f)Opa<; Kal Bvvd^eis.

Be 6/jLoyevo)V %v\wv, olov Bpvivwv TTCVKLI'WV,

Tapi^evwvTat, TapL")(evovo~L ydp OVK ev law

irdvTa BvovTes T^? ^aXaTTr;?, aXXa Ta fjLev

avTrj Trj yfj, Ta Be fjiLKpov dvwTepw, Ta B' ev

Tr\elovi J3d6er TrdvTwv Be Ta Trpo? rrjv pi^av

OaTTov Bverai Ka6* vBaTOS, KO.V eTuvfj yu-aXXo?

peirei KaTco.

V. "EcrTi e Ta /JLev evepya TWV %v\wv, TO. Be

Bvaepya' evepya /JLCV Ta //.aXaAra, Kal

1 Plin. 16. 221; c/. 4. 7. 7.

Teak. See Index App. (22).3 Calamander-W9o4, See Index App. (23).

444

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. iv. y-v. i

1 In the island of Tylos off the Arabian coast

they say that there is a kind of wood 2 of which

they build their ships, and that in sea-water this

is almost proof against decay ;for it lasts more

than 200 years if it is kept under water, while, if

it is kept out of water, it decays sooner, thoughnot for some time. They also tell of another

strange thing, though it has nothing to do withthe question of decay : they say that there is a

certain tree,3 of which they cut their staves, and

that these are very handsome, having a variegatedappearance like the tiger's skin

; and that this

wood is exceedingly heavy, yet when one throwsit down on hard ground

4 it breaks in pieces like

pottery.

Moreover, the wood of the tamarisk 5is not

weak there, as it is in our country, but is as strongas kermes-oak or any other strong wood. Nowthis illustrates also the difference in propertiescaused by country and climate. Moreover when wood,such as that of oak or fir, is soaked in brine notall being soaked at the same depth in the sea,but some of it close to shore, some rather further

out, and some at a still greater depthc in all cases

the parts of the tree nearest the root (whichevertree it is) sink quicker under water, and even if theyfloat, have a greater tendency to sink.

Which kinds of wood are easy and which hard to work. Ofthe core, and its effects.

V. Some wood is easy to work, some difficult.

Those woods which are soft are easy, and especially4

irpbs ffrcp. r6irov can hardly be sound : ?' on something

harder than itself.'6 See Index, pi/pta) (2).

6 Plin. 16. 186.

445

THEOPHRASTUS

/j.a\i(TTa (f)i\vpa' Bvaepya Be real rd aK\rjpd teal

TO, 6^a)Brj Kal ou\a<> e^ovTa o~vaTpo<f)ds' Bvcrepyo-rara Be dpia Kal Bpus, 009 Be /card /xe/3o? o rf/9

TrevKT]^ oo9 /cal TT}? e'Xar?;?. del Be TWV o/jLoyeva)v

TO /j.a\aKO)Tepov rou aK\^porepovcrapKcoBecrTepov yap- Kal evOv aKOTrovvTai

crai'iBas ol reKroves OVTWS. ra Be

viBijpia Bvvarai repveiv TO, aK\^pa fjid\\ov

/jLaXaKcov avlriai yap ev rot9 /xaXa/<:ot?,

e\e%6r) Trepl T^9 (f)i\vpas, irapaKova Be

TCL O-K\TJpd' BS Kal 01 (TKUTOTO/jLOi TTOLOVVTai

rovs TTivaKas d)(pdBos.

M.TJrpav Be Trdvra /JLev e^eiv (fracrlv ol

fyavepdv 8' elvai /uaXicrra eV rfj eXdrrj-

yap olov <f)\oia)Br] nvd TTJV crvvOecriv avrfjsKVK\WV. ev e\da Be Kal TTV^W Kal rot9 TOIOVTOIS

ov% 6yuota)9* Si* o Kal ov c/>acrt rives e~%eiv rfj

Bwd/^ei TTV^OV Kal e\dav iJKiara ydp \KeaOai

ravra r&v %v\u>v. ecrri Be TO e\Ke<j0ai TO av/jL-

7rpii<TTao~0ai Kivov/j,evi]S TTJS uijTpas. fj ydpa>9 eoLKev ejrl ^povov TTO\VV BL* o TravTa^oOevfjiev d/jia fJLa\L(TTa B' IK TWV Qvpw^diwv e^aipov-

<Tiv, O7r&)9 atrrpaftri 77 Kal Bid TOVTO cr^i^"A.TOTTOV B* dv Bo^eiev oil ev pev rot9

T049 (TTpoyyv\ois a\L'7T09 rj fJLiJTpa Kal

ev Be ro?9 TrapaKivrjOeicriv, edvfirj oX&)9 egc

1

5. 3. 3.2 T& <TK\T)pa conj. Sch. from G (?) ;

ravra P2Ald.H.

conj. Sch.; ex*i $ Ald.H.4 f\dav conj. Seal, from G ; t\drr]i> Ald.H.6

i.e. and this happens less in woods which have little-

core.6

a/ta (? =fyioij) MSS. ; ourV conj. W.

446

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. v. 1-3

that of the lime; those are difficult which arc,

hard and have many knots and a compact andtwisted grain. The most difficult woods are thoseof aria (holm-oak) and oak, and the knotty partsof the fir and silver-fir. The softer part of anygiven tree is always better than the harder, since

it is fleshier : and carpenters can thus at once markthe parts suitable for planks. Inferior iron tools cancut hard wood better than soft : for on soft woodtools lose their edge, as was said : in speaking of the

lime, while hard woods'

2

actually sharpen it : where-fore cobblers make their strops of wild pear.

Carpenters say that all woods have 3 a core,but that it is most plainly seen in the silver-fir,

in which one can detect a sort of bark-like charac-

ter in the rings. In olive box and such woodsthis is not so obvious

; wherefore they say that boxand olive 4 lack this tendency ; for that these woodsare less apt to ( draw

'

than any others. '

Drawing'

is the closing in of the wood as the core is dis-

turbed. 5 For since the core remains alive, it appears,for a long time, it is always removed from anyarticle whatever made of this wood,

6 but especiallyfrom doors,

7 so that they may not warp8

: and that

is Avhy the wood is split.9

It might seem strange that in ' round' i0 timber

the core does no harm and so is left undisturbed,Avhile in wood whose texture has been interfered

with,11 unless it is taken out altogether, it causes

76vpw/j.a.T(i)v conj. Sch. ; yvpup.drcav Aid. cf. 4. 1.2; Plin.

16. 225, abietem valrarum paginis aptissimam.8

a<TTpa&r) fj conj. Dalec.; aarpaQij UMVAld.9

i.e. to extract the core. 10 See below, 5.11

irapa.KifnBe'iffi, i.e. by splitting or sawing, iteAe/cTjfletai

conj. W.

447

THEOPHRASTUS

Kivel Kal Trapa&rpetyei- fjba\\ov yap etVo?

Oelcrav drfo9vr](TKiV. o/zo>? Be o'i ye icrrol /cal

al Kepalai e%aipe6ei<rri<$ d%peloi. rovro Be Kara

avfjifteftriKos, on %ir&vas e^ei TrXetof?, Io"%vp6-

rarov Be Kal \ejrrorarov Be rov ea~%arov, ^rjpora-

TOV yap, Kal TOU? aXXou? ava \6yov. orav ovv

4o-^taOfj, TrepiaipelraL ra ^jporara. el 8'

rj

Sia TO typov o-K7TTeov. Sia<TTpe(f)ei Be e

ra v\a Kal ev rot? cr^o-ro?? Kal Trptcrrot?, orav

/AT) &)? Bel rrpiwcn- Bel yap opdr)i> rrjv rrplaiv elvai

Kal fir) rr\aylav. olov ovcrrjs r>}9 /njrpas e<p' f)v

TO a, /jirj rrapa rrjv /3y re/jLveiv, a\\a rrapa rrjv

/3S. <})0Lpe(T0ai yap ovra) (fiaviv, eteeivcos Be %r)v.

on Be rrav %v\ov e^ei ^rpav CK rovrwv o'lovrai'

fyavepov yap can Kal rafjirj BoKovvra rravr e%eiv,

olov TTV^OV \G)rbv rrplvov. ari^lov Be' TOU? yap

crrp6(j)iyya$ ru>v Ovpwv rwv rro\vre\wv rroiovai

fj,evK rovrwv, avyypdtyovrai Be oi dp%ireKrov<;

OUTO)? <H'n> K fju'irpas. ravro Be rovro crrjjAeiov

Kal on rracra /jLtjrpa e\Kerai, Kal ai rwv <TK\ijpo-

5 rdrajv, a? Bij nves KapBias Ka\ov<ri. rravros Be

1 And so cause no trouble.2

c/. 5. 1. 6. ir\e/oi;j conj. Sch. from G ; &\\ovs Ald.H.3 Text probably defective ; "! insert ttypfdr) after4 The figure would seem to be

D C

^ I/"B

448

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. v. 3-5

disturbance and warping : it were rather to be

expected that it would die l when exposed. Yetit is a fact that masts and yard-arms are useless,

if it has been removed from the wood of which

they are made. This is however an accidental ex-

ception, because the wood in question has several

coats,2 of which the strongest and also thinnest is

the outermost, since this is the driest, while

the other coats are strong and thin in proportionto their nearness to the outermost. If therefore

the wood be split, the driest parts are necessarily

stripped off. Whether however in the other case

the object of removing the core is to secure drynessis matter for enquiry.

3 However, when the core'

draws,' it twists the wood, whether it has been

split or sawn, if the sawing is improperly performed :

the saw-cut should be made straight and not slant-

wise. 4Thus, if the core be represented by the

line A, the cut must be made along the line BD,and not along the line BC : for in that case, theysay, the core will be destroyed, while, if cut in

the other way, it will live. For this reason menthink that every wood has a core : for it is clear

that those which do not seem to possess one never-

theless have it, as box nettle-tree kermes-oak : a proofof this is the fact that men make of these woods the

pivots5 of expensive doors, and accordingly

6 theheadcraftsmen specify that wood with a core shall

not 7 be used. This is also a proof that any core'

draws,' even those of the hardest woods, whichsome call the heart. In almost every wood, even

6cf, 5. 3. 5. <TTp6<t>iy here at least probably means '

pivotand socket.'

6 QUTWS Ald.H. ; avrovs conj. W. 7py add. W.

449

THEOPHRASTUS

o>9 eiirelv %v\ov a K\I~IpOT UTTJ KCL\ ^avoiair] ?'/

fi^rpa, Kal aurf;? TI}<; eXaT^?' fJiavordrr] jj.ev ovv,

OTL Ta? tya? e^et /eat 5/a TroXXoO Kal TO crapKwBesrb ava [JLecrov TTO\V' o-KXr/poTaTrj Se, OTL /cal

al Ives aKKtioTdTCLL KOI TO cra/cajSe?* 8i' o Kal

ol ap"%iTKTOves crvyypd(poi>Tai irapaipeiv Ta 77/309

TTJV fJLl'lTpaV, 07TCO? Xa/ScOCTt TOV %V\OV TO TTVKVOTa-

TOV Kal

Be %v\a)v TO. fiev a^icrTa TCI Se

TO. & aTpojyv\a' ayjiGTa jxev, oaa o~iaipovi>Te>;

KCLTCL TO fjiecrov Trpi^ovcri' TreXe/c^ra Se, ocrcov

d7ro7r6\KW(Ti Ta ew crTpoyyvXa Be 8)j\ov OTI

TO, oA,a)9 ai^aucrra. TOVTWV Se TO,

6'Xco? dppajij Sid TO <yvjJiVw6el<Tav TTJV

%7]palvecr6ai Kal aTroQvr}<JK.iv' Ta Be

(TTpoyyuXa pijyvvTar JJLO\\OV B TTO\V

crTpoyjv\a Bid TO ra7reL\.rj<f)0ai TV

ovBev yup OTL TWV ('ITTUVTWV ov pi'jyvvTai.

Be Xwrt/'ot? Kal rot? aXXoi? ol? ei? TOI)? CTT/JO-

(piyyas ^pcovTai TT/OO? TOfj.r) pijyi>va0ai j36\/3LTOi>

TrepiiT\dTTOva-iv, OTTCO? dva%r)pav6f) Kal SiaTrvevaOfi

KaTa fjiiKpov rjK T?}? yu,?;'r/3a? vypoTrjS. 7; p,ev ovv

/jirJTpa TOiavT7]v e^ei. SvvafJLLV.

VI. Bapo? Be eveytceiv Iff^vpd Kalrj eXdry

Kal r) irevKr) 7r\dyiai TL0ep,evai' ovBev yap ev-

1 v\ou ff/fXrjpoTuTrj conj. Sch. from G;

v\ot> ffK\r}porarofUMV: so Aid. omitting al.

- a-noTTf\fKuffi conj. Sch.; airoirXtKooffi UM; a.TToir\fKovffi

Aid.; airoire\fKov(rt mBas. 8c/. G.P. 5. 17.2.

45

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. v. 5 -vi. i

in that of the silver-fir, the core is the hardest

part,1 and the part which has the least fibrous

texture : it is least fibrous because the fibres are far

apart and there is a good deal of fleshy matterbetween them, while it is the hardest part becausethe fibres and the fleshy substance are the hardest

parts. Wherefore the headcraftsmen specify that

the core and the parts next it are to be removed,that they may secure the closest and softest partof the wood.Timber is either '

cleft,''

hewn,' or 'round' : it is

called '

cleft,' when in making division they saw it

down the middle,' hewn ' when they hew off 2 the

outer parts, while' round

'

clearly signifies wood whichhas not been touched at all. Of these,

' cleft'

wood 3

is not at all liable to split, because the core whenexposed dries and dies : but ' hewn '

and ' round'

wood are apt to split, and especially' round

'

wood,because the core is included in it : no kind of timberindeed is altogether incapable of splitting. Thewood of the nettle-tree and other kinds which are

used for making pivots for doors are smeared 4

with cow-dung to prevent their splitting : the object

being that the moisture due to the core may be

gradually dried up5 and evaporated. Such are the

natural properties of the core.

Which ivoods can best support weight.

VI. 6 For bearing weight silver-fir and fir are strongwoods, when set slantwise 7

: for they do not give like

4TrepiirXaTTovai conj. Sch. from G ; irfpiirdrTovaiv Ald.H.

Plin. 16. 222. 6avar)pai>6fi conj. Sch.; avafrpaivri Ald.H.

5 Plin. 16. 222-224.7

e.g. as a strut. trXa.yia.i conj. Sch. from Pliu. /.c.; oiraAal

Ald.H.

451

THEOPHRASTUS

BiBoacriv, wcrTrep 77 8/31)9 Kal rd yeo!)Br), aXX' dvrco-

Qoven' crrifjielov Be on ovBeTrore prfyvvvrcu, KaOdrrepe'Xaa Kal Bpvs, d\\d rrporepov cr^rcovTai teal

aXX&)9 dTravBwcriv. la^ypov Be KOI o

dvdira\iv yap r; icdy^ri^ 77 rot? aXXo*9Ta [jLtv yap et? ra Kara) Ka/jLTrreraL, 6 Be

rd avw. <f)acrl Se /fat rr]v TrevKrjv Kal rrjv

TO

yiverai ydp /j.eya Kal xpcomai 777309 rrjv epetyw,orav fjL\\r) pijyvvaOai ^rofyelv ware TrpoaicrOdv-ecrOai rrporepov orrep Kal ev

'

Kvrdvopw avvk-

rrecrev ev rS) j3a\avei(t) Kal rcdvres e|

la"%ypov Be Kal TO Tr}9 o~VKtjs 7rXr/i> e/9 opOov.2 'H Be e\drrj /jLa\,io~ra 0)9 elirelv Icr^vpov.

\iara rj TrevKti Bid re rrjv ^avorrjra Kal rrjv

evdwnoplav ovBe ydp O\GO<? ov&e p^yvva-0al fyacnvlav K0\\rj6f}. evropvorarov Be <pi\i>Krj, Kal

rj

XevKorrjs oxrTrep rj rov Kij\darpov. rwv Be d\\wv

rj (f)i\vpa' TO ydp o\ov evepyov, warrepBid ua\aKorr)ra. evKa^rrra Be a>9 fJ^ev

elrrelv ocra y\icr'%pa. Siaifiepetv Be BOKCI

IJLIVOS Kal epiveos, Bi o Kal rd LKpta KOL

<rre<f)di>a<; Kal 0X0)9 ocra Trepl rov Koafjiov eV

rovrwv rroiovcri.\ >

Be Kal eLxr^icrra rd eviK^orepa rcor

1i.e. the strut becomes concave or convex respectively.

cf. Xen. Cyr. 7. 5. 11.1

i.e. it cannot be used as a strut, or it would 'buckle,'I hough it will stand a vertical strain.

3 Plin. 16. 225.*

cf. C.P. 5. 17. 3. tvBuitopclTaTa : tvBvnoptav.

45 2

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. vi. 1-3

oak and other woods which contain mineral matterbut make good resistance. A proof of this is that theynever split like olive and oak, but decay first or fail

in some other way. Palm-wood is also strong, for it

bends the opposite way to other woods : they bend

downwards, palm-wood upwards.1 It is said that fir

and silver-fir also have an upward thrust. As to the

sweet chestnut, which grows tall and is used for

roofing, it is said that when it is about to split, it

makes a noise, so that men are forewarned : this

occurred once at Antandros at the baths, and all those

present rushed out. Fig-wood is also strong, but onlywhen set upright.

2

Of the woods best suitedfor the carpenter's various purposes.

3 The wood of the silver-fir may be called the

strongest of all. But for the carpenter's purposesfir best takes glue because of its open texture andthe straightness of its pores

4; for they say that

it never by any chance comes apart when it is glued.Alaternus 5 is the easiest wood for turning, and its

whiteness is like that of the holly. Of the rest

lime is the easiest, the whole tree, as was said,

being easy to work because of the softness of the

wood. In general those woods which are tough are

easy to bend. The mulberry and the wild fig seemto be specially so; wherefore they make of these

theatre-seats,6 the hoops of garlands, and, in

general, things for ornament.7 Woods which have a fair amount of moisture in

them are easier to saw or split than those which6

cf. 5. 7. 7.

Rendering doubtful. Jxpia has probably here some un-known meaning, on which the sense of /c^oyxov depends.

Plin. 16. 227.

453

THEOPHRASTUS

j~ripwv ra {lev jap rravovrai, ra Be

icrravrai' ra Be j(\wpd \iav o~vjjL/jLvei teal eve) >P> \ / \

rai ev Tot? ooovcri ra rrpiafjiara /cat

Bi o /cat rrapa\\drrovcnv aXX?;Xa)i> TOW? oSoz/ra?

'iva e^dytjTai. ecrri Be KOI BvarpuTnjrorepa ra

\lav ^Xco/oa' /SpaSew? ^ap avafyeperai ra e/crpv-

mjfjiara Bia ro fiapea elvai' ra)i> Be ^ripwv ra%ea)sKOL 6)^t'9 o arip ava06p/j.aiv6fjLVos dvaBiBwai-

rrd\iv Be ra \i'av rjpa Bid rrjv (TK\rjp6r7jra

BvcrTrpiara' KaOdrrep jap oarpaKov

rrpieiv, &C o KOI rpvrrwvres eTnft

RvTT\6Kr)r6rpa Be KCLI evropvorepa /cat ev^o-

(ttrepa ra '%\wpd' rrpoa-KaO^rai re jdp ro ropvev-

rt'ipiov fjLa\\ov fcal OVK drrorrrj^a. KOI rj 7re\fct]cris

rwv /jLa\aK(i)rep(DV pawv, KCU tj %ecri$ Be o/zotw? /cat

en keiorepa. la^yporarov Be realt] /cpdveta, rwv

Be a\Xwv ov% ijKiara t] rrre\ea, Bi o KOI TOU?

TTOiovaiv. vyporarov Be /jL\ia teal o^vrj' Kal japra tc\ivdpta ra evBiBovra etc rovrwv.

VII.f/

OXa>? Be TT^O? rrola TT}? 7X175

Kal rcoia vav7rr)j)jai/jio<; Kal

TrXetcrrr? jap avrr) 7; %/oeta /cat ev

Treipareov alrrelv, dtyopi^ovra KaO^ eKacrrov ro

ovv Kal TrevKij Kal KeBpos oo? a

1 iravovrai can hardly be right : Plin. I.e. seems to havehud a fuller text.

2fuTrAcxTTei : cf. de Sen*. 66.

454

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. vi. S-VIL i

ire altogether dry : for the latter give,1 while the

former resist. Wood which is too green closes upagain when sawn, and the sawdust catches in thesaw's teeth and clogs

'

2 them; wherefore the teeth

of the saw are set alternate ways, to get rid of thesawdust. Wood which is too green is also harder to

bore holes in;for the auger's dust is only brought

up slowly, because it is heavy ; while, if the wood is

dry, the air gets warmed by the boring and bringsit up readily and at once. On the other hand, woodwhich is over dry

3is hard to saw because of its

hardness : for it is like sawing through earthenware;

wherefore they wet the auger when using it.

However green wood is easier to work with theaxe the chisel or the plane ;

for the chisel gets a

better hold and does not slip off. Again softer

woods are easier for the axe and for smoothing:,4 andO'also a better polished surface is obtained. Thecornelian cherry is also a very strong wood, and

among the rest elm-wood is the strongest ; where-

fore, as was said,5they make the '

hinges'

for doors

of elm-wood. Manna-ash and beech have very moist

wood, for of these they make elastic bedsteads.

Of the woods used in ship-building*

VII. Next we must endeavour to say in a generalway, distinguishing the several uses, for which

purposes each kind of timber is serviceable, whichis of use for ship-building, which for house-building :

for these uses extend far and are important.Now silver-fir, fir and Syrian cedar 6

are, generally1 TO \iav

-r\pa. conj. St. ; Aem KCL\ frpa. Ald.H.4 Sc. with the carpenter's axe.

5. 3. 5. See Index.

455

THEOPHRASTUS

elirelv vavTryyijai/na' TO,? fiev jap rpLi'ipet,^ Kal ra

a ir\ola e\driva TTOLOVCTL Bia KOvtyorijTa, ra

Be <TTpoyyv\a TrevKiva Bia TO dcrajres' evtoi Be tcai

ra? rpujpeis Bia TO firj evrfopelv \drrj<s. 01 Be

Kara ^vpuav KOI <$>Qivitcr\v K KeSpov

yap ical TreuKt]^. ol S' eV K^TT^W vrtrfo?'

<yap 7; ^r)cro9 ^XeL Ka ^ &OK i KpeiTTWV elvai

Kal TO, fiev a\\a 6K TOVTWV rr)V Be

rpnjpei {lev Bpvivrjv, 'iva avri^rj TT/SO? ra?

t rat? Be o\Kacri TrevKivrjv vTrorideaai B*

eri Kal Bpvivrjv eirav vewX/ccocrt, rat?

Kal oX&)9 K rovrov TO

airreraL Be ouBe Kara rrjv Ko\\t](nv

TO Bpvivov To>v TTevKLVwv Kal eKaTivwv ra

yap TTVKva ra Be pavd, Kal ra p,ev 6/jLoia ra B'

ov. Bel Be o/jLoioiraOij elvai ra fieX\.ovra avp.-

Kalfj,rj evavrla, KaOarrepavel \i6ov Kal

'H Be ropveia Tot? fjiev TrXot'ot? ylverai cruKa-

p,ivov yiteXta? TTTe/Vea? rr\ardvov i

y\LO"^porr]ra

yap e)(iv Bel Kal la%uv. ^eLpuarr) Berj rfjs

7r\ardvov ra^u yap <riJ7rerat. Tat? Be rpirjpecnv

evioL Kal mrvLvas TTOLOVCTL Bia TO ekafypov. TO

Be crrepewfjia, rrpos w TO ^e^vcr^a, Kal Ta? erra)-

, yu-eXta? Kal avKafjiivov Kal TTTeXea?- la%vpa

conj. W. ; rpi-fiprj U; rpi-fipris MV; rpiriptffi Aid.S' i\arrofftv ovtvrjv conj. W. (TO?J Sch.) ; TO?J

v-n Aid. c/. Plin. 16. 226.8x^wo'Maj a temporary covering for the bottom: so Poll.

and Hesych. explain.

45 6

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. VH. 1-3

speaking, useful for ship-building ; for triremes and

long ships are made of silver-fir, because of its light-

ness, and merchant ships of fir, because it does not

decay ; while some make triremes of it also because

they are ill provided with silver-fir. The peopleof Syria and Phoenicia use Syrian cedar, since theycannot obtain much fir either

; while the people of

Cyprus use Aleppo pine, since their island providesthis and it seems to be superior to their fir. Most

parts are made of these woods ; but the keel for a

trireme l is made of oak, that it may stand the haul-

ing ;and for merchantmen it is made of fir. How-

ever they put an oaken keel under this when theyare hauling, or for smaller vessels a keel of beech

;

2

and the sheathing3 is made entirely of this wood.

4(However oak-wood does not join well with glue

on to fir or silver-fir ; for the one is of close, the

other of open grain, the one is uniform, the other

not so ;whereas things which are to be made into

one piece should be of similar character, and not of

opposite character, like wood and stone.)The work of bentwood 5 for vessels is made of

mulberry manna-ash elm or plane ;for it must be

tough and strong. That made of plane-wood is the

worst, since it soon decays. For triremes some makesuch parts of Aleppo pine because of its lightness.The cutwater,

6 to which the sheathing is attached,7

and the catheads are made of manna-ash mulberry

4 This sentence is out of place ; its right place is perhapsat the end of 4.

6ropveia ; but the word is perhaps corrupt : one would

expect the name of some part of the vessel.8

o-Tepe'wjua : apparently the fore part of the keel ; =<rTf?pa.7

irpbs $ rb ^\u(r/toconj. W. after Seal,; irpdffw rJ> erxfAutr^aAid. (ffx*^o/j.a M, x*^ vffl

j-a U) trpoffw rj> 5e \e\vfffjia mBas.

457

THEOPHRASTUS

yap et ravr evai. vavTrr^yrjcri^o^ p.ev ovv

avrrj.

8e TToXXw 7T\i(ov, \drr) re KCLL

/cal Ke&pos, en KVTrdpirros &pvs /cal dp-

fc>? rB' 7rXo>9 elrrelv rraaa Xprjcri/Arj 7r\iji>

ei Tt? aodevi^ Trd^Trav OVK et? ravro <yap Traaai,

7rl rf)$ vavTrrjyia?. al S' a\\ai

Ta iBia TMV Te~)(yMV, olov afcevrj teal opyavaei TI TOLQVTOV eTepov. 7T/909 7r\eL(na Se a^eBni>

I eXar?7 Trape^erat ^peiav KOI yap Trpo? TOU?

TOU? ypa^OfJLevov^. TKTOI>IKTJ /JLCV ovv//

/cparicmj, eav rj acraTT/;?- evOerei yapa>? eiirelv Tracn, xpijcrQai' vauirrjyiKfj Se Sia rr/

eviK/jiOTepa. avayKalov eVel TT^OO? 76

v/; ^rjporepa av/jL(f)pei. icrrarai yap

tcaiva TCL vavTrrjyovfieva /cal oiav crvp-rrayf]

e\KV(jOevra avfi/jLvei Kal (rreyei, 7r\rjv eav

f)'Tore Be ov Be^erai KO\-

5 Aet 8e Kal KaO^ exacrTov \afJLftdveiv et? rrola

Xptjo-i/jLos e(TTiv. e'XttT?; p,ev ovv /cal rrevKi],

KaOdrrep eipTjTCU, real 77^09 vavm^ylav Kal 77/309

. . . apKevOos conj. W. ; \drrj re Kal irevKrj Kal Kfl

tri KvirdpiTTOS Spvs Treu.-cTj Kal Ktbpos apicevOos U ; ^Aarr; TC

irevK-rj nal KtSpos Kal 6,>Kvdos Ald.H. : so also MV, omitting/cal before apK.

2 wj 5' air\ws conj. Sch.; an\us 5' is Aid.3 Kaiva conj. Sch.; /cal vvv Aid.*

<Tv/jLirayfi conj. W., which he renders 'when it has been

glued together'

; <Tvfj.nir} Aid. G's reading was evidentlydifferent.

458

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. vu. 3-5

and elm ; for these parts must be strong. Suchthen is the timber used in ship-building.

Of the woods used in house-building.

For house-building a much greater variety is

used, silver-fir fir and prickly cedar;also cypress

oak and Phoenician cedar. 1 In fact, to speak

generally,2any wood is here of service, unless it is

altogether weak : for there are various purposes for

which different woods are serviceable, just as there

are in ship-building. While other woods are service-

able for special articles belonging to various crafts,

such as furniture tools and the like, the wood of

silver-fir is of use for almost more purposes than anyother wood

;for it is even used for painters' tablets.

For carpentry the oldest wood is the best, providedthat it has not decayed ;

for it is convenient for

almost anyone to use. But for ship-building, where

bending is necessary, one must use wood whichcontains more moisture (though, where glue is to be

used, drier wood is convenient). For timber-workfor ships is set to stand when it is newly

3 made :

then, when it has become firmly united,4 it is

dragged down to the water, and then it closes upand becomes watertight, unless 5 all the moisturehas been dried out of it, in which case it will not

take the glue, or will not take it so well.

Of the uses of the wood ofparticular trees.

But we must consider for what purposes6 each

several wood is serviceable. Silver-fir and fir, as has

been said, are suitable both for ship-building house-

6TrAV lav p)) conj. W.

;IT. Sav re M ; IT. edv ye Aid.

6i.e. apart from ship-building and house-building, in

which several woods are used.

459

THEOPHRASTUS

TO)V

Be 77 e\drrj. rclrvl Be xpwvrai /iei> els

a/ji(p(oteal ov-% fjrrov els vavjrrjyiav, ov p,r]V a\\a

BiacDJTrerai. Bpvs Be TT^O? olKo&ofJLiav KOI

vavTriyyiav en re TTyoo? Ta Kara 7/}? KaropvT-

(f)i\vpa Be TT/JO? rci a~avt&a>fj.aTa

TT\O(,WV /col Trpo? KifiayTia teal Trpo?

T T ayOLVlO, KO 7T/JO?

7TOLOVCTL jap 6% aVTTjS.

6 ^tfrevBajjivos re /cat %vyia TT/JO?

KOL 7T/905 ra ^uya TWZ/ \o(>ovpa)v.

7rapaKO\\rj^aTa Ki(3u>TOis /cal virofidOpois KCLI

OXGJ5 TO?? TOIOVTOLS. TTyOtVO? 6 7T/JO? d^OVa^ Tat?

fj,ovo(TTp6(f)oi<; d/j,dt;ai<i teal et? ^u^a \vpais teal

ious. o^vrj 8e TT/OO? d/jLa^OTrrjyiav teal

VT\r). 7rre\ea Be irpos Ovpo-Kal <ya\aypas' \pwvrai 8e teal el<; ra

fierpicos. TrrjSos Se els a^ovds T Tat?

dfid^ais Kal els eXterjOpa rois dporpois. dvBpd^X^8e Tat? ryvvai^lv els ra irepl TOVS IGTOVS. ap-teeudos &e els TeterovLas teal els ra vrraiOpia Kal

els Ta tearopvrro/jieva /card 777? Bid TO acraTre?.

7 axravrws Be tealrj }Zv/3oiter) teapva, teal rrpos ye

rr)V tearopv^iv eri ad\\ov dcraTTJJs. rc\)%<p Be

ypwvrai fiev Trpbs evia, ov /JLJJV d\\'ij ye ev ry

O\v/jL7rq> yivo/jLevr) Sta TO /3/oa^eta re elvai teal

reppivdw Be ovBev

: cf. 3. 13. 1 ; perhaps'

hampers,' c/. 5. 7. 7.9

TrapaKo\\r}fj.ara: lit.'

things glued on.'3 Plin. 16. 229.4 rait fjiovo(TTp6<pois a/j.dan : or, perhaps,

' the wheels of

460

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. vn. 5-7

building and also for other kinds of work, but silver-

fir is of use for more purposes than fir. Aleppo pineis used for both kinds of building, but especially for

ship-building, yet it soon rots. Oak is used for

house-building, for ship-building, and also for under-

ground work ; lime for the deck-planks of long ships,for boxes, and for the manufacture of measures; its

bark is also useful for ropes and writing-cases,1 for

these are sometimes made of it.

Maple and zygia are used for making beds

and the yokes of beasts of burden : yew for the

ornamental work attached 2 to chests and footstools

and the like : kermes-oak 3 for the axles of wheel-

barrows 4 and the cross-bars of lyres and psalteries :

beech for making waggons and cheap carts : elmfor making doors and weasel-traps, and to someextent it is also used for waggon work

; pedos5 for

waggon-axles and the stocks of ploughs : andrachneis used for women for parts of the loom : Phoenician

cedar for carpenters' work 6 and for work which is

either to be exposed to the air or buried underground,because it does not decay. Similarly the sweetchestnut is used, and it is even less likely to decayif it is used for underground work. Box is used for

some purposes ; however that which grows on

Mount Olympus7 is useless, because only short pieces

can be obtained and the wood 8 is full of knots.

Terebinth is not used,9except the fruit and the resin.

carts with solid wheels.' rais conj. Sch.; re Kai UMV; T na\

fj.ovo(TTp6(f>ovs a/za|as Aid.6

irrjSos (with varying accent) MSS. : probably= ira5cy, 4. 1.

3 ; -nv^os Aid., but see 7.6 TtK-rovlas can hardly be right.

"

cf. 3. 15. 5.8

cf. 1. 8. 2, of box in general ; Plin. 16. 71.9 Inconsistent with 5. 3. 2.

461

THEOPHRASTUS

TO) KapTTM Kal rfj prjrivr). ovBe

7T\1]1> TOt? 7T/C?O/9ttTOt?' (Itl "/dp .GTl Ba(Tia.

Be d<pdpKy ei<? ^dpa/eds re Kal TO Kdieiv. fcrj-

\darpfo Be Kal aij/jivBa Trpbs fiaKTrjpias. evioi Be

Kal Bd<j>vp' ra<? yap jepomiKa^ Kal Kovfyas ravrrj^

rroiovGiv. irea Se 777)09 re ra? acrTrtSa? ica\

ra? KicrTas Kal TO, Kava Kal rd\\a. rrpoa'ava-

Xafteiv Be ecm Kal TMV a\\wv eKacrrov o/AOtco?.

L Be Kal TT/OO? TCI TCKTOVIKCL TWV opyd-eKacrTa KaTa rrjv ^peiav olov crtyvpiov

Kal TepeTpiov dpicna {lev yveTai xorvovBe Kal TTV^LVOIS Kal TTTe\etvois Kal /-teXeiVot?' ra?

Be /zeyaXa? a(f>vpa<; TTiTv'tvas TTOLOIXTIV. 6yu,ot&)9

Be Kal TWV d\\a)v eKaarov e^et Tivd TCI^IV. Kal

TavTa fjiev al ^pelau Biaipovaiv.VIII. 'FjKdcTTtj Be T>)? i/X?;?, waTrep Kal rrpoTepov

\e%0r), Biatyepei Kara TOL/? TOTTOV$' ev6a fiev yapXcoro? evOa Be KeBpos ylveTat, 0av/Aa<mj, KaOdrrepKal Trepl ^vpiav eV ^vpia yap ev re rot? opeai

Biatyepovra yiverat, TCL Bei>Bpa TTJS KeBpou Kal TU>

vtyei Kal TW Tracer TijXiKavra ydp evriv

evia /Jiev arj Bvvaadat, Tpels aV8/?a? rre

ev re rot? TrapaBeiaois ert p.ei^a) KOL

Be Kal edv ri? ea Kal/i.r; reavy TOTTOV

oiKelov KacrTOV e ov ivecrOai Oavaaa-Tov rwKal Travel, ev Ku?rpo) yovv OVK ereuvov 01

/3acri\i$ t d/j.a aev Trjpovvres Kal Tafjuevop-evoi, a

1 Inconsistent with 5. 6. 2. cpiAupe'a conj. Sch.2 Kul ffri/nvSa conj. Sch. ;

/col ^urn U ; Kal pva Aid. cf. 3. 14. 4.

462

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. vn. 7-vm. i

1 Alaternus is only useful for feeding sheep ; for it is

always leafy. Hybrid arbutus is used for makingstakes and for burning: holly and Judas-tree 2 for

walking-sticks : some also use bay for these;

for

of this 3they make light sticks and sticks for old

men. Willow is used for shields hampers baskets

and the like. We might in like manner add the

several uses of the other woods.4 Distinction is also made between woods according

as they are serviceable for one or other of the

carpenter's tools : thus hammers and gimlets are best

made of wild olive, but box elm and manna-ash are

also used, while large mallets are made of Aleppopine. In like manner there is a regular practiceabout each of the other tools. Such are the

differences as to the uses of various woods.

Of the, localities in which the best timber grows.

VIII. Each kind of timber, as was said before,differs according to the place

5 where it grows ;

in one place nettle-tree, in another the cedar is

remarkably fine, for instance in Syria ;for in Syria

and on its mountains the cedars grow to a sur-

passing height and thickness : they are sometimesso large that three men cannot embrace the tree.

And in the parks they are even larger and finer. It

appears that any tree, if it is left alone in its

natural position and not cut down, grows to a

remarkable height and thickness. For instance in

Cyprus the kings used not to cut the trees,both because they took great care of them and hus-

3TO!>TTjs conj. H. ; TCU>TCCJ UMVAld.

4 Plin. 16. 230.6 r6irovs conj. Seal, from G ; ir68as Aid.

4 r>3

THEOPHRASTUS

Be Kal Bid TO BuffKo/jLiarov elvai. (jbfJKos /j,ev rjv

ra)V et? TT]V evBeKijprj rrjv &rf/j,T)Tpiov rfjLijOevrcov

rpiaKaiBeKaopyviov, avrd Be TO, v\a TO> /J,IJKI

0av/j,aard Kal do^a KOI \ela. /jbeyio-ra Be /ecu

Trapa TTO\V rd ev rfj Kvpvwyap ev rfj Aarivr) Ka\wv yivo^evwv/cal TWV eXarivcov Kal TWV irevKivwv /jLei^co yapravra Kal KO\\LU> TWV ^\ra\LKwv ovSev elvai

2 TT/DO? TO, ev ry Kvpva). irXevcrai yap TTOTC TOL/?

'Po)/iatou? /3ov\o/jLevov<; KaTacrKevdaaaQai, TTO\IV

ev rfi vrfau) Trevre Kal etKOcri vavai, Kal

elvai TO /jieyeOos TWV BevBpcov warea'? Ko\7rov$ Tivas Kal \i/Jievas Siaa-^iaOeicri rot?

tVrot? 7riKivSvv6V(Tai. Kal 6'Xw? Be Traaav rrjv

Vijaov Bacrelav Kal waTrep rjypiw/jievrjv rfj

8i o Kal airo<JTY]vai rrjv iroXiv

Be Tivas aTTOTejjLea-daL 7ra/x7roXv ?rX>}^o? K TOTTOV

, axne rrjXiKavrrjvr

noir\<jai a-^eBiav rj

TrevnJKovTa IffTLOtS' ov /JL^V a\\aavrrjv ev ry ire\dyei. K.vpvos /j,ev ouv

etre Bta rrjv avecnv et're Kal TO e'Sa^o? Kal TOV

depa TTO\V Bia(f)epei, rcov a\\cov.

'H Be TWV Aarivtov etfrvBpos iracra' Kal rj JULCV

TreBeivrj Bd^vrjv e%ei Kal fjivppivovs Kal o^vrjv

rjV' TrjXiKavTa yap rd /jLrjKrj re/nvovai'

elvai Biavefccos TWV 'YvpprjviBwv VTTO rrjv

Be opeivij TrevK^v Kal eXdrrjv. TO Be

1 Demetrius Poliorcetes. c/. Plut. Demetr. 43 ; Plin. 16.

203.2

titiKivSvi'fvffai conj. W.; M T^* rvnvov Aid.; so U, butTTVKVOV.

* .. against the overhanging trees. ? larioitt to whichSiatrx. ig more appropriate.

464

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. vm. 1-3

banded them, and also because the transport of the

timber was difficult. The timbers cut for Demetrius' J

ship of eleven banks of oars were thirteen fathoms

long, and the timbers themselves were without

knots and smooth, as well as of marvellous length.But largest of all, they say, are the trees of

Corsica ;for whereas silver-fir and fir grow in

Latium to a very great size, and are taller andfiner than the silver-firs and firs of South Italy,these are said to be nothing to the trees of Corsica.

For it is told how the Romans once made an ex-

pedition to that island with twenty-five ships, wishingto found a city there ;

and so great was the size of

the trees that, as they sailed into certain bays and

creeks, they got into difficulties 2through breaking

their masts. 3 And in general it is said that the

whole island is thickly wooded and, as it were, one

wild forest ; wherefore the Romans gave up the idea

of founding their city : however some of them madean excursion 4 into the island and cleared away a large

quantity of trees from a small area, enough to makea raft with fifty sails ;

5 but this broke up in the opensea. Corsica then, whether because of its uncultivated

condition or because of its soil and climate, is very

superior in trees to other countries.

The country of the Latins is all well watered ;

the lowland part contains bay, myrtle, and wonder-ful beech : they cut timbers of it of such a size that

they will run the whole lengthG of the keel of a

Tyrrhenian vessel. The hill country produces fir andsilver-fir. The district called by Circe's name is, it

4 SiaBdvTcts 8e rivets conj. St. from G; Siaftavra 8e TIVO. Ald.H.5

*h txphaa-To irevT. lar. conj. Sch.; y fxpfiffavro oi Ald.H.6 tiaveKus conj. Sch. ; 8<ek vews Aid.

465

THEOPHRASTUS

KipKaiov Ka\oufji6i>ov elvai /.lev dfcpav in

Bacreiav Be a~(j)6Bpa fcal txeiv &pvv /ecu Bd^vrjv TTO\-

\ijv Kal fJLVppivovs. \eyetv Be rou? e-y^wptou? co?

evTavOa i) Kip/cr) Karfoxei Kal BeiKvvvai rov rov

Tafyov, ei; ou fyvovrai fjivppivai tcadd-

a (Tre

fj.vppivwv. rov 8e TQTTOV elvai KOI TOVTOV veai>

KOI Trporepov /.tez/ ovv vr}aov elvat, TO

}\.ipKaiov, vvv Be VTTO vrora/iw^ TLVWV Trpocnce-

%a)o-0ai KOL elvai rjlova. T^? Be vr\GOi) TO /jLe

irepl oyBoijKovra crraStot1

?. KOI ra/j.ei>

IX. To Be KOI 7T/309 rr]V Trvpwaiv TTCO?

GX I ^-e/CTe'

oz/ OyLtota)? Kal Treipareov

\aftelv. dvOparces p.ev ovv apicnoi yivovrat

TTV/cvordrcov, olov dpias Bpvoi Ko/j.dpov

rarot ydp, cocrre 7r\elcrTOV XP^VOV iivrk^ovai teal

ia"xyova' Bi o Kal ev rot? dpyvpeiotswviai TT/OO? TTjV 7Tpu>rrjv rovrcov ^rjaiv.Be TOVTWV oi Bpvivoi- yewBea-rarot <ydp-

Be Kal oi TWV TrpeGftvTepwv rcov vewv, Kal

ol TWV yepavBpuayv Bid ravro' ^rjpuraTOL

yap, Bf o Kal TrrjBtocn, Kaio/uLevor Bel Be eviK/j.oi>

elvai.

2 BeA,Tf(TTOt oe ol TWV ev uK^y KCU /xaX/o-ra ol

1cf. Horn. Od. 10. 552 foil., 11. 51-80, 12. 8-15; Plin. 15.

119.-<!

I'f'ac irp6n9(&iv conj. Sell.; i's avfipbs Qtaiv Aid.

466

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. vm. 3-i.v. 2

is said, a lofty promontory, but very thickly wooded,

producing oak, bay in abundance, and myrtle. There,

according to the natives, dwelt Circe, and they shew

Elpenor's tomb,1 on which grow myrtles like those

used for garlands, though other kinds of myrtle are

large trees. Further it is said that the district is a

recent addition 2 to the land, and that once this pieceof land was an island, but now the sea has beensilted up by certain streams and it has becomeunited to the coast, and the size of the 'island' 3

is about eighty furlongs in circumference. Thereis

4 then much difference in trees, as has been said

repeatedly, which is due to the individual character

of particular districts.

Of the uses of various woods in making fire : charcoal, fuel.fire-sticks.

IX. Next we must state in like manner andendeavour to determine the properties of each kindof timber in relation to making fire. The best

charcoal is made from the closest wood, such as

aria (holm-oak) oak arbutus;for these are the most

solid, so that they last longest and are the strongest ;

wherefore these are used in silver-mines for the first

smelting of the ore. Worst of the woods mentionedis oak, since it contains most mineral matter,

5 andthe wood of older trees is inferior to that of the

younger, and for the same reason that of really old

trees c is specially bad. For it is very dry, whereforeit sputters as it burns ; whereas wood for charcoal

should contain sap.The best charcoal comes from trees in their prime.

cf. Plin. 3. 57. 4ex*< conj. Sch.; tlvai Aid.

6i.e. and so makes much ash. 6

cf. 2. 1. 2.

467

THEOPHRASTUS

KO\ofta)V crv/jL/jLerpws yap e^owi TO> TTVKVU*

real yeooSei KOI TU> vypa>' /SeXrtou? Be Kal e/c TWV

Vi\wv Kal ^rjp&v Kal rrpocrfioppcov rj CK TWVTra\i(JK.l(>v Kal vypcov Kal rrpos VOTOV KOI el

eviK/jLOTepas v\r)s, TTVKvr]s' vypoTepa yap rj TTVKVI].

Kal 6'Xco9, ova r) (frvaei r) Sid [TO?/] TOTTOV ^iporepov

TTVKVOTepa, ej; airdvrcov /3e\rifo Sid TI-JV avriji*

alriav. Xp^ia Be a\\wv a\\t]' Trpbs evia yap'CftTovai rot/9 fia\aKovs, olov ev rot?

TO 1)9 T% Kapvas T/}? EuySoi/c?}?, OTav

yae^o? rj, Kal ev rot? dpyvpeioi? TOL/? TTITVIVOVS.

3 %pa)VTai Be Kal at Ttyyai TOVTOLS. proven Be

Kal ol ^aX/cet? TOU? irevKivovs n.a\\ov r) Bpvtvovf

dcrOevecrTepoi, aXX' et? rrjv (frvcrrja-iv

a)? rjcrcrov KaTa^apaivo/JLevoL' ecm Be rj

o^vrepa TOVTWV. TO Be o\ov o^vrepa

rj TOVTQJV Kal fj T&V %v\wv TWV [lavwv Kal

Kal rjT&V avwv rj S* K TWV TTVKVWV Kal >

\\wpu>v

vwOearepa Kal Tra^vrepa' vracr&v Be o^vrdrr) rj

K TWV vKrjfjLdTcov civOpaKes Be oX&)9 ov yivovrai

Bid TOfJLrj e%eiv TO aw/jiaTwSes.

Tefivovcn, Be Kal ^TOVCTI et? Ta9 dv0paKid$

conj. Palm.; KO\\O.&CI}V U; Ko\dBo>v Aid.2 5e Kal IK riav conj. W. ; 5e Kal ol TUV UMVP ; 5e 01

Ald.H.3

/cot tt fViKfjLortpas conj. W. ;al ot fvaK^oTtpas U; Kal 77 eV

a.Kfii)Tfpas MV; /cal ot eV aK^Tfpas Ald.Bas.Cam. The sense

seems to require vypo-repas for fviK/j.orepas and iviKuortpa for

vyportpa. G seems to have had a fuller text.4

t'.e. from growing in a damper place, c/. 5. 9. 4.

468

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. ix. 2-4

and especially from trees which have been toppedl

:

for these contain in the right proportion the qualitiesof closeness admixture ofmineral matter and moisture.

Again better charcoal comes from trees 2 in a sunny dryposition with a north aspect than from those grown in

a shady damp position facing south. Or, if the wood 8

used contains a good deal of moisture/ it should beof close texture ; for such wood contains more sap.

5

And, for the same reason, that which is of closer

texture either from its own natural character or

because it was grown in a drier spot,6

is, whateverthe kind of tree, better.7 But different kinds of

charcoal are used for different purposes : for someuses men require it to be soft ; thus in iron-mines

they use that which is made of sweet chestnutwhen the iron has been already smelted, and in

silver-mines they use charcoal of pine-wood : andthese kinds are also used by the crafts. Smiths 8

require charcoal of fir rather than of oak : it is

indeed not so strong, but it blows up better into

a flame, as it is less apt to smoulder : and the flame

from these woods is fiercer. In general the flame is

fiercer not only from these but from any wood whichis of open texture and light, or which is dry : whilethat from wood which is of close texture or green is

more sluggish and dull. The fiercest flame of all

is given by brushwood ; but charcoal cannot bemade from it at all, since it has not the necessarysubstance.

They cut and require for the charcoal-heap straight6

cf. 1 ad Jin.8

litpdrepov conj. W. ; fypdrtpa, UMV; itvKv6Tepa. ^ijp6rfpa.Aid. I have bracketed rbv.

1 &f\Ttu> conj. Sch.; peXriwv UM ; &4\nov Ald.H.8

cf. Plin. 16. 23.

469

THEOPHRASTUS

v0ea Kal rd \eia" Bel yap co? rrvKvorara trvi

Qelvai TTyoo? r^v KardrcvL^iv. orav be rrepi

rrjv Ka.fj.ivov, e^drrrova'i rrapd

TrapaKevrovvres 6/3e\LcrKOi<;. t9 l^ev rrjv dvOpa-Kiv ra roiavra

5e TOO yevei fjLev 0X0)5 ra vypd' KCLI

TO, %\a)pa Std rovro Svafcarrva. \eyco Se rd v

rd e\eia, olov rc\dravov Ireav \evKrjv

errel KCUrj a/xTreXo? ore vypd ^vcrKarcvo^. etc Se

T)? tSta? (/>ucre&)? o (poivi^, ov 8i) xal /j,d\icrrd

rives v7Ti\ij(f)acri SvaKCurvov' 60ev KOI Xaip)')fj.a)r

rov re SvcrKaTrvordrov (poivifcos e'/c y^^>Xey9a9." $pi/j.vraros Be 6 Karrvo^

epiveov Kal CL TL a\\o 07rwSe9* atria

Be 1} vypOTi)?' (f>\oi(T0vra Be Kal U7ro/3pe)^0evraev vBan eirippVTCp Kal perd ravra ^tjpavdevrarrdvrwv uKarrvorara Kal <f)\6ya fJLa\aKu>rdrr]i>

dvirjaiv, are Kal TT)? otVeta? vyporrjros e!"i)pr)tiVi}<i.

BpifAeia Be Kali] re(f)pa Kal 77 Kovla rj

ari avrwv.

fjidXtara Be fyacn rrjv drfo TT}? duvyBa\f)s.

n/oo? o^ T? KafJLivla? Kal ra? aXXa? re%vasa\\rf aAAcn? %pr}(ri/j/i]. e^rcvpeveaOai Be apiaraGVKr] Kal e\da' avKrj fjiev, on y\ia^pov re Kal

fj-avov, Mare e\KL re Kal ov Siei<riv e\da Be, onTTVKVOV Kal \L7rapov.

1 Ata conj. Seal, from G ;yea Aid.

3 With sods. cf. Plin., I.e. ,who seems to have had a fuller

text.1 An Athenian tragic poet. Seal, restores the quotation

470

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. ix. 4-6

smooth l billets : for they must be laid as close as

possible for the smouldering process. When theyhave covered 2 the kiln, they kindle the heap bydegrees, stirring it with poles. Such is the wood

required for the charcoal-heap.In general damp wood makes an evil smoke, and

for this reason green wood does so : I mean the

damp woods which grow in marshy ground, suchas plane willow abele black poplar : for even

vine-wood, when it is damp, gives an evil smoke.So does palm-wood of its own nature, and somehave supposed it to give the most evil smoke of all :

whence Chaeremon 3speaks of "Veins issuing under-

ground from roots of palm with its malodorous smoke."Most pungent is the smoke of fig-wood, whetherwild or cultivated, and of any tree which has a

curdling juice; the reason lies in the sap; whensuch wood has been barked and soaked in runningOwater and then dried, it gives as little smoke as

any other, and sends up a very soft 4flame, since

its natural moisture also has been removed. Thecinders and ashes of such wood are also pungent,and especially, they say, those of almond-wood.

For the crafts requiring a furnace and for othercrafts various woods are serviceable according to

circumstances. 5 For kindling fig and olive are best :

fig, because it is tough and of open texture, so that

it easily catches fire and does not let it through,6

olive, because it is of close texture and oily.

thus : TOV re SvaKaitvaTaTov\ tyolviKos in 7775

<f>\efias (pio<piTVTovs conj. Schneidewin).4 i.e. not sputtering.6

KO.I . . . \pt\a iy.f\ conj. W. ; Tf'xfats dAArjAoT. aAArjAas XP' MV; re'x^Tj &\\TJ effn xp. P ; T. aAArjAou tori

Aid. i.e. burn out quicldy.

47*

THEOPHRASTUS

Ylvpela Be ylveTai fiev etc TroXXwv, apiara Be,

<pr)(ri h'\V(TT(i)p t K KiTTOV' Ta^KTTa yap Kal

TT\eiaTOV dvairvel. Trvpelov Be fyacriv apicrrov

/jievK TT)? d0payev>is rca\.ovyLteV??? VTTO TIVWV

TOVTO'

e(JT\ BevBpov OJJLOLOV Trj dfjL7re\(i) teal rf/

olvdvOy rf) aypiam

Mcnrep eKelva KCLI TOVTO ava-

7 Baivei TTOO? ra SevSpa. Bel Be TIW taydpav eVv cxv / , / ,

^ r, \

TOVTCOV Troieiv TO oc TpvTTavov etc ocupvrjs' ov japetc TavTov TO nroLovv KOI Trda^ov, d\\ erepovevOv Bel KaTa (frv&tv, Kal TO yuei/ Bel TraQijTi/cbv

elvai TO Be TronjTt/cov. ovfjiiji'

d\\a Kal etc TOV

avTov ryiveTat, tcai, w? ye Tires vTroXa/JifSdvovcnv,

ovBev Bia<ppei. ^iveiai yap K pdpvov /cal

irpivov Kal (j)i\vpas Kal a^eBov K TWV TrXelcrTwv

7r\rjv e\da?' o Kal BoKel UTOTTOU elvar Kal yapKal \i7rapov r)

e\da~ TOVTO /JLV ovi'

e^ei Br/Xov OTI, Ti]V vypOTTjTa irpos

rjv Trvpwcnv. dyaOd Be Ta K pdfJLVOW TTOLCL Be

TOVTO Kal Tip ea^dpav %p^GTr}V' Trpbs yap TW

%ijpdv Kal a^v/jiov elvai Bel Kal ^lavoTepav, 'LV i]

Tptyts l(J\yr], TO Be TpvTravov aTraOecTTepov Bi*

o TO rr)? Bd<f)vr)<? apicrTOV cnraOes yap ov epyd-

T) BpifjLVTrjTi. TrdvTa Be TO, Trvpela ftopelois

6a,TTov Kal /jia\\ov e^aTTTerat, VOTIOIS Be

f)TTov Kal ev fjLev rot? /jLeTecopois fjLa\\ov, ev Be

TO49 Kol\OL<S fjTTOV.

8'

'Aviei Be TWV %v\wv TCL KeBpiva Kal aTrXw? wr

1TT. 5e "flvtrai /ntv conj. Sch.; TT, fj.tv ylvtrai 8^ UMVAld.

2cf. 1. 2. 3 n.

3 ICITTOV conj. Bod. homdeigne 64, Plin. 16. 208 ; napvov Aid.4

irvpftov conj. Salm. ; irvpol UMVAld.

472

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. ix. 6-8

Fire-sticks are made 1 from many kinds of wood,but best, according to Menestor,

2 from ivy3

: for

that flares up most quickly and freely. Theysay also that a very good fire-stick 4 is made ofthe wood which some call traveller's joy ; this is

a tree like the vine or the ' wild vine,' which,like these, climbs up trees. The stationary piece

5

should be made of one of these, the drill of bay ;

for the active and passive parts of the apparatusshould not be of the same wood, but different in

their natural properties to start with, one beingof active, the other of passive character. Never-theless they are sometimes made of the same wood,and some suppose that it makes no difference.

They are made in fact of buckthorn kermes-oak lime and almost any wood except olive

;

which seems surprising, as olive-wood is rather

hard and oily ; however it is plainly its moisturewhich makes it less suitable for kindling. Thewood of the buckthorn is also good, and it makesa satisfactory stationary piece ; for, besides beingdry and free from sap it is necessary that this

should also be of rather open texture, that thefriction may be effectual

; while the drill should

be one which gets little worn by use. And that

is why one made of bay is best; for, as it is notworn by use, it is effective through its biting

quality. All fire-sticks take fire quicker and better

in a north than in a south wind, and better in an

exposed spot than in one which is shut in.

Some woods, such as prickly cedar, exude 6

moisture, and, generally speaking, so do those

8i.e. the piece of wood to be bored, cf. de igne, I.e.

6avifi.

473

THROPHRASTUS

vrypOTrfS' Si o teal rd dydX/maraVLOT' TTOtOUCTi jap K TOVTWV.

$ /ca\ov(Tiv ol {icivrets ~Eii\ei0 uias a<pe$pov, virep

ov Kal K0uovTai, TTyoo? rot?

TLVOS vyp6r-tjro<;, TM

s ^e T)\IKOV UTTIOV rj /cal

rj eXcLTTOv. K(3\aa"rdvei 8e fjLa\L(TTa ra

eXaiva /cal dpyd Kei^eva /cal elpyaff/.teVa vroXXa-

edv l/cfjid^a \afJLJ3dvr) /cal %y TOTTOV

ifirj Ti9 Grpocpevs T?)? (Jvpas e'/S\acrT7/(je,

KV\IKLOV irKivQivov redeta-a /cutrnj ev

1

cf. C. P. 5. 4. 4. ol juai/T6js . . . ^AartVoty conj. Lobeck. :

ol Ae?ai> . . . TO?S e/cartVoJS U; oiAe/av . . . TOUS eK/j.a.Tii>ois V; ot

At?ai/ T^S 6iATj0TJos . . . TO?J ixfuarivois M ; ot Attai' rf;s a

ttyaidpov . . . rovs fKcnivovs P2 ; iAelav TTJS fi\T]6vias

litaTivovs Aid.

474

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. ix. 8

whose sap is of an oily character; and this is

why statues are sometimes said to 'sweat'; for

they are made of such woods. That which seers

call the menses- of Eileithuia,'l and for the appearance

of which they make atonement,2 forms on the wood

of the silver-fir when some moisture gathers on it :

the formation is round 3 in shape, and in size aboutas large as a pear, or a little larger or smaller.

Olive-wood is more apt than other woods to pro-duce shoots even when lying idle or made into

manufactured articles;tins it often does, if it obtains

moisture and lies in a damp place ;thus the socket

of a door-' hinge'

4 has been known to shoot, andalso an oar which was standing in damp earth in an

earthenware vessel. 5

2i.e. as a portent, cf. Char. 16. 2.

3ffTp6y-yv\ov conj. Sob.; (TTpoyyvX-rjs UMVP Ald.

4cf. 5. 6. 4 ; Plin. 16. 230.

6 irKivQ. -red. Kunrrj eV 7r?jAy conj. Spr. ; TtXivQivov reflelj TTJ

P2Ald.H.

475

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