CHAP. 22.—SESAME. ERYSIMUM, OR IRIO. HORMINUTM.
We have spoken [Note] of sesame, millet, and panic as belonging
to the summer grains. Sesame [Note] comes from India, where they
extract an oil from it; the colour of its grain is white.
Similar in appearance to this is the erysimum of Asia and
Greece, and indeed it would be identical with it were it not
that the grain is better filled. [Note] It is the same grain that is
known among us as "irio;" and strictly speaking, ought rather
to be classed among the medicaments than the cereals. Of the
same nature, too, is the plant called "horminum" [Note] by the
Greeks, though resembling cummin [Note] in appearance; it is sown
at the same time as sesame: no animal will eat either this or
irio while green.