Latin Texts & Translations

Of some plants the fruits ^[Note] are in the earth, of others both in the earth and out of it, and of others, again, out of the earth solely. Some of them increase as they lie upon the ground, gourds and cucumbers, for instance; the same products will grow also in a hanging position, but they are much heavier even then than any of the fruits that grow upon trees. The cucumber, however, is composed of cartilage and a fleshy substance, while the gourd consists of rind and cartilage: this last is the only vegetable production the outer coat of which becomes of a ligneous nature, when ripe. Radishes, turnips, and rape are hidden in the earth, and so, too, are elecampane, ^[Note] skirrets, ^[Note] and parsnips, ^[Note] though in a different manner. There are some plants, again, to which we shall give the name of "ferulaceous," anise ^[Note] and mallows, for instance; indeed, we find it stated by some writers that in Arabia ^[Note] the mallow be-

comes arborescent at the sixth month, so much so, in fact, as to admit of its being used for walking-sticks. We have another instance, again, in the mallow-tree of Mauretania, which is found at Lixus, a city built upon an æstuary there; and at which spot, it is said, were formerly the gardens of the Hesperides, at a distance of two hundred paces from the Ocean, near the shrine of Hercules, more ancient, tradition says, than the temple at Gades. This mallow-tree ^[Note] is twenty feet in height, and of such a thickness that there is not a person in existence who is able with his arms to span its girth.

In the class of ferulaceous plants we must include hemp ^[Note] also. There are some plants, again, to which we must give the appellation of "fleshy;" ^[Note] such as those spongy ^[Note] productions which are found growing in damp meadows. As to the fungus, with a hard, tough flesh, we have already ^[Note] made mention of it when speaking of wood and trees; and of truffles, which form another variety, we have but very recently given a de- scription. ^[Note]