Latin Texts & Translations

Arsenogonon ^[Note] and thelygonon are plants, both of them,

with clusters resembling the blossoms of the olive, but paler, and a white seed like that of the poppy. By taking thelygonon in drink, they say, the conception of female issue is ensured. Arsenogonon differs from it in the seed, which resembles that of the olive, but in no other respect. By taking this last plant in drink, male issue may be ensured—that is, if we choose to believe it. Some persons, however, assert that both plants resemble ocimum, ^[Note] but that the seed of arsenogonon is double, and resembles the testes in appearance.