The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 3 (of 6)

Chapter 144: CHAP. 23.—A COUNTRY WHERE THE TREES NEVER LOSE THEIR LEAVES.

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The work assembles systematic observations on animals, insects, and trees, combining natural history with practical notes. It surveys insect forms and habits, including bees, silk‑producing worms, spiders, and parasitic species, and discusses reproduction, classification, diseases, and useful products like honey and silk. It then examines animal anatomy in detail, limb by limb and organ by organ, comparing organs, vital functions, and bodily peculiarities across species. Later sections catalogue trees and exotic plants, describing aromatic gums, spices, frankincense, myrrh, and methods for producing and testing unguents and perfumes, and noting their uses and regions of origin.

CHAP. 23.—A COUNTRY WHERE THE TREES NEVER LOSE THEIR LEAVES.

There is also another tree similar to the preceding one, but with a thicker foliage, and a blossom like the rose. This flower shuts 491 at night, and, beginning to open towards sun-rise, appears in full blow by mid-day; the natives are in the habit of saying that in this way it goes to sleep. The same island bears also the palm, the olive, the vine, and the fig, with various other kinds of fruit. None of the trees in this island lose their leaves;492 it is abundantly watered by cool streams, and receives the benefit of rain.