The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 4 (of 6)

Chapter 311: CHAP. 54.—PLANTS OF A PRICKLY NATURE: THE ERYNGE, THE GLYCYRRIZA, THE TRIBULUS, THE ANONIS, THE PHEOS OR STŒBE, AND THE HIPPOPHAES.

By the Elder Pliny

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History - Ancient Science - Earth/Agricultural/Farming

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The text compiles practical and encyclopedic guidance on crop cultivation and plant uses, beginning with cereals and farm management — types of grain, sowing and harvesting schedules, ploughing, seed selection, storage, and maladies — plus weather and stellar prognostics for agricultural timing. It proceeds to flax and garden plants, detailing varieties, planting and processing methods, garden layout, and pest and disease remedies. The final section assembles medicinal preparations and numerous remedies derived from vegetables and herbs, listing applications and recipes for treating ailments using garden-grown plants.

CHAP. 54.—PLANTS OF A PRICKLY NATURE: THE ERYNGE, THE GLYCYRRIZA, THE TRIBULUS, THE ANONIS, THE PHEOS OR STŒBE, AND THE HIPPOPHAES.

For some plants, in fact, are thorny, while others, again, are destitute of prickles: the species of thorny plants are very numerous. The asparagus 2181 and the scorpio 2182 are essentially thorny plants, having no leaves at all upon them. Some plants, again, that are prickly have leaves as well, such as the thistle, for instance, the erynge,2183 the glycyrriza,2184 and the nettle;2185 all these plants being provided with leaves that prick or sting.

Some plants have thorns at the base of their leaves, the tribulus 2186 and the anonis 2187 for instance; others, again, have thorns, not on the leaves but on the stem, the pheos 2188 for example, known as the stœbe to some. The hippophaës 2189 has thorns at the joints; the tribulus presents the peculiarity of bearing a fruit that is thorny.