Appendix to the Books on Plants and Peripatetic Questions

It is clear that these two species were known to the ancients, namely the Little Citron original: "Citreolum"; likely a variety of cucumber or small melon and the commonly named Cucumber, both under the name of Sicyos and Sicyopepon Greek terms for cucumber-like fruits. In the writings of Simeon Seth An 11th-century Byzantine Jewish physician, both were called Anguria, but specifically the term Tetranguria is understood to refer to the Little Citrons, because they appear to consist of three or four bodies elongated in length; and of these, he praises the small ones. He says, moreover, that the internal substance of both is usually eaten, since the exterior is of poor juice, very difficult to digest, and almost poisonous. From this, an error is evident in the words of Galen The famous 2nd-century Greek physician when he says: "Of the Pepon large melon, that which is outside is eaten, but one abstains from the substance in which the seed is located." In the Melopepon quince-melon, however, it is the opposite. But experience proves that the opinion of Seth is truer. For today, we consume only the internal substance of both the Little Citron and the Cucumber, in which the seeds are located. From this, one may also conjecture that among the ancients, the Sicyopepon referred not to our Melopepon, but to the Little Citron when it is ripe; for then it is soft to the touch, as happens with most ripe fruits. Hence it became a proverb concerning foolish people, which fits neither the Melopepon nor our Cucumber, for they consist of a very hard rind even when they are ripe. Regarding the Little Citron, however, the proverb is still preserved in Arezzo, the most ancient city of Tuscany original: "Etruria", where they call the ripe and yellowed fruit a Cedrone literally "large citron". By this name, they signify the foolish and tasteless, for that fruit when ripe has a certain bland sweetness. But the sweetness of the Melopepon and the Cucumber is most pleasing, like that of Sugar. Therefore, the Little Citron has its charm before maturity; at that time, its scent also refreshes those who are fainting when there is a need for cooling.

On Euphorbium, Hippophie, Hippophaestum, and Struthium.

Chapter IV.

It is manifest that Euphorbium A resinous sap from succulent spurges is among the Tithymals Spurges of the genus Euphorbia, not known before Juba, the King of Mauritania. Of its juice...