Enquiry into Plants, Vol. 2

Arcturus. The smell of the "male" plant is strong, but that of the "female" is more pungent; wherefore both of them are of use against wild beasts.

These plants then and others like them have, as it were, different forms. Again, there are some which have but one form, both among those already mentioned and others as well; for there are numerous plants of this class.

7. The class of ferula-like plants—for this too belongs to the under-shrubs—comprises many kinds. Here we must first speak of the characteristic which is common to all, including ferula itself (narthex) and narthekia, whether they both belong to the same kind and differ only in size, or whether, as some say, they are distinct. The obvious character of both is alike, except as to size; for narthex grows very tall, while narthekia is a small plant. Each of them has a single stalk, which is jointed, from which spring the leaves and some small stalks. 8. The leaves come alternately—by which I mean that they do not spring from the same part of the joint, but in alternating rows. For a considerable distance they embrace the stalk, like the leaves of the reed, but they turn back from it more, owing to their softness and their size; for the leaf is large, soft, and much divided, so that it is almost hair-like. The largest leaves are the lowest ones next the ground, and so on in proportion. The flower is quince-yellow and inconspicuous, the fruit like dill, but