Pliny Natural History, Vol. VII (Loeb Latin-English)

years, so that modern plants are not an infallible guide.

On the whole, it seems best to keep "purple" (Littré Émile Littré, a French lexicographer and philosopher known for his dictionary of the French language. has regularly pourpre) unless the context shows that such a rendering is impossible or absurd.

Vero (but/indeed) in Pliny is often neither intensive nor adversative—neither "indeed" nor "however"—but almost a mere connective particle equivalent to item (likewise). Sometimes, but by no means always, it introduces a climax. Usually, however, a slight—generally a very slight—adversative force remains, and I have always tried "however" and "indeed" before falling back on a purely connective word.

Oleum, translated "oil," was usually, perhaps always, olive oil. When another kind of oil is indicated, a descriptive adjective is added.

The Latin names of plants have been kept unless to do so would be absurd; I write, for instance, sideritis and ageraton, but "rose" and "plantain." In other words, English names are used only when they are familiar and also correct identifications. The Index of Plants should clear up most of the difficulties that may occur.