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

by the Elder Pliny

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.