[986] Properly radish.
[987] Radish.
[988] Properly radish.
[989] See B. xx. c. [49]. Fée queries whether this radish may not be the Raphanus raphanistrum of botanists. See B. xviii. c. [34].
[991] “Nostratibus.” Poinsinet would render this, “Those of my native country,” i. e. the parts beyond the Padus. As Pliny resided at Rome during the latter part of his life, there can be little doubt but that he alludes to the vicinity of Rome.
[993] This property extends to most of the Cruciferæ.
[994] “Cibus illiberalis.”
[995] The variety Oleifera of the Raphanus sativus is still cultivated extensively in Egypt and Nubia for the extraction of the oil. The variety Oleifera of the Brassica napus is also greatly cultivated in Egypt. Fée suggests that Pliny may possibly confound these two plants under the one name of “raphanus.” It is worthy of remark, too, that the Colza oil, so much used in France and Belgium for burning in lamps, is expressed from the seed of the Brassica oleracea, a species of cabbage.