[2278] It has descended in our time to the more humble rushlight; and even that is fast “going out.”
[2279] Fée identifies it with the Cyperus longus and Cyperus rotundus of Linnæus, the odoriferous or round souchet.
[2280] In c. 67 of this Book. The bulb, however, of the gladiolus is inodorous; for which reason Fée is inclined to think that Pliny, with all his care, is describing a cyperus, perhaps the Cyperus esculentus.
[2281] It would be curious to know who these barbarians were, who thus smoked cypirus as we do tobacco. Fée queries whether they were Germans or Gauls, people of Asia or of Africa.
[2282] This applies more particularly, Fée thinks, to the Cyperus rotundus of Linnæus.
[2283] The Cyperus longus of Linnæus, Fée thinks.
[2284] Sillig finds a difficulty here which does not seem to exist. It is pretty clear that “cæteris” refers to the other varieties of the cypiros, mentioned in the preceding Chapter.
[2285] It has not been identified.
[2286] Mentioned also by Dioscorides. It has not been identified.
[2287] B. xii. c. 48.