Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, BOOK XXV. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF WILD PLANT, CHAP. 102.—THE GREATER AIZOÜM, ALSO CALLED BUPHTHALMOS, ZOÖPHTHALMOS, STERGETHRON, HYPOGESON, AMBROSION, AME- RIMNON, SEDTUM MAGNUM, OR DIGITELLUS: THIRTY-SIX REMIIE- DIES. TIHE SMALLER AIZOÜM, ALSO CALLED ERITHALES, TRI- THALES, CHRYSOTHALES, ISOETES OR SEDUM: THIRTY-TWO REMEDIES.

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CHAP. 102.—THE GREATER AIZOÜM, ALSO CALLED BUPHTHALMOS, ZOÖPHTHALMOS, STERGETHRON, HYPOGESON, AMBROSION, AME- RIMNON, SEDTUM MAGNUM, OR DIGITELLUS: THIRTY-SIX REMIIE- DIES. TIHE SMALLER AIZOÜM, ALSO CALLED ERITHALES, TRI- THALES, CHRYSOTHALES, ISOETES OR SEDUM: THIRTY-TWO REMEDIES.

Of the plant known as aizoüm¹ there are two kinds; the larger of which is sown in earthen pots. By some persons it is known as "buphthalmos,"² and by others as "zoöpthalmos," or else as stergethron," because it forms an ingredient in the composition of philtres. Another name given to it is "hypogeson," from the circumstance that it generally grows upon the eaves³ of houses: some persons, again, give it the names of "ambrosion" and "amerimnon." In Italy it is known as "sedum magnum,"⁴ "oculus," or "digitellus." The other kind⁵ of aizoüm is more diminutive, and is known by some persons as "erithales"⁶ and by others as "trithales," from the circusmstance that it blossoms three times in the year. Other names given to it are "chrysothales"⁷ and "isoëtes:"⁸ but aizoüm is the colmmon appellation of them both, from their being always green.

The larger kind exceeds a cubit in height, and is somewhat thicker than the thumb: at the extremity, the leaves are simi- lar to a tongue in shape, and are fleshy, unctuous, full of juice, and about as broad as a person's thumb. Some are bent downwards towards the ground, while others again stand upright, the outline of them resembling an eye in shape. The smaller kind grows upon walls, old rubbish of houses, and tiled roof,; it is branchy from the root, anti covered with leaves to the extremity. These leaves are narrow, pointed, and juicy: the stem is a palm in height, and the root is never used.

1 "always living"

2 "Bull's eve," "living eye," and "love exciter." The Sempervivum tectotrum of Linnæus, common Houseleek or Sengreene.

3 Called "geisa" in Greek.

4 "Great houseleek," "eye." or "little finger."

5 Fée identifies it with the Sedum ochroleucum of Sibthorp ; Sprengel with the Sedum altissimum, and others with the Sedum acre, varieties of Wall pepper, or Stone-crop. Littré gives the Sedum amplexicaule of Decandolle.

6 "Spring blossoming."

7 "Blossoming like gold."

8 "The same all the year."

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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Pliny the Elder, The Natural History
John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S., H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A., Ed.

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CHAP. 102.—THE GREATER AIZOÜM, ALSO CALLED BUPHTHALMOS, ZOÖPHTHALMOS, STERGETHRON, HYPOGESON, AMBROSION, AME- RIMNON, SEDTUM MAGNUM, OR DIGITELLUS: THIRTY-SIX REMIIE- DIES. TIHE SMALLER AIZOÜM, ALSO CALLED ERITHALES, TRI- THALES, CHRYSOTHALES, ISOETES OR SEDUM: THIRTY-TWO REMEDIES.

Pliny the Elder, The Natural History John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S., H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A., Ed.

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CHAP. 102.—THE GREATER AIZOÜM, ALSO CALLED BUPHTHALMOS, ZOÖPHTHALMOS, STERGETHRON, HYPOGESON, AMBROSION, AME- RIMNON, SEDTUM MAGNUM, OR DIGITELLUS: THIRTY-SIX REMIIE- DIES. TIHE SMALLER AIZOÜM, ALSO CALLED ERITHALES, TRI- THALES, CHRYSOTHALES, ISOETES OR SEDUM: THIRTY-TWO REMEDIES.

Pliny the Elder, The Natural History
John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S., H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A., Ed.