The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 3 (of 6)Pliny, the Elder
History
The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 3 (of 6)
Pliny, the Elder
Natural history -- Pre-Linnean works
The flesh of the ground-strawberry[1993] is very different to that of
the arbute-tree,[1994] which is of a kindred kind: indeed, this is the
only instance in which we find a similar fruit growing upon a tree and
on the ground. The tree is tufted and bushy; the fruit takes a year
to ripen, the blossoms of the young fruit flowering while that of the
preceding year is arriving at maturity. Whether it is the male tree or
the female that is unproductive, authors are not generally agreed.
This is a fruit held in no esteem, in proof of which it has gained
its name of “unedo,”[1995] people being generally content with eating
but one. The Greeks, however, have found for it two names—“comaron”
and “memecylon,” from which it would appear[1996] that there are two
varieties. It has also with us another name besides that of “unedo,”
being known also as the “arbutus.” Juba states that in Arabia this tree
attains the height of fifty cubits.
CHAP. 29.—THE RELATIVE NATURES OF BERRY FRUITS.
There is a great difference also among the various acinus fruits. First
of all, among the grapes, we find considerable difference in respect
to their firmness, the thinness or thickness of the skin, and the
stone inside the fruit, which in some varieties is remarkably small,
and in others even double in number: these last producing but very
little juice. Very different, again, are the berries of the ivy[1997]
and the elder;[1998] as also those in the pomegranate,[1999] these
being the only ones that are of an angular shape. These last, also,
have not a membrane for each individual grain, but one to cover them
all in common, and of a pale colour. All these fruits consist, too, of
juice and flesh, and those more particularly which have but small seeds
inside.
There are great varieties, too, among the berry[2000] fruits; the berry
of the olive being quite different from that of the laurel, the berry
of the lotus[2001] from that of the cornel, and that of the myrtle from
the berry of the lentisk. The berry, however, of the aquifolium[2002]
and the thorn[2003] is quite destitute of juice.
The cherry[2004] occupies a middle place between the berry and the
acinus fruit: it is white at first, which is the case also with nearly
all the berries. From white, some of the berries pass to green, the
olive and the laurel, for instance; while in the mulberry, the cherry,
and the cornel, the change is to red; and then in some to black, as
with the mulberry, the cherry, and the olive, for instance.
CHAP. 30. (25.)—NINE VARIETIES OF THE CHERRY.
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