when, after taking off all the branches, one cuts off the top, it soon dies; yet, when one takes off the lower parts, those about the smooth portion of the trunk, what is left survives, and it is on this part that the amphauxis forms. And plainly the reason why the tree survives is that it is sappy and green because it has no side-growths.[1] Now this is peculiar to the silver-fir.
Of other things borne by trees besides their leaves flowers and fruit.
Now, while other trees bear merely their own[2] fruit and the obvious parts which form annually, to wit, leaf flower and bud, some bear also catkins or tendrils, and some produce other things as well, for instance the elm its 'cluster' and the familiar bag-like thing,[3] the fig both the immature figs which drop off and (in some kinds) the untimely figs[4]—though perhaps in a sense[5] these should be reckoned as fruit. Again filbert produces its catkin,[6] kermes-oak its scarlet 'berry,'[7] and bay its 'cluster.'[8] The fruit-bearing sort of bay also produces this, or at all events[9] one kind certainly does so; however the sterile kind, which some call the 'male,' produces it in greater quantity. The fir again bears its 'tuft,'[10] which drops off.
[11]The oak however bears more things besides[12] fruit than any other tree; as the small gall[13] and
- ↑ i.e. and so does not, like other trees under like treatment, puts its strength into these.cf. C.P. 5. 17. 4.
- ↑ ἑαυτῶν conj. Sch. from G; αὐτὸν Ald.
- ↑ The leaf-gall, cf. 2. 8. 3; 3. 14. 1. For τοῦτο cf. 3. 18. 11; 4. 7. 1.
- ↑ Lat. grossi.cf. C.P. 5. 1. 8.
- ↑ τινὰ καρπὸς conj. Sch.; τινὰ ἄκαρπος UAld.
- ↑ cf. 3. 3. 8; 3. 5. 5.
- ↑ cf. 3. 16. 1.i.e. the kermes gall (whence Eng. 'crimson').
- ↑ βότρυον UMVAld., supported by G. and Plin. 16. 120; but some editors read βρύον on the strength of 3. 11. 4. and C.P. 2. 11. 4.
- ↑ ἀλλά τοι conj. W.; ἀλλά καὶ Ald.
- ↑ cf. 3. 3. 8 n.
- ↑ Plin. 16. 28.
- ↑ παοὰ conj. W., cf. §6; φέρει Ald.
- ↑ cf. 3. 5. 2.
