Naturalis historia 12.13.47

12.13.47

Nardi vim habet et asarum, quod et ipsum aliqui silvestre nardum appellant. est autem hederae foliis, rotundioribus tantum mollioribusque, flore purpureo, radice Gallici nardi, semine acinosum, saporis calidi ac vinosi, in montibus umbrosis bis anno florens. optimum in Ponto, proximum in Phrygia, tertium in Illyrico. foditur, cum folia amittere incipit, et in sole siccatur, celeriter situm trahens ac senescens. inventa nuper et in Threcia herba est cuius folia nihil ab Indico nardo distant.

CHAP. 27. (13.)—ASARUM, OR FOAL-FOOT. The herb asarum, too, has the properties of nard, and, indeed, by some persons is known as wild nard. It has a leaf, however, more like that of the ivy, only that it is rounder and softer. The flower is purple, the root very similar to that of the Gallic nard, and the seed is like a grape. It is of a warm and vinous flavour, and blossoms twice a year, growing upon hill sides that are densely shaded. The best kind is that found in Pontus, and the next best that of Phrygia; that of Illyricum being only of third-rate quality. The root is dug up when it is just beginning to put forth its leaves, and then dried in the sun. It very soon turns mouldy, and loses its properties. There has, also, been lately found a certain herb in some parts of Greece, the leaves of which do not differ in the slightest degree from those of the Indian nard.