ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. ii. 5–iii. 1
else, all kinds grow, because of the diversity of positions afforded them. For such mountains offer positions which are marshy, wet, dry, deep-soiled or rocky; they have also their meadow land here and there, and in fact almost every variety of soil; again they present positions which lie low and are sheltered, as well as others which are lofty and exposed to wind; so that they can bear all sorts, even those which belong to the plains.
Yet it is not strange that there should be some mountains which do not thus bear all things, but have a more special kind of vegetation to a great extent if not entirely; for instance the range of Ida in Crete[1]; for there the cypress grows; or the hills of Cilicia and Syria, on which the Syrian cedar grows, or certain parts of Syria, where the terebinth grows. For it is the differences of soil which give a special character to the vegetation. [2](However the word 'special' is used here in a somewhat extended sense.)
Of mountain trees: of the differences found in wild trees.
III. The following trees are peculiar to mountain country and do not grow in the plains; [3]let us take Macedonia as an example. Silver-fir fir 'wild pine' lime zygia Valonia oak box andrachne yew Phoenician cedar terebinth wild fig alaternus hybrid arbutus hazel chestnut kermes-oak. The following grow also in the plain: tamarisk elm abele willow black poplar cornelian cherry cornel alder oak lakare (bird-cherry) wild pear apple hop-hornbeam holly manna-ash Christ's thorn cotoneaster maple,[4] which
- ↑ ἐν … Ἰδαῖα conj. W. (after Sch., who conj. τὰ ἐν); τὰ ἐν κρήτῃ τῇ ἸδαίᾳU Ald.
- ↑ i.e. it is not meant that a tree which is 'special' to Mount Ida (e.g.) occurs only there.
- ↑ περὶ τὴν Μακ.? a gloss; περὶ τε τὴν Μακ. MP2Ald.; τε om. P.
- ↑ σφένδαμνος add. Palm. in view of what follows; ὀξυάκαρτα ἄκανθος UPAld.Bas.; ἄκανθος P2.
