Balliotem

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Balliotem, Plinius alio nomine porrum nigrum vocant greci herbam fructicosam angulosis caulibus nigris yrsutis foliis vincientibus maioribus quam porri et nigrioribus grave olentibus et cetera.


Apparatus:

Balliotem AC | Balliotẽ DQR | Balliten B p | Balitem em | Ballioten f | Ballicen g | Baslitẽ j | Ballitem k | Ballicem n | Balliton t | ballioem s | ballice o

Plinius ABCDR efgjkmnost | Pli. Q | om. P

vocant greci ACDQR efkmnopst | greci vocant B | vo moinaci cant greci g | vocat greci j

fructicosam ABCDQR emps | fructuosam fgnot | frucitosam jk

caulibus ABCDQR fgjmnopst | ramalibus e

yrsutis ABCDR egnos | hirsutis Q in marg. k | hyrsutis fjpt | irsutis m

vincientibus ACDQR fgmnopst | vincentibus e | nincientibus B {'u' misread as 'n'} | vestientibus Pliny | ninaentibus j | virescentibus in marg. k

porri ABDQ efgjkmnops | pori CR | porris t

olentibus ACDQR efgjkmnops | olẽtibuss B

et cetera ABCDQR efgjops | om. fkmn

Entry is missing in z


Translation:

Balliotem, according to Pliny, has also another name, translated into Latin porrum nigrum {"black leek"}, which is what the Greeks call this bushy herb, with its black angular stems, with hairy leaves holding on {Pliny: covered in hairy leaves}, which are bigger than porrum {"leek"}, darker and with a strong smell, etc.


Commentary:

Simon's text is a near verbatim quote from Pliny, 27, 30, 54, ed. Rackham (1938-63: VII.422).

The headword Balliotem reflects Greek βαλλωτήν, the sg. acc. of the plant name βαλλωτή /ballōtḗ/, which entered Latin as ballote. The plant has some medicinal uses.

Simon's other name porrum nigrum "black leek" is the translation of a Greek synonym μελαμπράσιον /melamprásion/ of the same meaning. This synonymy is confirmed by the Greek Dioscoridean text, cf. 3, 103, ed. Wellmann (1906-14: II.114): βαλλωτή· οἱ δὲ μελαμπράσιον καλοũσι – "ballote {'black horehound'}, some people call it μελαμπράσιον /melamprásion/ {'black leek'}".

Ballote, Medieval Latin ballota, is generally identified as Ballota nigra L. "black horehound", a native of the Mediterranean region and parts of central Asia.


See also: Bublote

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