63. Chap. 63.-Holcus Or Aristis.

CHAP. 63.—HOLCUS OR ARISTIS.

Holcus[1] is a plant that grows in arid, stony, spots: it has an ear at the end of a fine stem, and looks like barley that has put forth again when cut. Attached to the head or around the arm, it extracts[2] spikes of corn adhering to the flesh; for which reason, some persons give it the name of "aristis."

1. Identified with the Hordeum murinum of Linnæus, and the same, most probably, as the Mouse barley of B. xxii. c. 65.

2. Whence its name, from the Greek ,e)/lkw, "to draw."