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Aristotle · On Plants §2.5.1-2.5.3

Plant Generation in Stones and Conditions for Nourishment

Passage 21 of 27 · Greek

Summary

This section explains how plants are generated inside hard stones through the interaction of air, heat, and moisture, outlining their basic survival elements, and describes how excess water or dryness obstructs their nourishment.

§2.5.1Πάλιν τὸ φυτὸν τὸ ἐν τοῖς λίθοις τοῖς στερροῖς γεννώμενον μακρῷ χρόνῳ συμβαίνει.
Again, the plant generated in hard stones occurs over a long period.
Ὁ γὰρ ἀὴρ ὁ ἐμπεριειλημμένος τούτοις βιάζεται ἀναβῆναι, ἔξοδον δὲ μὴ εὑρίσκων διὰ τὴν ἰσχυρότητα τῶν λίθων ἐπαναστρέφει καὶ θερμαίνει ἑαυτόν, ἐφέλκεταί τε τὸ ὑγρὸν τὸ ἐναπολειφθὲν τοῖς λίθοις ἄνω, ἐξέρχεταί τε ἀναθυμίασις σὺν ὑγρότητι, μετὰ ἀναλύσεως σμικροτάτων μερῶν τῶν ἐν τοῖς λίθοις.
For the air enclosed in them forces its way to ascend, but not finding an exit because of the strength of the stones, it turns back and heats itself, and draws upward the moisture left behind in the stones, and an exhalation comes out with moisture, along with the dissolution of the smallest parts of those in the stones.
§2.5.2Καὶ γὰρ πολλάκις ἔθος ἐστὶ τοῖς λίθοις ἵνα βοηθῇ αὐτοῖς ὁ ἥλιος διὰ τῆς δίας πέψεως.
For indeed often it is natural for stones that the sun helps them through its brilliant concoction.
Καὶ οὕτω γεννᾶται ἐξ αὐτῶν φυτόν.
And thus a plant is generated from them.
Ὄ δὲ οὐκ ἀναβαίνει, ἐὰν μὴ πλησίον ᾖ γῆς ἢ ὑγροῦ.
But it does not ascend unless it is near earth or moisture.
Ἡ γὰρ ὑπόστασις τοῦ φυτοῦ δεῖται γῆς ὕδατος καὶ ἀέρος.
For the subsistence of the plant requires earth, water, and air.
Κατανοείσθω τοιγαροῦν τὸ φυτόν· καὶ εἰ ἔστι πλησίον τοῦ ἡλίου, ταχέως γεννᾶται, εἰ δέ ἐστιν ὁ ἤλιος εἰς δυσμάς, βραδύνει.
Therefore, let the plant be observed; and if it is near the sun, it is quickly generated, but if the sun is toward the west, it is delayed.
§2.5.3Πάλιν τὸ φυτὸν ἐν κυριεύει τὸ ὕδωρ, οὐ παραχωρεῖ τῷ ἀέρι ἀναβαίνειν, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐ τρέφεται.
Again, in the plant in which water dominates, it does not allow the air to ascend, and for this reason it is not nourished.
Ὁμοίως καὶ ἡ ξηρότης ὅταν κρατήσῃ, ἀναστρέφει ἡ φυσικὴ θερμότης εἰς τὰ ἄκρα, καὶ βύει τοῦ φυτοῦ τὰς ὁδοὺς δι’ ὦν οἱ πόροι· καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐ τρέφεται τὸ φυτόν.
Likewise also, when dryness prevails, the natural heat turns back to the extremities, and blocks the pathways of the plant through which the pores are; and for this reason the plant is not nourished.

Notes

  1. §2.5.1συμβαίνει — The subject is the preceding neuter noun phrase `τὸ φυτὸν τὸ ἐν τοῖς λίθοις τοῖς στερροῖς γεννώμενον`. Instead of an impersonal construction ('it happens that...'), the plant itself functions as the subject, meaning its generation occurs over a long period.
  2. §2.5.2διὰ τῆς δίας πέψεως — `δίας` is the feminine genitive singular of the adjective `δῖος` ('heavenly', 'divine', 'brilliant'), modifying `πέψεως` and referring to the 'brilliant (or celestial) concoction' by the sun. Although some suspect a corruption of `ἰδίας` ('its own') in the transmission, this translation follows the received text.
  3. §2.5.3ἐν κυριεύει — The transmitted `ἐν` is understood as having lost the relative pronoun `ᾧ` (i.e., `ἐν [ᾧ]`), forming a relative clause modifying `τὸ φυτόν` to mean 'the plant in which water dominates'.

Cite this passage

Aristotle, On Plants §2.5.1-2.5.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg039.humanitext-grc1:2.5.1-2.5.3

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