Humanitext Reader

Theophrastus · Fragments §169.1

Causes of Plants Growing Parasitically on Trees

Passage 174 of 196 · Greek

Summary

Introducing how Theophrastus scientifically explains the phenomenon of different plant species growing parasitically on tree trunks, attributing it to the seed dispersal through bird droppings and germination aided by rain.

§169.1Fr. 169 Φυτοῦ ἑτέρου κλάδος ἐπιφύεται πρέμνῳ πρυνσήκων οἱ μηδὲ ἒν πολλάκις·
A branch of another plant often grows upon a trunk to which it is not related in any way.
τὸ δὲ αἴτιον Θ. λέγει φυσικώτατα ἀνιχνεύσας, ὅτι τὰ ὀρνύφια τὴν ἄνθην τῶν δένδρων σιτούμενα εἶτα ἐπὶ τοῖς φυτοῖς καθήμενα τὰ περιττὰ ἀποκρίνει·
Theophrastus states the cause, having traced it most scientifically, that small birds, feeding on the blossoms of trees and then perching on the plants, discharge their waste.
οὐκοῦν τὸ σπέρμα ἐν ταῖς κοιλάσι καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ ταῖς σαραγγώδεσιν ἐμπῖπτον καὶ ἐπαρδόμενον τοῖς ὄμβροις τοῖς ἐξ οὐρανοῦ εἶτα ἀναφύει ἐκεῖνο ἐξ ὧν ἐβλάστησεν, ἀναπείθει·
Therefore, the seed, falling into their hollows, holes, and porous crevices, and being watered by the rains from heaven, then grows into that very plant from which it sprouted—this convinces us.
οὕτω τοι καὶ ἐν ἐλαίᾳ συκῆν κατανοήσεις καὶ ἐν ἄλλῳ ἄλλο.
In this way indeed you will observe a fig tree in an olive tree, and in another plant, another.

Notes

  1. Fr. 169πρυνσήκων οἱ μηδὲ ἒν — A corrupted passage due to scribal errors (including iotacism). 'πρυνσήκων' is likely a corruption of 'προσήκων' (related to, belonging to), and 'οἱ' a corruption of the dative singular relative pronoun 'ᾧ'. The entire phrase 'προσήκων ᾧ μηδὲ ἕν' means 'belonging to which in no way,' indicating that the parasitic plant is of a completely different species from the host tree.
  2. Fr. 169ἀναπείθει — A verb meaning 'convinces' or 'persuades.' Although the subject is not explicitly stated, the objective natural phenomenon described in the preceding clause—that the seed falls into holes, is watered by rain, and sprouts into its original plant—serves as the subject, functioning in the structure 'this fact convinces us.'

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §169.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:169.1

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