ἄκανθ-α[ᾰκ],ης,ἡ,(ἀκήA)
A. thorn, prickle, Arist. PA 655a19 , Thphr. HP 6.1.3 : hence,
1. any thornyorprickly plant(in Od. 5.328 (pl.) prob.Eryngium campestre), S. Fr. 718 , Eub. 107.19 , Theoc. 1.132 , etc.: prov.,οὐ γὰρ ἄκανθαιnothistles, i.e. 'an easy job', Ar. Fr. 272 , 483 :—special kinds:ἄ. Ἀραβική smaller milk-thistle, Notobasis syriaca, Dsc. 3.13 ;ἄ. βασιλική fish-thistle, Cnicus Acarna, Thphr. CP 1.10.5 ;ἄ. Ἰνδική,= Balsamodendron Mukul, Id. HP 9.1.2 ;ἄ. λευκή Acacia albida, ib. 4.2.8 ; = ἄ. βασιλική , Dsc. 3.12 ;ἄ. λευκὴ τρίοζος,= Euphorbia antiquorum, Thphr. HP 4.4.12 ;ἄ. ἀκανώδης(prob.)cornthistle, Carduus arvensis, ib. 10.6 .
2. of other plants, e.g.Spanish broom, Spartium junceum, Str. 3.5.10 :— = ἀκακία, ἄ. Αἰγυπτία , Thphr. HP 9.1.2 . cf. POxy. 1188.10 ( 13
A.
D. ), etc.;ἄ. μέλαινα Acacia arabica, Thphr. HP 4.2.8 , cf. Hdt. 2.96 , Thd. Is. 41.19 ;ἄ. δψάς,= Acacia tortilis, Thphr. HP 4.7.1 .
3. centralflowering-bud ofχαμαιλέων λευκός, ib. 9.12.1 , Dsc. 3.8 .
4.
= ἄκανθος , Ps.- Dsc. 3.17 .
5. in pl.,pricklesorspinesof the hedgehog and of certain fish, Ion Trag. 38 , Arist. HA 530b8 .