Botanical Names for English Readers 1000181886

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BOTANICAL

ENGLISH

NAMES

HEADERS.

Digiti zed

by

G00gle

LONDON:

E.

NEWMAN,

PRINTER,

EASTCHEAP,

32,

BOTOLPH

LANE,

E.C.

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BOTANICAL

NAMES

READERS.

ENGLISH

H.

RANDAL

"There time

upon

be

may

the

a

study

of knowing

the

continually

meeting

names

difference of Botany of the

with."

"

of

ALCOCK.

as

opinion

; but

plants

there

is

of which

to the one

man

advantage only

opinion has

to make

of as

spending

to the use,

or

much

importance

which

he

is

Lindley.

LONDON: t

L.

REEVE

"

CO.,

5, HENRIETTA

STREET,

COVENT

GARDEN.

1876.

Google

Digiti zed by

G00gle

TO

REV.

THE

Of

AS

A

gxth,

OF

TOKEN

SMALT,

FOR

HIS

PRACTICAL

AND

AMONG

ALL

DEAR

%obxmt

RATIONAL

THOUGHT

EDUCATION

A

DURING

AND

^ki"

OF

ENCOURAGEMENT

EXTENDED

CLASSES

ESTEEM,

PERSONAL

OF

AND

ADMIRATION

B.A.,

WRIGHT,

JOHN

TO

AS

NUMBER

OF

YEARS,

A

FRIEND,

is

1)T) gltbitttitb

E.

H.

ALCOCK.

Digitized

by

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PREFACE.

It is

a

common

complaint

to know

something

progress

because

so

hard

It is much some

in

attempted

knowledge attached, for

so

its history;

work

to be

as

far

in

name,

and,

authorities into

two

plants

as

order this

to

parts,

the

in

are

convey

a

the

popular

have

I have

no

also

authority

an

some

I have

not

I have

who

give

first of

they

explain

oldest

required

themselves,

difficulty.

they

language. the

that

me

when

to

pages

I could,

as

to

forgotten.

useful to those

foreign

any

are

they

when

British

of

of

each

the

following

the

of plants

names

be

to

no

the

information

more

they

are

names

so

manner,

of

the

and

less liable

scientific

lessen

to

wish

make

occurred

than

meaning

can

names

easier to remember

understood, the

it has

done

be

might

that they

scientific

to learn, and

something

convey

of Botany

the

those who

among

idea

account

divided which

of

is

the an

Google

PREFACE.

Till

of the

of most

account

time of Linneus,

time,

a

so

of plants up to the

namers

arranged

as

to give, at the

same

general sketch of the History of Botany in

that period ; the second part deals with the meanings

of the

names

only.

It gives

me

great pleasure to acknowledge

obligation,and express my

best thanks, to the Eev.

John Wright, of Bath, and to Mr. James the British Museum, me

many

much Hudcab

my

Britten, of

for their assistance in giving

valuable suggestions and references, and

general information. House, Jcmuary

Bury,

Lancashire.

31st, 1876.

Google

INTRODUCTION.

It is impossible knowledge names

of Botany

whole

Kingdom

as

"

distinguished There

are,

names,

for,

studied

as

this the

years, and

information probably

our

oil,wine, and

be

native

numerous

native edible fruits

people

with to be

seem

food.

inhabitants

and

sea-wejed

during

the

Our

chiefly milk

the

the

in

of the in

the

great

last two

way

the

and

changes

thousand

the

would

flesh of cattle for fish, shell-fish,

parts.

that

never

could

supplying

of

interior, and maritime

as

productions ;

sustenance

natural

small

of olives, dates,

few, and

the

may

little use

their

read

are

both

This

abroad.

other vegetable

service

hundred

three

for by the comparatively

we

been

only

by importing

plants, and

be

English

old

has

about

from

In the Bible

of much

Botany

for

of the not

could

really

commenced

names

and

section of the

that they have.

names

see,

scientific

fiftieth part

few

country

study

food.

our

shall

the

of Britain

very

be accounted

variety of human

we

very superficial

small a

by any English

indeed,

in

a

such

less than

"

a

learning

without

inhabitants

are

but

any

Even

of plants.

Vegetable

but

to gain

have

years,

standing Notwith-

taken

place

beef

roast

is

b

Google

INTRODUCTION.

stillconsidered our national dish, and our cheese is celebrated, but oysters are not so abundant as they used to be. Many

Latin

that

names

Greek,

or

we

as

"

consider English are simply Angelica, Crocus, Asparagus;

sometimes the terminations are slightly altered, as in Agrimony (Agrimonia),Saxifrage (Saxifraga), "

Gentian

translations of continental DeviTs-bit (Morsus diaboli),

(Gentiana) ; others names,

as

"

Hound's-tongue

are

Loose-strife (Lysi(Cynoglossum),

machia). We

we might suppose, however, when like "Jack of the Buttery (Sedum "

meet with

that acre),

a name

such

this is not always the

best authority

at any rate, is English ; but

a one,

on

case,

these

for Dr. Prior, who is our matters, tells us of this

' absurd appellation in his Popular Names of British to be a corruption of BotPlants/ that it " seems

iheriacqueto Buttery Jack, the plant having been used as

theriac or anthelmintic." The popular names of our a

plants are well worth study, and are of great interest ; but they are more for the student of philology than for the systematic botanist, as they are of littleuse to the latter. Mr. Bentham

has invented

('Handbook of a

number

Flora')

by prefixing an to the Latin or Greek generic of

names,

English specific name one, altering the termination necessary, in accordance with as

the British

of the latter where our

usual practice, so

to give the appearance of a systematic arrangement language. He gives us such names in our own

Google

XI

INTRODUCTION.

as

Sisymbrium, Cabbage Brassica, Common

Common

Cerast Yellow

Purple Astragal (Astragalus), (Cerastium), "c. It is difficultto Oxytrope (Oxytropis),

any advantage in this-plan, for, even if we could vation, our overcome repugnance to such a wholesale innosee

these

names

are

difficultto

as

the proper scientificones,

as

remember

spurious

nearly so serviceable. I have no doubt that

names

are

and

more

are

not

readily

when there is some remembered meaning attached to them, but with .a littleperseverance they may be learnt

even

without

the advantages

a

classical education or the assistance of this book; indeed, foreign plants are called by their native many names,

a

with

Greek

or

of

Latin termination.

These

may or may not have known meanings, but, when they have, these meanings are known only to very few. We have an illustration of the ease with which be acquired, in the success botanical names may

that has followed the labours of the working-men botanists of Lancashire and the counties. adjoining has given an interesting account of Mr. Grindon* them ; and he tellsus that " the study of botany by the operatives about Manchester, at least in a precise

and. methodical

manner,

appears

to date from

the

* * * * " The establishment of the Linnean system." business of the meetings was to compare the floras

of

the

plants

several neighbourhoods, and and information in general *

"

Manchester

Walks

to on

exchange

subjects

and Wild Flowers.'

Google

Xll

INTRODUCTION.

held connected with botanical science." They were monthly in the several villagesand towns in rotation ; there was a general and annually, in the summer, meeting

of all the societies,at

a

differentplace each

year. This

annual organisation still exists, and an held in July last, at which I was meeting was bably present. A large number of people assembled, profifteen hundred. The was over weather or,

unfavourable,

I

told, there would have been two last year there were over

was

and that A great thousand. more;

of specimens were number by the president, Mr. Percival.

exhibited and named informed that The members are and are

"

as

mination specificdiscri-

in botanical nomenclature sought to be obtained by the aid

accuracy

the chief objects

of the meetings, all persons who attend are hereby mens respectfullysolicitedto bring with them such speciof plants either indigenous or exotic, but "

they can as conveniently particularly the former These were arranged on a long table, in procure.' the tent in which the meeting was held, in the order "

'

of the Linnean classes,all of which were represented. Mr. Percival named them in succession, giving first

the scientific, and then an the British plants were locally Holly,

Ked

so,

among which Henbane, Deadly

Bryony,

and whether

English,

name.

Many

of

or either generally rare be mentioned Sea may

Nightshade,

Asarabacca,

Besides their names, and Sea Beet. they were British or exotic, occasional

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INTRODUCTION.

Xlll

mention was made of local habitats. It was provided that the specimens " shall become the property of the President, who shall dispose of them in such a he may manner as think will give general satisfaction and it was noticeable that all plants of special interest or rarity were eagerly applied for. I have no doubt that much useful information was ;"

carried away from the meeting, and much good feeling was manifested. It does not appear that the Greek and Latin have been found of great difficulty to these names botanists. It is

easy task for anyone

no

to

name

of plants brought rapidly and correctly a number indiscriminately from fields,gardens, and hothouses, with a mischievous intention to puzzle the and some

President, "

Percival was

sports ; but Mr. seldom at fault; and though his facility

such

deformities

as

is extraordinary, there of these societieswho

are

numerous

or

other members

task undertake the same These societieshave always

can

with creditand success. had members of great zeal, industry, and botanical knowledge ; and their labours have been of considerable thfcm may be service to the science. Among

mentioned the late Mr. John Nowell, of Todmorden, operative cotton-spinner, whose contributions to botany are knowledge our of cryptogamic well known. botanists always begin These working-men an

to learn by having

the

names

and I believe this is both

an

of plants told them, expeditious and

a

good

plan.

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INTRODUCTION.

XIV

of plants from books, which requires careful study, is always the best when it can be done ; but this is sometimes a matter of great difficulty, and even expert botanists frequently

To

ascertain the

names

make mistakes. Some species require to be examined at different seasons of the year, and it does not always happen that a single person can obtain the He may gather a plant far specimens. from home in flower, which will not enable him to determine its species, and he may not have an necessary

plant in fruit. opportunity of collecting the same instances, though Hence it happens that in many keys to most-carefully arranged artificial help the student to the name of a plant that he may find, as in Bentham's 'Handbook of the British

there

are

Flora' and Grindon's ' British and he is unable to trace it. In such

Garden Botany/ I know

a case

no

tion. to give the informabetter plan than to get some one It is better,I think, to obtain the name of a than to lay it on one side with plant by any means, the idea of finding it out oneself at

some

future

time, which may never come. I have not attempted to include all the names that have been given for British plants in my list,

but have

endeavoured

are

now

may be met with in the I know of no acknowrecent standard works. ledged standard to which we might refer in order to

in general most

to select those which

use,

ascertain which proper

name

of

and which

out of two, a

three,

British plant,

as

or

four, is the

though

there

are

Google

INTRODUCTION.

XV

rules to determine The adhered to.

which is correct, they are not ' London Catalogue of British be taken as our standard listof plants,

Plants' may but its compiler, Mr. H. C. Watson, does not profess to have named them according to strict rule. He says ixihis explanation

rule has

been

of the

strictlyadhered

'

Catalogue

to in the

'

:

" "

No

selection

The nearest approach of specificor varietal names. to a fixed rule has been to that of using the name deemed likely to be familiar or intelligibleto the of English majority new

name

on

botanists.

Wilfully to impose

a

a

plant, already sufficientlynamed, On pretence should be treated as an impertinence. of priority,to rake up and restore an old name which

had fallen out of use, should be scouted as mischief. impels authors into The personal vanity which these practices should be denounced as a nuisance.

Notwithstanding

some

ever, this expression of opinion, howthe Editor has found himself obliged to adopt names, and also some needlessly imposed

Moreover, unwisely restored names. name, said that the selection of one

it may

truly be

among several the same bestowed upon plant, is often purely optional or conventional, and the selection is not in breach or gard disreseldom made by botanists, even A name rules about priority,"c. once published for any plant is, and remains, one of its names, and may be employed as such, whatever the number of other names which have been subsequently

of their

own

bestowed

upon

the

same

plant.

Often the

Google

INTRODUCTION.

XVI

firstname

remains the really correct name according to strictrule, although its use is gradually given up

by general consent for some Thus, in newer name. Erica vulgaris and these four couplets of names Galluna vulgaris, Azalea procumbens and Loiseleuria "

procumbens, Elodea canadensis and Anacharis AlsinasEpipactis atrorubens and Epipactis ovalis the trum, by former of the two is the true and correct name, "

now rule,while the latter is the name conventionally adopted among English botanists. In other instances, is purely optional, the choice between two names

independently of rules, as between Pyrola and unijlora Gnaphalium dioicum and Antennaria Monesis grandijlora, dioica9 Hyacinthus nonscriptus and Endymion nutans, alpestreand Pseudathyrium Alpestre." blue bell According to this system the common

Polypodium

be called indifferentlyand correctly Hyacinthus, In this and similar Scilla,Agraphis, or Endymion. it has been necessary for me to explain all the cases

may

these ones

be simpler if not unnecessarily multiplied, and incorrect

The

names. were were

study of Botany

would

discountenanced.

In preparing my listI have consulted the standard works that have been published on the British Flora the modern

of classification,viz., 'The British Flora/ by Sir W. J. Hooker and Dr. Arnott; on

system

of British Botany,' by Professor Babington 'Handbook of the British Flora,' by Mr. Bentham;

'

Manual

;

Sowerby's English Botany,' 3rd ed., by Dr. Syme ; ' and The Student's Flora of the British Islands,'by '

Google

INTRODUCTION.

Dr. J. D. Hooker.

XV11

I have

also introduced those names of British ferns which are in general use with fern cultivators,being guided chiefly by Mr. Moore's ' Nature-printed Ferns/ but have not gone into the many

synonyms.

Our botanists of to-day find it necessary to from the British Flora several plants that formerly admitted by mistake. have Some

reject were

only

been recorded once several years ago, and the record has not been verifiedby a specimen : such instances be fairly judged to be mere blunders. Other may plants that have been from cultivation, and have

few have

colonists;

as

tonia perfoliata and ' Catalogue London 269

admitted, viz. "

"c,

Impositions,

Anacharis of

British

residents or plants ClayThe

Alsinastrum. Plants,' 6th

ed., formerly

been species that have " vation,' Aliens, Casuals, Waifs of Cultiof " Ambiguities, Errors, 115 ; and

Extinctions,"

154.

I have

not

purposely

of any well-known plants, omitted the names gonum PolyDatura Stramonium as (Thorn-apple),

Fagopyrum cus,

that

casual weeds

be considered permanent for instance the American

that they may

such

are

escapes

seeds or plants accidentally Of these, a with other foreign produce. established themselves to such an extent

imported

'

some

are

from

sprung

excludes

called British

"c,

though

plants. The present

Narcissus (Buck-wheat), they

generic

are

not

names

indigenous

are

poetiBritish

explained

at

Google

XV111

INTRODUCTION.

less length by Hooker and Arnott; greater or Mrs. Lankester, in Syme's ed. of ' English Botany ; ' and Dr. Hooker, in The Student's Flora ; but the '

'

old substantive ones,

are

not,

so

modern English de Botanique ou

names,

that

far as I book.

am

are

now

aware,

as

specific explained in any used

M. Theis, in his

'

Dictionnaire Etymologique

Glossaire '

(Paris,

great store of information, which has I have given the of it been often reproduced.

1810),gives much names

of authorities as the necessity occurs, to giving a listof authors quoted.

in preference

Google

PART A

Sketch to

of

the

Botanical

History

I. of

Nomenclature,

Botany, up

in

to

the

reference

Time

of

Linneus.

Google

Google

OF

HISTORY

BOTANY.

CHAPTEK

FROM

THE

EARLIEST

I.

TO

TIMES

THE

CHRISTIAN

ERA.

" 1. Eably know

We

little about

very

to

frequently

are

man's

to, and

must

suppose

of those

ancient writings

they

as

that

happened

which

of Botany

early history

alluded

we

existence

knowledge

some

the

the fact that in the most

in the east, beyond plants

Botany.

Eastern

are

necessary

he

had

always

to

grow

in his

neighbourhood. A

great number

Bible, many

there

great doubt.

We

was

Solomon the that was

Hebrews,

wrote

cedar

tree

springeth not

may

considerable

the

among

are

a

many

be

others that

sure

knowledge for

we

are

given

unacquainted

wall."*

with any *

even

and

unto

Josephus

of their natures,

1 Kings

their

understand on

is

early period

very

to

treatise

that is in Lebanon,

of the

a

there

which

about at

the

with tolerable

of plants

comprehensive

out

throughout

mentioned

stillbe determined

can

of which

certainty, but

there

are

of plants

uses

that

them,

"from

the

hyssop

adds nor

"for he

omitted

ivf

Google

2

HISTORY

OF

BOTANY.

inquiries about them, but described them all like a philosopher, his exquisite knowledge of their and demonstrated Whether Josephus had any further several properties."* authority than is to be found in the Bible is doubtful. We " told that the wisdom of Solomon are excelled the wisdom of the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt," from which we may infer that similar knowledge was widely Besides the use spread. This period was about b. c. 1000. timber, food, and medicine, they probably also played a considerable part in the composition of philters and charms, and in other mysteries of sorcery. of plants

as

" 2. Early

Greeks.

traditional history of the science of medicine among the Greeks, if we could accept it as of much value, extends further back than the time of Solomon, for JSsculapius, the The

panied, celebrated, though mythical, physician of antiquity, accomare told, the Argonautic expedition (b.c. 1263), we considered so skilled in the medicinal power of and was plants, that he

was

called the inventor

as

well

as

the god of

medicine. The most

down ancient writings on plants that have come to us are those of Hippocrates, who mentions the uses of two hundred and forty. He was born at Cos, a small island He studied physic archipelago, b. c. 459. diligentlyand attentively,improving himself by reading the tablets in the temples of the gods, where each individual in the Grecian

had written down the diseases under which he had laboured, by which he had recovered. He delivered and the means Athens with

a

Athens.

from

a

dreadful pestilence,and crown,

golden

Hippocrates *

and

was

publicly rewarded

the privileges of

openly declared the

Antiquities,Book

a

measures

viii.,chap. ii.

citizen of

he had

OF

HISTORY

taken to

8

BOTANY.

disease, and

candidly confessed that of forty-two patients entrusted to his care only seventeen had He is said to have lived in the greatest recovered. cure

a

popularity, but

in careful study of the symptoms and course of diseases, and in applying certain scientificprinciples, which he had deduced from his was

continually employed

He has been called the observations, to effect their cure. father of medicine, for not only is he the earliest scientific but being a careful observer, and also writer on the

subject,

a

thinker, many

sound

guides

to this day.

revered by name

of

of his teachings have remained as died B.C. 361, in his 99th year, He

after his death he received, with the Great, the same honours that were paid to all, and

Hercules.* Theophrastus born

was

B.C.

about

under

native of Eresus, in Lesbos, and was He studied under Plato, and afterwards

a

390.

Aristotle, and

during

a

treatises oil different : about subjects

long life wrote twenty

of these

200 are

stillin existence, two of them being on plants. Not being larger a a physician, his 'History of Plants' embraces view of the vegetable kingdom than the work of Hippocrates.

He

treats firston

tions physiology, and then goes on to observatrees, different kinds of timber, and the choice of on it; afterwards there is a book on shrubs, thorny plants, roses,

and

other

gardens, and

ornamental

plants usually cultivated in

then follow kitchen garden

plants, and those grain of different kinds : his last book

that grow wild, and is upon gums and exudations, and *

As

is nearly always

the

means

of obtaining

with respect to very old authors, of the life of neither all the incidents that are generally set down Hippocrates, nor the authenticity of all the works that have been It has been said that be implicitly relied on. attributed to him, can out of seventy-two

the

that at

one

case

time

or

another have

been called his,

only about one-fourth are really so,

B2

Google

4

OP

HISTORY

BOTANY.

indebted to Theopbrastus for the preservation of the works of Aristotle, who entrusted them to him he succeeded that philosopher in the his death-bed;

We

them.

on

Lyceum,

are

he became

where

increased to the number

He

of 2000.

in his 87th, according

some,

celebrated that his auditors

so

died, according to

to others in his 107th

year,

shortness of life, and complaining of the and partialityof Nature, in granting longevity to the crow to the stag, but not to man.

lamenting

is

There *

the

little uncertainty

a

is said by

He

Dioscorides.

to the

as

to have been

some

time

exact

of

physician to

Cleopatra, who killed themselves b. c. 30 ; by others he is reported, with perhaps more probability, to have lived in the time of Nero, who killed himself a. d. 68.

Antony

He

and

native of Cilicia,and applied himself to the a

was

was

firsta soldier, but afterwards

of physic; being a plants in respect to their

study

physician, Dioscorides treats on medicinal uses, and his work resembles

is

Medica/

It

mammals,

fishes, and

from

them,

as

not

confined

to

a

*

modern

plants,

but

Materia

includes

insects, with the products derived milk, butter, cheese, wool, honey, "c. ;

far the greater part of the work, however, refers to plants, and these are divided in a general way, though not very strictly,into the aromatic,

minerals

are

also included.

By

Dioscorides alimentary, and medicinal. for a great number of our old Greek names has *

been

Materia

much

read, commented

Medica'

was

the

on,

is the

authority

of plants, and he His and quoted.

first of the

Greek

botanical

introduced which, on the invention of printing, was Europe in a Latin translation by Barbaras, a to western works

Venetian nobleman

;

it was

printed in 1478, but a translation followed in 1483. In 1548 another

soon of Theopbrastus translation of Dioscorides

Italian physician

:

it ran

was

published

through seventeen

by Matthiolus,

an

editions, though

Google

OF

HISTORY

a

bulky

5

BOTANY,

work, and it is said that 32,000

before the year 1561.

Another

copies

esteemed

and much

sold

were

edition

published ill1598. These three Greek writers, Hippocrates, Theophrastus, and Dioscorides, are the authorities for all the Greek names

of Dioscorides, by Caspar Bauhin^as

of plants up to the Christian Era.*

" 8. Latin Wbiters There

were

a

number

before

of Latin

interest in plants, and wrote of them

wrote

treatises

on

Christian Era.

the

authors

took

who

great

of them incidentally, and some Horticulture was husbandry.

also a favourite amusement of several of the Latin poets ; hence it frequently happens, that though these writers can scarcely be quoted as botanical authorities, names of plants which are stillin use are to be found firstin their works.

be named

these the following may

Among

:

"

Plautus,

a

Cato, an orator and writer of comedy, who died B.C. 184. bandry, historian, who died B.C. 150. He wrote a treatise on husand it is o" him

story is told,

that the well-known

that he repented of only three things in his life: to have gone by sea, when he could have gone by land; to have passed a day inactive ; and to have told a secret to his wife. Varro, died b.c. 26 ; he was a learned writer of 500 different "

works, all of which Virgil,tftewell known

'Georgics/

a

written at the

nobleman, *

There

who were

great note

Botany,

list is given Tragus.

one

on

B.C.

19 ; his famous

agriculture.

agriculture in four books, was particular request of Maecenas, a Eoman a was great patron of letters. The first

poem

on

other Greek

writers of less note,

did (forinstance Aristotle),

though

their works

lost excepting Eoman poet, died

are

they wrote

something

not on

or

who, though

contribute very much the

subject.Not

a

of to

few of

lost,therefore I confine myself to these three. A full by Gesner, in a preface to the Herbal of Hieronymus

are

Google

6

book

HISTORY

OF

BOTANY.

treats of ploughing, and

preparing the ground; the second of sowing and planting ; the third of the managements cattle; and the fourth gives an account of bees, and the

manner

B.C.

16,

was

of keeping them. much

the elegance of his intimate with was

Macer,

a

poet, who

died

for his genius and learning, and Plants. He on ; he wrote a poem

admired verse

him, but all his Ovid, who mentions lost. Columella flourished about the middle of

works are the firstcentury, and wrote

a

work

on

husbandry.

Google

CHAPTEE

II. /

BOTANY

PEOM

THE

TIME

first century

history

branch

call Social

all that

of Natural

A

Science ;

a

the elder,

after he had appointed

his

set himself

we

a

now

might two

completed

remain

the

concerning

accepted what

he

years

monument

of

his

and

perseverance,

untiring

during

his meals

always

moved not

waste

Caius

Plinius

of his life was

he

was

of his spare book at

about

be lost from

younger) that when was

Eome

are

much

he

in

time to literature.

a

litter, so

in the

the only portion

was

to

Even ;

he

time

(Pliny the

country,

that

as

of walking

told by his nephew

in retirement

the

that

he disapproved

was

occupied

student

enthusiastic

and

army,

at Eome,

though

23.

a.d.

generally read to him

was

study, and

We

in the

augurs

but

"

an

such

some

of time.

;

called

Como,

or

spent

of the

of Spain

moment

in the bath

one

made

secundus,

either at Verona

part

Governor

every

spent

and

ever

will

born

been

devote

a

or

which

was

with public work,

as

which

is signalized in4 the

era

known

work

man,

remarkable

considerable

might

Pliny.

of Pliny, who

was

THE

TO

erudition.

This

Pliny

Century.

History,

intellectual power,

enormous

PHYSICIANS.

by the work

before his death, and

his

AEAB

of the Christian

of Botany

task of recording every

CENTUEY

THE

OF

" 1. First The

FIEST

not

the

time

allotted

Google

8

HISTORY

by him he

explains that in speaking of the bath he was time when actually in the water, being scraped with the strigil*he either

to study, and

the

means

for while he was had some book read to him,

interrupting

once

BOTANY.

OF

a

person

dictated himself.

or

of the mispronunciation

account

reading to him,

was

who

some

of

A friend

word, and

on

making

read the passage over understobd him, again, "You didn't you?" "Yes," said Pliny. said the other. "Why this him go over it again ? Through then did you make

him

interruption of yours we have lost more than ten lines." It was a maxim of his that no book is so bad but that some good may be got out of it. The number of authors quoted by Pliny has been counted, and found to be between four five hundred.

and

the World'

Buffon

' of his History of compilation from all that

writes thus

it"" It is, so to say,

a

had been written before his time

record of all that was excellent or useful; but his record has in it features so grand, this compilation contains matter grouped in a manner :

a

novel, that it is preferable to most

so

that treat upon

*

The

similar

of the original works Cuvier also places it

subjects."

used both by the Greeks and Bomans in their elaborate system of bathing, to scrape perspiration and other impurities from the skin after the bath, as our grooms strigilwas

scrape horses, It

was

a

as

of oil from

a

instrument

instrument

with

not blunt, its edge

it was

"

the skin is dressed in modern

small dropping bottle. Generally called * Pliny's Natural

proper work

as

one-handed

blade, and,

t

or

an

translation of

*

Historia Mundi

that includes not only various

used in religious observances,

a

straight handle

was

?

"

crowns,

and

a

curved

softened by the application

History.' '

Baths."

Turkish

or

Can

is it so

and

this be called a good a titlefor a

chaplets, and plants

but the price of dining tables, and

a

which the freest stretch of a very elastic subjectcould scarcely bring within any comprehensible limit of ' " " Natural History ? Humboldt for Cosmos adopts the bappy term

quantity

matter

of other

"

his similar work.

Google

OF

HISTORY

9

BOTANY.

" The amongst the most valuable productions of antiquity: " ments work of Pliny," says he, is one of the most precious monu"

that have affords proof of who

was

To

a

down

eome an

to

us

from

astonishing amount

warrior and

a

ancient times, and of erudition in one

statesman."

modern reader the first impression on taking up the 1 History of the World of surprise would probably be one at the astounding superstition of the time and the credulity a

'

of the writer, but further study would these blemishes

are

Pliny died

work.

a

cause

him

to feel that

quite lost in the general grandeur of the martyr to the cause of science. On the

Vesuvius which of that great eruption of Mount destroyed Herculaneum at Misenum, and Pompeii, he was the fleet,and being surprised at the where he commanded occasion

cloud of dust and ashes, of which he did not know the reason, he immediately set sail in a small vessel for the mountain, which he found to be in a The inhabitants had fled, but Pliny's state of eruption. sudden

appearance

of

curiosity induced

him

the

amidst

fire, and

and

On

escape, he sunk

to remain

tremendous

earthquake, ashes.

a

all night to make

tions, observa-

horrible confusion

and

of

continual showers of pumice stones the following day, when endeavouring to down suffocated by the thick sulphurous

him, a.d. His attendants 78. surrounded escaped, and his body was found three days afterwards. firstprinted in 1468, since which time there Pliny was

vapours

have

that

been

several editions.

An

English

translation by

published in the latter part of the by Dr. recent one reign of Elizabeth, and we have a more Bostock and Mr. Eiley, B.A., in Bohn's Classical Library

Philemon

Holland

was

(6 vols., 1855), which

is copiously

illustrated by

notes,

references, and comments.

Google

10

HISTOBY

OF

" 2. Second Centuby. Apuleius

"

BOTANY.

Apuleius

born at Madura,

was

a

and

Galen.

colony in Africa, studied at Carthage,

Roman

He time in the second century. Rome, and Athens, and being of a very inquiring mind, travelledabout a good deal in different countries, indeed to some

"

all his fortune, so that when he would become a priest of Osiris* he had to'pawn his clothes to raise the necessary money for the expenses of the ceremonies an

such

extent

as

to spend

of his reception. Afterwards Apuleius maintained himself by pleading causes, in which he soon became famous. Lodging time in the house of a rich widow, called some Pudentilla, who was taken with his youth, vivacity, much

agreeable conversation, and other Apuleius married her, not only as

attractive qualities, told to the are we

was satisfaction of the widow's much eldest son, who him, to but attached also at his solicitation. Others of his dissatisfiedwith the match, and he was wife's relations were

involved in

lawsuit, being accused of sorcery. Apuleius defended himself with great ability,pointing out that it did a

not require the arts of

a

magician to induce

a woman,

had

who like

been thirteen years a widow, to marry a person himself. He also said that his wife was neither young nor beautiful,and stated generally the disadvantages of marrying After this he turned

widows.

his attention to the study of

medicine. He wrote a work "concerning the names and virtues of herbs," which gives the names of 130 in Greek, Latin, Egyptian, Punic, Keltic, Dacian, and philosophy

and

in the Oriental languages which he had of some his travels.t *

sure

acquired in

Osiris was

a great deity of the Egyptians, of cular whose origin partihave been given, but they cannot be said to rest on any accounts

authority.

mention

it has

be well to no connection with Botany, it may Apuleius' that, of writings, the most celebrated is an amusing

t Though

Google

HISTORY

"

authority

father

His

130.

a

high

of the most eminent physicians of any age He was born at Pergamus, in Asia Minor*

one

country."*

a.d.

11

BOTANY.

(or L. Claudius Galenus) is styled by

Galen

or

OF

an

was

geometrician, and appears to have been in good circumstances and to have spared no expense in the education of his son, who often architect and

of great affection and respect. At first he was intended for a philosopher, but changed his profession before his father's death (which happened when he

for

in terms

him

mentions

20 years

was some

years

the most

under

old)to that of medicine, which

he

studied in with great assiduity various cities and eminent professors. On his return to his

country in 158 he

physician to a school of gladiators, and in his thirty-fourth year he went to Eome, where he remained about four years, and then left; it has

own

was

appointed

been asserted by some, to avoid the pestilence which broke to believe that this There is no reason out there in 167. was

the

same

Rome,

cause

time.

of his departure, though it happened at the Galen could not have led a very pleasant lifein

of his disputes with the other members of his profession, for which there might be at least two first,he was without doubt altogether superior to reasons, on

account

"

his contemporaries, then he was himself at times violent and He had hardly reached his own bitter in his language. M. he was by the emperors country when summoned Aureliu^

and

northern

campaigns, and after the death of in Borne some time as physician to the imperial

remained

L. Verus

to

attend

them

in

one

of their Verus he

" Golden Ass," one of the few works that allegoricalpiece called the down to us from the ancients having the character of what have come by several critics, on we call light reading. It has been commented

and translated into differentlanguages. * Dr. W. A. Greenhill, in * The Imperial

Dictionary of Universal

Biography.*

Google

12

HISTORY

OF

BOTANY.

family.

Of the remainder of his life,which lasted thirty or forty years longer, littleis known, nor it be stated with can or

certainty when

where

"

he died.

His

personal character

be gathered from

his works ; and notwithstanding his ness, excessive laudation of himself, and his controversial bitterthere appears to have been much in him that was truly

may

The

variety of his intellectual very great ; and he was not only beyond acquirements were all comparison the most eminent physician of his age, but

admirable.

extent

and

learned and accomplished various branches of philosophy."* also

a

man,

well acquainted with

Galen's writings were very numerous, including short treatises. Many more,

it is said 500 or of them are lost,

being burnt in the Temple

of Peace at Eome, where they had been deposited, and it is supposed that several are now libraries. lying unknown or unnoticed in different European

About

150

known

are

to be extant.

for Hippocrates, and great admiration greatly indebted to his writings acknowledges that he was It is chieflyin his works on for his knowledge of medicine. had

Galen

a

hygiene, and the ,and His great physicians' art generally, that Galen excels. on work plants is considered the least important, containing but littleoriginal matter, and being in some respects anatomy,

physiology,

inferior to the work

" 3. Fkom

the

dietetics,

of Dioscorides.

Second

to

the

Eighth

Centuey.

Paulus.

"

of Galen and his numerous writings bore absolute sway for many centuries ; indeed it is not too much to say that his teachings ruled supreme for 1000 years, or useless in his system and that some of what was erroneous

The

was

great

renown

not superseded

before the eighteenth century. *

.

I there-

Dr. W. A. Greenhill.

Google

HISTORY

fore mention to

only

one

13

BOTANY.

OF

physician

as

any importance

having

for subject

our

is not

who

six centuries after Galen. This is Paulus, recent only frequently quoted by the more

herbalists, but whose

are

works

reckoned

valuable relics.of ancient science by those of and

were

Adams,

considered and

were

worthy

published

the most

amongst our

own

of translation by Mr. by the

Sydenham

time,

Francis

Society in

1844.

Paulus JEgineta, have

born

been

Paul of JEgina, because he is said to in that island, was a celebrated Greek whose life littleis known, or precisely the or

physician, about he lived, though time when authorities to have

been

it is supposed

at the

by

the best

of the

sixth or the His great work, in seven beginning of the seventh century. ledge books, which is at once a compilation of pre-existing knowto and a record of his own observations, which seem end

"

have

been

gathered

in

wide

different

travels through

in respect, and as he may countries, preserves his memory be hereafter quoted it is necessary to take this brief notice "

of him ; otherwise there would to mention

be nothing of any importance

between Galen and the Arab

physicians.

Google

III.

CHAPTER

ARAB

The

disturbed

in

are

we

which

Morocco,

Egypt,

Persia,

their known them

remedies

into

Materia

Medica,

several

aromatics

rhubarb,

in place

before them, have Arabs:

been "

and

medicine,

and

the only

"Berberries,

fistula, galangals,

made are

mild

of the

more

many to

be

as

additions

camphire, kermes,

The

and

on

of

poetry,

and

chemistry,

use

of mineral

additions

to

the

especially noticed as

senna

drastic medicines

used.

of the

Most

writings

the

by

conveyed

by hundreds.

purgatives,

ones

hyssop,

was

Arabia,

Mohammedans,

and

extended

which

among

mentioned

Syria,

astrology,

They

less remarkable.

not

though

philosophers

their

though

astronomy,

religion, mathematics, are

included

be counted

medicine,

studied

in Arabic,

Mesopotamia,

Christians,

may

writers

for several

generally known

they wrote

They

of Aristotle, Jews,

school

of Science

occupied

latterly their learning

Spain.

its abode

up

of the history

of

the writers of different oriental

classed

and

into

Moors

took

philosophers

because

India,

as

countries,

are

to the progress

stop

Science

period

celebrated

Physicians,"

this head

under

a

is entirely

entering,

by those

"Arab

the

learning, and The

by the incursions

caused

entirely put

settled lands.

centuries as

Roman

and

more

on

of Europe,

state

invaders,

of barbarous Greek

PHYSICIANS.

which

following

to medicine

were,

substances made

cloves, wallflower, lavender,

and

mace,

by the Cassia manna,

Google

OP

HISTORY

Persian

manna,

mezereon,

15

BOTANY.

myrobalans,

nymphaea,

nutmegs,

rhubarb, opium, sugar,* gum sandarach, red sanders, sebestens, senna, tamarinds, hops, and zeodary." It would occupy too much space to enter minutely into this branch

of

history, and

our

chapter to write, because of

information

on

our

the

moreover

scant, and

it is not

an

contradictory,

sometimes

subject.There

easy

stillexist,

however, several Arabic manuscripts which give an account of these physicians, and it has been stated that not a few of be traced to an the mistakes that have been made may

imperfect knowledge

of this language.

Edward

Pocock,

professor of Hebrew and Arabic at Oxford, celebrated for his profound knowledge of Oriental languages, published, in

translation,of the Oriental history of Gregorius Abul-Pharadsh, a native of Melitene, in Lesser 1672, the text, with

Armenia,

a

born 1226

and died 1286. Another great fountain head of information is a manuscript of Ebn Abu This was Oseibia, a native of Damascus, who died 1269. translated by Reiske, of Leipsic (who died 1774),which who

was

work is in the Eoyal Library of Copenhagen. been treated on by the late Professor Nicol

It has also and

others.

Professor Wurstenfeld, of Gottingen, published in 1840 ' History of the Arab Physicians and Naturalists : it is in

a

'

a

concise work that I have the following information about a few of the most

from

measure

great drawn

this very

celebrated of those physicians whose medicine, have a bearing on Botany. But fir^tit may as

to their

resemblance

be

names,

as

writings, through

tion well to give a few words of explanawhich in the originalhave very slight

to those that they

are

best known

by, and

as

I

is certainly mentioned and described by Dioscorides and to have been then in extensive use in mediPliny, but does not seem cine, *

Sugar

or

which

employed,

as

purpose honey

by the Arabs, in the preparation of syrups, for firstused. was

Google

16

do not "

OF

HISTOBY

The

joinsto from Ben

his

have own

others who

I quote

the language

understand

Arabs

BOTANY.

Wiirstenfeld:

"

but each precise hereditary names, that of his father, to distinguish himself no

are

called by the

Abdallah, i.e., Mohammed,

same

son

;

g., Mohammed

e.

of Abdallah, for Ben

Now on account of the small number of signifiesson. it frequently happens that the fathers of two who are names, names ; then, the name named alike have the same of the

grandfather is also attached for distinction,e.g.,Mohammed Ben Abdallah Ben Omar. If the grandfathers also have the go stilla step further back."* It appears that another form used by the Arabs, in place of Ben, was Ebn, also signifyingson, as Ebn Omar, the son names

same

they must

of Omar, which leaves his individuality uncertain. But is very often used in a wider signification,as Ebn Zohr, the descendant of Zohr. thus Ebn "descendant," be looked

kind of family name, and the differentmembers of the family have to be distinguished, distinctive epithet, for or some either by a personal name, Zohr, Ebn Zohr al-Fakih, that Ebn example, Mohammed

Such

may

as

upon

a

"

is to say learned in the law. Another peculiarity in their method to jointo his own name that of was

of specifying a man one whose father he

Abu signifiesfather, for example, Mohammed Abdallah, Mohammed the the father of Abdallah ; commonly was;

Abu

"

is this, that the one to which Abu is position of the names coupled is placed firstto avoid mistakes, e. g., Abu Abdallah here Mohammed Ben Omar; is the personal Mohammed name,

*

Omar

that of his father, and Abdallah

This is in fact pretty universal and stillobtains in

some

as

that of his

the primitive system

parts of Lancashire,

as

son.

nomenof clature,

illustratedby

H" boy is made to give his name Jone's as Collier (Tim Bobbin),when o* Lall'so' Simmy's, o' Marriom's o' Dicks o' Nethon's o' Lall's o'Simmy's

a

ith'Hooms."

Google

HISTORY

But it is not always the

case

OF

17

BOTANY.

that the word

set beside Abu

formed signifiesa son, for there are also allegoricalnames in this way, as, Abu Father of I-Berakat, which means Blessings. These names formed with Abu are often placed alone for the designation of a person, the personal being omitted, as Abu Merwan, and should such have another son he can also be indicated in this way,

Abu

name a

man

"

Ebn

The who must be the brother of Merwan. Arabic article is al, and is always better retained than omitted in those names of which it forms a constituent part, as, for example, al-Casim: with the word Abu it coalesces,

Merwan,

for example, AbulAbul, instead of Abu-al, In pronunciation the I of the article assimilates Casim. itselfto any of the following sounds, r, I,n, s, and t, thus

and becomes

"

"

in the middle of a word, al-Bazi, say ar-Bazi, and itis the same as Abd say Abd ar-Bahman, or Abdorrahman. al-Bahman

Not

to pursue

this

subjectto

too

great

a

length, a few

examples will sufficientlyillustrateother methods names

of forming

:

"

From

birthplace, al-Bagdadi, the native of Bagdad. country, al-Misri, the Egyptian.

From

tribe,al-Kinani, of the tribe of Kinana.

From

From

personal

peculiarities,al-Dschahidh,

he with the

prominent eyes. From an occupation,Ebn al-Attar,the son of the apothecary. From religious sects, al-Schafei,of the sect of Schafei. Names of honour, Dschemal ad-Din, ornament of religion. have become considerably altered,in originalnames appearance at least,by people of differentcountries, though there may be no great difference in sound, as one example

The

What the Germans wrote will be sufficient to show. Dschaber, or Dschabir, the English wrote Jaber, the French

the Italians Giaber, others Djaber,

become

Gaber ; and thus Geber has

the universal appellation of the celebrated alchemist.

Google

18

HISTORY

I have ventured

on

OP

BOTANY.

this digression because I have found

removes myself that this short descriptionof the Arabic names their entire incomprehensibility, and helps to bring these

distinctly. really and more physicians before my mind more in full are, however, very long, and as they are The names of no particular interest to us, fully expressed, I shall use I only the contracted forms by which the authors of whom A single illustrationwill The complete name show the advisabilityof this course. " Abu Ali Al Hosain of Avicenna (I quote from Pocock)was

write

Ebn say

are

generally known.

most

Abdollahi Ebn

chiefdoctor ;

Sina Al Shaich Al Eaiis (asyou might hence he is commonly distinguished as

Sina, contracted form is simply Ebn is sufficient,for, though titles of distinction are

Princeps)." The

which interesting,if understood, they know

As

what they early

not

so

if

one

does not

mean.

718,

as

are

or

thereabouts, Ahmed

physician, wrote a work on ; and a botanist, who

Ben

Ibrahim,

a

herbs and plants used in medicine travelled far in his researches,

called Ebn Abu Zaher, also wrote a book on plants about in the following century that Arab learning 742, but it was

acquired a great impetus. About the year 820 the Caliph al-Mamum sent for all the best books out of Chaldea, Greece, Egypt, and Persia,

relating to physic, astronomy,

cosmography, chronology, skilled music, "c, and pensioned a number of learned men in the several languages and sciences,to translate them into Arabic Arabic, by which means the foundation of modern

learning was of which

are

laid.

Also several of these works, the originals lost,have been preserved to us in these Arabic

translations.* *

It is interesting to note the coincidence that while, or nearly at learning by the time that, al-Mamum was the same encouraging means

mentioned, and founding

a

seat of learning at Bagdad,

our

own

Google

HISTORX

Great

these

among

Alchindi,

Alkindus.

or

OF

19

BOTANY.

philosophers He was born

was

al-Kindi, called at Bassora, and was

his ancestors princes of of noble blood, reckoning among Jemama He stayed some time at Bagdad, and Bahrein. induced by the Caliphs al-Mamum and al-Motasim, who to have lived until about reigned from 813 to 841. He seems the year 873. His writings,which have been set down at two hundred, are on various over on many cines medi-

subjects,

and the treatment

Yahya

BeirMaseweih,

Dschondeifabur, became

of diseases. called Mesue his father

where

was

an

apothecary.

He

director of the hospital at Bagdad,

century physician to the Caliphs from

a

from

the elder, came

to

works,

in the collection and al-Motewekkil, and he

him

employed

Greek

and was for half Harun,* who particularly translation of died 857 at

Samara. To %.

e.,

this period also belongs Abu Zeid Honein of the Christian-Arabian family Ibad, which

about al-Hira; he is known Johannitius, or simply as Honein. and

al-Ibad, dwelt in

by the Latinised He

name

born at al-Hira, an apothecary, in the year 809, and where his father was grown up, and had received a good education, when he was he went to Bagdad, where he attended the lectures of Mesue was

In a while amanuensis he became. led by his thirst for knowledge to visit the Greek wards where he perfected himself in their language. After-

(justmentioned),whose he

was

towns,

he went

to Bassora, in order to perfectly master

the

Arabian language, and then returned to Bagdad as his permanent residence. Here he began to give medical lectures, King

noble

Alfred

the

Great

Anglo-Saxon

(among which

of the Saxon

Church'), and

*

work

Harun *

The

were

was

translating works

*M sop's Fables' and

founding

al-Rashid is well known

Arabian

himself

*

into

Bede's History

the University of Oxford. to all readers of that inimitable

Nights' Entertainments.'

c2

Google

20

OF

HISTORY

BOTANY.

old and celebrated physicians felt no shame to Shortly he attracted the attend them and learn from him. attention of the Caliph al-Motewekkil, who, after he had even

and

clearlyconvinced himself, by a strictinquiry, that he was not secretlyin the service of the Greek kings, appointed him his physician, with a handsome pension. In a while one Abu-al-Teifuri, incited by

found jealousy,

At

for images had

that time

reverence

a

the Christian church ; Honein, who was opposed it,and Abu al-Teifuri knew

device to ruin him. already crept into a deacon, strenuously that he had

once

meeting that he spat on the image of Christ or of Mary. So he lodged a complaint, first to the Caliph alMotamid and afterwards to Bishop Theodosius, who then said at

a

Honein ; he died shortly on excommunication Honein was afterwards of grief,or by taking poison, 873. of great service in his translations from the Greek, in which

pronounced

language he also gave instruction to the youth of his time, he also wrote many especially to his sons and nephews; His sons followed in originaltreatiseson various subjects. the steps of their father, as physicians and one at least as an original writer. Mention

translators,and is also made of

of Honein* s sister,who was an author. Hitherto but few born Arabs or Mohammedans

a son

had turned

their attention to the study of medicine, by far the greater number ofArabic writers being Christians,but now we not only find independent inquiry among the Mohammedans proper, headed by the illustriousal-Eazi, but also a great spread of learning in the west, in Mauritania and in Spain. Basis, Bhases, Bhazes, at Bai, in Chorasan,

He

showed

from

or

from

his youth

Bazi, which a

born and brought up place he took his name.

was

great inclination to Science,

and acquired considerable philological and philosophical him most, and he was knowledge; but music charmed known only as a good singer and performer on the cithern

Google

HISTORY

OF

21

BOTANY.

tillhis thirtieth year, until which time, also, he was engaged in commerce. Getting tired of this manner of lifehe turned with all his zeal to the study of medicine and philosophy, and went to Bagdad to study. After he had gained a thorough knowledge of these sub-

jects,

he returned to Eai, and became director of its hospital. Later, the chief direction of the hospital of Bagdad was

assigned to him.

Al-Kazi has been

called the Galen of the time, and was held in high esteem by the rulers of his da}'; he made extensive journeysabroad, not only visitingJerusalem, but proceeding also to Africa, where he entered the court

of

He

Zijadetallah.

would present his

'

'

Confirmation of the Chemical Art to a prince of Chorasan, al-Mansur (towhom he had already dedicated the medical work 'al-Mansuri'), and went over him

to

from

Bagdad

for that purpose.

The

prince was much pleased, and ordered that 1000 pieces should be given to him ; but he desired also to see a test of the discoveries that were set forth in the book, and he granted a considerable sum

to provide

the necessary

apparatus,

"

but the experiments

would not act ! Gentle readers, have we similar cases ? But then we are not all eastern al-Mansur

was

believed that lies by

means

angry, and

a

not all seen

potentates

:

have could not find satisfactionin confirming

said:

scholar would of books, giving them

"I

"

a

philosophical colouring,

in consequence waste their time may of which men without profit; I have rewarded you handsomely for your pains with 1000 pieces, I must now punish you for your confirmation of these lies," with which words he raised his staff and hit him on the head ; then he bade him pack up "

his traps quickly, and sent him back to Bagdad. From this blow hydrophthalmia (orwatery set in,* and by degrees

eyes)

*

on

According

to other accounts

this disease of the eyes

was

brought

by his inordinate consumption of beans |

Google

22

HISTORY

he became

blind.

OF

BOTANY.

firsthe thought to have

At

submitted to

the operation, but when he asked how many membranes eye had? al-Eazi said, and could not obtain an answer, a Whoever does not know that shall bring no instrument an

near

him that the operation have

seen

so

Al-Eazi

extreme

rejoi"ed,

of the world that you only bore

much

me."

to the very charitable,and often gave money while he lived in poverty himself. He died at was

sick poor

Bagdad,

they stillmade representations to "I might be successful, he

eyes," and when

my

in Kai, either in 923, or more old age. We have the titlesof or

his works,

on

food,

on

probably in 932, in two hundred of over

medicine, anatomy,

astronomy,

mathematics,

logic,religion: treatises and commentaries without Nothing seems to have been too great or too small

end. for

his comprehensive

to subjects wrote

"

many

genius, from the eating of fruitsbefore treatises

on

food

and

the or

most

abstruse He after meals."

medicine,

a

work

on

aromatic seeds and roots, another on edible fruits,wine, "c. Yahya Ebn Serapion, usually called Serapion the elder,

Syrian physician, and a contemporary of al-Eazi, who him. known Nothing is often quotes of his personal history. was

a

In this period the study of Science attained the summit of its perfection throughout the whole of the Mohammedan Mauritania, and Spain, world, in the East, in Egypt,

eminent physicians adorning all the various seats of learning. Mesue, the younger, a Jacobite Christian,* was many

born

at Maridin,

on

the Euphrates,

and philosophy at Bagdad. *

who

These

He

studied medicine afterwards went to Cairo, and

called after Jacob Baradaeus, a Syrian, in the sixth century vigorously defended the doctrine of Eutyches,

Jacobites

were

so

abbot of Constantinople, in the fifthcentury. This doctrine is, that having been absorbed there was but one nature in Christ, the human an

in the divine.

Google

HISTORY

23

BOTANY.

OP

where he obtained a very good situation under the Caliph He died 1015. His works do not seem to be al-Hakim. in existence in the original Arabic, but there translations of three of them on medicines. now

We

come

next

to Ebn

Sina,

or

Latin

are

Avicenna

Avicenna.

was

of all the Arab physicians. He was born in the province of Bochara, 980. Being naturally precocious, and receiving early a good education, he soon the most

became

renowned

that in his tenth miracle of erudition, insomuch year he knew the Koran, and several philological works, by heart. He next studied politics and arithmetic, under a

Abu

About

teachers.

competent

this time

a

philosopher

called

Abdallah

al-Nathili went to Bochara, and was employed in as Avicenna's tutor by his father ; but the pupil was soon advance of his teacher, and answered his questions better than

he himself knew

Avicenna

found

how, and when that his teacher knew

its niceties: Al-Nathali

did not

they turned to logic

nothing at all about long continue his tutor.

Avicenna's studies proceeded in mathematics, physics,'metaphysics, and medicine, until he was sixteen years old, when is represented to have become something He altogether extraordinary. scarcely slept at all,working day and night, and when he came difficultythat a across his

ardour

baffled him he frequently betook himself to the Mosque,

sought assistance in prayer.

He

and

had the good fortune to be

appointed physician to the Sultan Nuh Ben Mansur, and use of his splendid library, obtained permission to make where he found even

books of which most men before the titles,which he had never

which he

never

saw

after. We

may

had seen

imagine

never

heard

himself, and the assiduous

study that he would give to this library. As unfortunately it afterwards happened that this invaluable treasure of

learning Avicenna

destroyed by fire,the enviers and enemies of asserted that he had himself burnt it,so that he

was

Google

24

HISTORY

BOTANY.

be sole possessor of the knowledge from it, and could give it out

might drawn

his

OP

which

he had

afterwards for

own.

At the age of 18 he is said to have gained

ledge perfect knowto have known in a

of the whole circleof the Sciences, in his day from fact all that could be known "

books.

Fity

gigantic intellect,and such untiring industry, have been devoted to independent more not

that such should

a

research. It is not necessary for us to trace all the vicissitudes of Avicenna's eventful life; at one time a Kadi held in great esteem, at another in disgrace,and concealed to preserve his

it all, doctoring, lecturing, and writing, and then at another, until his death at

life; but, through first at

one

court

Eamadhan,

1037.

Though

Avicenna

naturally of

to

excesses gave way and probably led to his death

age of 57. Dr. Nichol Biography works

"

which

a

strong constitution damaged his health,

at the comparatively

(in the 'Imperial Dictionary of Universal

')speaks thus of his writings :

"

than

more

numbering

a

to establish a reputation;

in

in his time which

Wtirstenfeld gives and remarks

early

that

a

some

listof

some

hundred" nor

manner

was

"

Of his gigantic

any

one

was

sufficient any Science known

he did not

advance."

hundred and fiveof his works, of them are very voluminous, while one

only short treatises of one or two sheets. Serapion, or as he is usually called Serapion the younger, to distinguish him from the Syrian physician of the same name others

are

end

of the

have

cannot

already mentioned,

eleventh

century,

flourished earlier than the for he quotes Ebn Wafid

a physician of Toledo, (Abenguefit), who

The him.

Latin

Arab He

was

living 1068.

historians give no account of which has been translated into

biographers and wrote

a

work

under the title 'De

Medicamentis

Simplicibus/or

Google

OF

HISTORY

"simple

concerning as

we

should because it is

a

one,

common

very

"simples,"

shorter

I quote

Herbal.'*

a

say

or

medicines," *

25

BOTANY.

this Latin

or

title

a

great number of Simplicibus under

and

'

these physicians wrote

'

its Arabic equivalent.

The writing of Herbals

de Medicamentis

for

continued

hundreds

of years after the decadence of Arab learning, in differentcountries in fact into the eighteenth century, all of them marvellously alike.t The writings of the elder Serasome

"

up together, as though

There

among

have

those of the younger

pion and

treated subjects

of

one

author.

simples ; the most

on

Eoschd,

being Ebn

of them

the work

were

several physicians of the twelfth century who

were

other

they

frequently bound

been

Averroes.

or

celebrated

He

born

was

also brought up. But about 1120 at Cordova, where he was learned in littleis known of his personal history ; he was

medicine, and,

philosophy, and

mathematics,

as

well

his

as

father and grandfather, held important officesof State. At time he was Kadi of Seville, at another of Morocco, and one was universally much respected ; but he suffered the penalty to

common

*

"

"

Simpler _

.

[ one

,

list J Simplist

Simpling;

f The

give place to

"

or

are

made. a

being the chief

gatherer of herbs. "

"

of "Herbals"

has

now

gone

out of fashion, to

Floras," which, while they enter minutely

of the

anything

of insignificant weeds, take no in the way of food, mediof plants to man cine,

uses

else.

most

Of

important

attention in England,

excellent but most

into the most

organs

course

it may

be said that Botany

recognised as a Science, of which there are doubt true ; stillitis a fact that Economic no

think the

or

as

they

1731.

trifling differences in various note whatever

called

and

physical herbs in the field."

or

of simples

enemies,

so

has skillin simples, r

who

Diet,

old form

medicines

compound

gathering

Bailey's Eng.

had

herbs, probably

Simples ; Physical

ingredients of which

he

favourites,

court

while

of them

branch, we

have

has

been

many

is now

divisions, which

Botany,

one

which

latterly received

deluged with

"

but

is

would little

Floras," all

substantially alike.

Google

26

OP

HISTORY

BOTANY.

made it out that through his studies of the old philosophers his judgment had become warped, and he was no longer a good Mussulman: and so he with some others, narrowly

escaping death,

from

banished

was

died at Morocco,

shortly recalled. He

TmBTEENTH

is

This

Cordova,

but

he

was

1198.

CeNTUBY.

period of copying, when there were very few original writers. Having reached its climax in the foregoing a

century, Arab to do

learning

began to decline, and continued

now

until its extinction. Ben Mansur Abul-Fadhl so

died 1241,

physician, who '

al-Muaddhem introduced

Ali,

that

was

new

learned

a

Syrian

for the Sultan al-Malik in which he Simplicibus/

wrote

Medicamentis

De

much

Ben

had

or

not

been

noticed by

his predecessors. We

now

to the most eminent of Arab botanists,Ebn

come

al-Beitar, who where he was

born

was

at Malaga.

He

to Egypt,

went

honour, and travelled received with much afterwards in Greece and Asia Minor, for the increase of Ebn Abu Oseibia (thebiographer his botanical knowledge. was acquainted already mentioned and to be shortly noticed) with him in 1235, and often made botanical excursions with

neighbourhood receiving great of Damascus, benefit from his instructions. After other travels Ebn alBeitar returned to Damascus, where he died suddenly, 1248. I have at the outset mentioned Ahmed Ben Ibrahim and

him

in the

Ebn

Abu

Zaher,

from

as

botanists who

the

study

on

wrote

plants

Since

of physic.

as

tinguished dis-

that time

(eighthcentury)Botany should rather be called sinfpling; but in Ebn should

now

prominently

Oseibia,

was

seem al-Beitar we call a botanist.

before

us

because

to have

more

Probably the

of what

he

stands historian, Ebn

intimately acquainted with

him;

and

we

thus

Abu it is

Google

HISTORY

likely that

many

were

others

27

BOTANY.

OF

botanists also, but

true

all the results of their botanical explorations in their works " de medicamentis simplicibus."

embodied Ebn

Abu

Oseibia

born at Damascus,

was

where

his father

oculist,and his uncle director of the eye hospital. have just noticed his botanical studies under Ebn

was

an

We

In al-Beitar; he also studied philosophy and medicine. in the hospital at Cairo, but went 1236 he was employed the following year to Sarched, in Syria, in the service of the

Emir, and died there 1269, over seventy years of age. His most remarkable work is a history of medicine : to show the importance of this work I quote from Wiirstenfeld an abridged account of its contents, taken from the writings of Reiske and Nicol, with the remark that some names are by Nicol that are omitted by Eeiske, and vice mentioned versa.

I omit

the

recording subject, Chapter I. "

"

III.

"

"

IV.

"

"

to

altogether, as unnecessary

only the number

our

of authors.

Origin of medicine. firstphysicians and discoverers of medicine.

The

II. "

names

Greek physicians after iEsculapius. Hippocrates and his disciples : Empedocles, The

Socrates, Plato,

Aristotle, Theophrastus,

Pythagoras, Alexander

Aphrodisiensis.

V.

"

"

"

VI.

"

VII.

"

VIII. IX. X. XI. XII.

XIII.

"

"

"

"

"

"

Galen and his contemporaries. The Alexandrian and contemporary

Christian physicians. Arab physicians to the time of Mohammed. 10 Syrian physicians under the family of Abbasides.

84

Translators, and their patrons.

48

of Irac, Mesopotamia

Physicians

Persian physicians.

Indian physicians.

Western

XIV. XV.

"

Egyptian

77

....

7

physicians.

Of Spain. "

Dijarbekr.

23

....

Of Mauritania "

and

.

physicians.

Later Syrian physicians

In all

.

3

89 53 58 402

Google

28

OP

HISTORY

BOTANY.

Abul Living at the same time as Ebn Abu Oseibia was Faradsch Dschordschis (rather a roundabout way of spelling born at He was George), or Gregorius Bar Hebraus. Melitene, in Lesser Armenia,

practised in the Syrian, Arabic, and

was

his youth up he

From

1226.

Greek

languages,

studied theology, philosophy, and especially medicine, When the Tartars penetrated into under the best masters. and

Armenia, where

he removed with his parents to Antioch in 1244, he led for some time the life of an anchorite, in a

cavern

near

In the following year he went

the town.

to

ordained bishop of Guba by the patriarch Ignatius, the next year bishop of Lacaba, and in 1252, by Dionysius, bishop of Aleppo. The patriarch Joshua raised Tripoli, and

was

in 1264 to the dignity of primate of the Jacobites, and after obtaining considerable relief by his efforts for the

him

Christians,who

died at Meraga, 1286. wrote

oppressed by the Moguls, he

then much

were

Besides his oriental history Gregorius

theological,grammatical, mathematical, astronomical,

works, as well as Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Galen, Honein

medical

and

other

on

commentaries and Avicenna.

After the middle of the fourteenth century there was a great falling off in Arabic literature, though we have the less celebrated up to the sixteenth century, when, however, learning had become more much widely disseminated, and the Latin language

writings of several physicians

became

universal,

or

nearly

more

so,

among

of all countries, being much more Extending Arabic. as they do and treating

on

such

a

number

or

the scientificwriters

generally understood over

such

a

than

length of time, it is difficultto

of subjects, labours estimate the value of the of these great philosophers.

Besides Greek known *

being voluminous the on writers of commentaries authors, they did much to advance e^ery and Boman Science. We are told* they measured the circum-

Dr. Draper,

"

Conflict between

Religion and Science," Chap. iv.

Google

HISTORY

OF

29

BOTANY.

ference of the earth, making it about 24,000 of our miles ; ascertained the length of a degree right within one-third of a mile ; translated the chief Greek philosophers into Arabic ; produced numerous writings on mechanics, hydrostatics and fusing, "c. ; produced optics; invented apparatus for distilling, in geometry; invented algebra; great improvements and especially improved chemistry, preferring experiment to

They first established medical colleges, speculation. introduced the Indian numbers, made catalogues and maps of the stars, fixed the length of the year, and verified the precession of the equinoxes.

They

firstused the pendulum

discovered sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and alcohol, firstpublished pharmacopoeias, and included in

as

a

them

time

measurer,

minerals.

In agriculture they improved

irrigation,

the method of employing manures, and the breeding of cattle. In manufactures they made Cordova and Morocco leather and paper, and Toledo blades, and improved mining.

They taught Europe

chess, and gave it its taste for romances

and music of a high order. With regard to Botany there

were,

as

we

have

seen,

many find to important our writers, and we also several additions knowledge ; still, taking into account the information they

obtained from

Galen

and

others, and

the long period of great as might have

time, the progress made was not so been expected, especially when compared achievements

with their great

in other Sciences.

Google

IV.

CHAPTER

EEVIVAL

OP

AND

BOTANY,

ITS

CENTURY.

SEVENTEENTH

" 1. From

is nothing

There

from

It

printing.

called

Macer's

fourteenth

into

translated Hertford

appeared

was

a

friend

time

popular

consequence,

and

John

1373,

of it

were

Lin

so

in England,

contained

the work

It

of the It

published.

to

physician

; he

of Physicians

and notice,

it

of

was

was

on

and

much

Melancthon. and

for

was

little merit

of only

accounts

work

Master

acre,

Erasmus,

of

in the

in Latin.

of the College

received

been

Lelamer,

about

of Wolsey,

this Herbal

Though

Mr.

editions

founder

have

to

by the celebrated

on

Vllf.,and

some

two

a

in England

written

lived

who

of printing

also

by

to mention

was

and

English

commented

Henry

It is supposed

School,

invention was

Herbal/ which

physician,

of Botany

until the invention

physicians

however,

century.

French

a

of

in the history

necessary,

seems

Centuby.

Sixteenth

the

to

notice

worth

of the Arab

the time

'

Physicians

Abab

the

THE

TO

HISTORY

or

eighty-eight

plants.

invention

The the

best

works

forgotten, forth

a

were

number

of printing of the speedily

and

Latin

translation

ancients,

printed,

of commentaries.

Dioscorides

1468,

soon

gave

rise to fresh activity ; had

which

eagerly Pliny

become

studied,

was

and

called

first appeared

(translatedinto Latin)

of Theophrastus

almost

published

in

1478;

in 1483.

Google

in a

HISTORY

OF

31

BO"TANY.

help attributing the great botanical activityof the sixteenth and succeeding centuries also to the discovery I cannot

of the New

World.

The

vast accession of fresh plants, far

exceeding in number

known before, many of all that were them supplying articlesof food or luxury, and some of them flowers of fresh form or rare beauty, caused people of wealth

increased pleasure in the cultivation patrons of learning to employ those

and refinement to take

who

an

of gardens, and learned in Botany were :

many

to superintend

of these gardens

were

more

their ment managespecially devoted

study of plants useful in medicine, and were called physic gardens. In England we had also a greatly increased attention paid to the cultivationof kitchen to the cultivation and

plants and orchards, stimulated in no small degree by Anne of Cleves, who, after her separation from Henry VIII., amused herself much with gardening, and imported garden

many

choice plants from

Flanders, where

the art

was

well

understood.

" 2. The

Sixteenth

Century.

It is not within the scope of this littlework to enter upon the history of modern classification. Such an undertaking

would far exceed

appointed for myself in the abundance of material at hand

the limits I have

regard to space. With from this time, it is somewhat selection,for to make

a mere

instructive,on

great

names

on

the

one

perplexing to make

hand to attempt too much

a

judicious would be

list which would be neither interestingnor the other to omit particular mention of some complained of. I therefore would be justly

propose to confine our history from this point as much as possible to Botany in reference to the nomenclature of the British Flora, and with a few exceptions not to extend it

I take this course the more beyond the time of Linneus. readily because it does not substantially interfere with the

Google

32

OF

HISTORY

intention of this article as

only.

BOTANY.

tension popular sketch, having no preto be exhaustive, but aiming at being suggestive In Gray's 'Arrangement of British Plants' (1821), a

there is a listof botanical publications from the firstprinted edition of Pliny, 1468, to 1820, which, though by no means

In the complete, will sufficientlyillustrate my meaning. fifteenthcentury I find 8 botanical works ; in the sixteenth, 24 ; in the seventeenth, 68 ; in the eighteenth, 235 ; and in the nineteenth, up to 1820, 92. We may conveniently commence

the sixteenth century by

the notice of a curious, but not botanically important work, ' called the Grete Herbal,' which appeared in England 1516. It was very popular, and passed through several editions.

nothing about it beyond what we are told in the book itself,viz.,that it was translated from the French, and It is printed in black by John Kynge. printed in London We

know

letter, and woodcuts,

the earlier editions which are less numerous

are

illustrated with

rude in later impressions;

of these pictures resemble nothing in Nature, and in instances the same is made to do service for different some plants. Though possessing so littlemerit as a botanical * Grete Herbal is of interest, if only on account work, the many

'

Macer's ' Herbal,' which is of its being the first (excepting worth no further notice than we have already taken of it),

and for half a century English language. The to the

chapters are Latin names,

each division thus

beginning named " De

with A. with B.rt Balsamo.

Following

"

only

in the

botanical work

arranged

alphabetically, according is this notified at the end of

and "

:

the

Thus And

Bawme

the heading

endeth the chapiters of herbes here

begynneth

the

chapitres

tre."

of each chapter there is

briefly describing the plant, and

telling

us

a

paragraph

of its

Google

HISTORY

OF

38

BOTANY.

habitat and its temperature,* with a general statement of its in medicine ; but the uses greater part of the work is made up of the various complaints

These

set down

are

the

plant, with remedies

are

that each plant

used for.

was

separately, after the description of the

manner

Many

of these illustration or two

of application.

rather amusing,

and

an

will not be out of place. It is the idea at the present day that if one the best plan is to would avoid drunkenness avoid drink ; but it appears that in the days of Henry VIII. the same was attained in another way:

object

"

"

"

as

To eschewe moche

For

dronkennesse.

dronkennesse,

vyneygre and

drink ye iuce of bryony

with

he shall not be dronke of all that

weke."

*

of

a

from

It

seems

necessary

is meant

plant, for itis a term that is used in allthe a

of Hippocrates,

maxim

by

governed to explain

he looked

this Nature

as

upon or

having

of diseases he did not depend diet ; stilleither in the

one

case

and

are

our

when

immortal

bodies he

are

comes

about it.

the remedies for each other ;

cold by heat, "c. greatly

on

In the treatment

physic, but much

the other he

or

It originated

is,he resolves it into

something

opposites

destroyed by cold, and

was

that

"

temperature

Herbals."

laid it down

who

particularlywhat

he held that contraries

thus heat

"

"

by the

principle thaj he called Nature,

a

more

heat, which Then

to explain what

on

followed out this

principle ; to oppose the hot to the cold, the moist to the dry, and vice

The idea of ascribing

"

"

to

a

plant remained until quite recently. It refers to the effect which body, and it was measured plant has on the temperature of the human

a

versa.

in four degrees.

heat when

and,

1st. The

it is wanting. as

the repute

when

as

temperature

the body, and useful to restore

2nd. Hotter, and

causing

a

used to be, "removing

tion, gentle perspira-

obstructions, and

3rd. Causing violent perspiration, and having

of resisting poison.

outwardly

certain degree of

heat

same

the expression

cutting thick humours."

a

4th, Such

plants

as

blister the skin

applied,

Google

34

BOTANY.

OF

HISTORY ,

Then for the bite of

a

for which there are fallen into neglect,and may "

be

to

new a

some

wood*

a

wood

is

complaint

no

I think has

of my readers

:

"

dogge.

(walnuts)"be stamped

they be good for bytig of

onyon

there (surely

remedies)this

more

For bytynge of

if they"

"And

dog

mad

with salte and an dogge yf it be layde

thereto."

This is a remedy which is certainlyas well worth trying as most that we have heard of since. ' Grete Herbal is now, Though the and has for some time, been littlethought of, three centuries and a half ago different. The book ends with the pious flourish it was '

which will be found on the following page. On the Continent of Europe there was at this time of scientificbotanical investigation. Otho

amount

published

his 'Herbarium'

by

of Valerius Cordus

a

work

Pharmacopoeia';

or

in 1530, and this

a

great

Brunfels followed

was

in 1536, called '.Dispensatory,

the learned

Gesner

also published

a

'History of Plants' in 1541. *

"

Wod,"

pronounced

wood,

to be met. with in old English

metrical Lion':

For

romances.

for mad,

is Anglo-Saxon

instance

writings,

we

have

as

and

quently is fre-

the early English

in 'Richard

Cceur-de-

"

"

The swarte vis when the king seeth, His black beard and white teeth, How his lippes grinned wide, '

devil is this ? ' the king cried, gan to laugh as he were wode"

What

And "

What

" ? is Saracen's flesh thus good ? "c. Ellis'8 ' Early English Metrical Romances*

Collier, in his illustrationof the Lancashire dialect (Tummas and Meary) has this word, and I have littledoubt that it is Stillin use in out of the way

of general

use

places.

about this time.

Herbal,' the earlier one "

"

wood

It is interesting to note that it was

the other

mad

two

editions of the

"

Grete

(fromwhich the above quotation is taken)has "

"

I have

falling out

dogge,

Google

BISTORT

OP

35

BOTANY,

Itrbometty% noble tolitittie fj"p?eCf jbf fecii t"gi faftettttelftgeitce. "

? r^Tv^vou

beboi"e toe ttoj"eaattboperations ofaimigfitp "^^tDbfcbebatbe enDcUoeo b?s (pmplecreatureman* ftpttoe, MtbtbegracejMftbe"ofr

to baue parfpte fiitoiwege "i"booffe attDbitberftatiDfage of rbebertue oral!matter ofberbejs atto tree"m bofie tbp$ comweben"eb , attD eue* rpebe oftbepm cwptreb bptbem fn etterpcbapptre"t'" telfe,an" mvMmte"Wmntetoe*

m

o after* matter of totone me"ecpitejer

$etbesompjebe* beD

tobrcbe ottgbtcobe ttoteffeb ,

attb marfieb fo;

flte"ealf"ofm" mtofjometerepepeb tbebeaueJpgpfteabpt"e .

"etcrttaW6pitge,tootDbomebe laaDeatt"pjapfeeaeM"mg, (*)

p3

36

OF

HISTORY

Otho

Brunfels

neighbourhood

born

was

of Mayence,

BOTANY.

about the year 1464, in the He and died at Berne, 1534.

physician, who restored the study of practical Botany in Europe by his direct investigations in the fields. a

was

Valerius

Cordus

born

was

at

in Hesse,

Simtshausen,

1515, and received the rudiments of his education at Erfurt,

and afterwards studied at the University of Marburg, where In 1531 he he took the degree of bachelor of medicine. He to Wittemburg, and studied under Melancthon. went

Switzerland, and Italy, and it to Borne that he was was seized with fever while journeying His early death was considered and died, 1544, at the age of 29. * A Of his numerous a great loss to Science. works travelled in Prussia, Saxony,

Pharmaceutical

Dispensatory,' 'Annotations

on

Dioscorides/

'

*

History of Plants may be particularlymentioned. Conrad Gesner was an eminent physician and philosopher He studied at different seats of learning in of Zurich. and

a

France, but returned to Zurich, where he was made professor he was a author, and from of philosophy; voluminous the great extent of his attainments has been called the

German

Pliny.

I next

notice Fuchs, taking these contemporary

authors

in the order of the publication of their works, rather than the

date

Leonard

of their birth.

Fuchs,

a

celebrated in Swabia,

born at Wemdigen, physician and botanist, was 1501, and died at Tubingen, 1565. His ' History of Plants was published in 1542 ; it is illustrated by outline plates, '

which have been much

objectof

the work

medicine.

The

admired

for their faithfulness. The

is to describe exactly the plants used in

chapters

arranged in sections, as first treating on the names

are

was

in usual at that time; the different languages, with their derivations and meanings; then follow the different kinds, and descriptions of them,

and afterwards the habitat,time of flowering, and temperature ;

Google

OB*

HISTORY

37

BOTANY.

last, the

virtues, according to Dioscorides, Pliny, Galen, and others. The Fuchsia was so named by Plumier in honour of Fuchs. and

Pietro Andrea

Mattioli, or

he is called in the Materia Medica

Matthiolus

as

Latin, published his ' Commentaries on He in 1548, as was of Dioscorides previously mentioned. Italian botanist of great repute, born at Siena, 1500, was an '

and died at Trente in 1577.

His

very fine work, and the illustrationsare

He

freely attacks the opinions writers, perhaps

form

'Commentaries'

a

beautifullyexecuted.

of both

contemolder and poraneous The genus especially Fuchs.

Matthiola is named in honour of him. We have next a writer of our we own country of whom William Turner. During the time may be justly proud "

as

when,

have

we

justseen,

the study of Botany

was

making

was great strides abroad, England remaining in a state of comparatively and lamentable ignorance, unrelieved

abject

by any

intelligentwork on the by Judge Fitzherbert, 1534, on "Being learn

then

never

a

one

excepting subject,

treatise

a

Turner

husbandry.

says,

Hall, where I could student of Pembroke English name, Greke, neither Latin* nor

among the physicians, of any herbe or tree, such was the ignorance at that time ; and as yet there was no English Herbal, but one, all full of unlearned cacographies, and even

falsely naming

of herbs."

physician, and

naturalist, and

William was

Turner

born

was

at

a

divine,

Morpeth,

in

Northumberland,

about the beginning of the sixteenth He studied both in Elgland and abroad, spending century. imprisoned by some time in Germany and Italy. He was

Bishop

Gardiner for advocating the principles of the Eeformation, and afterwards suffered persecution in Queen Mary's but on the reign, which caused him to leave England; accession of

Queen Elizabeth he returned, and

to those preferments

of which he had

been

was

restored

deprived.

The

Google

38

HISTOKY

BOTANY.

OP

first part of his 'Herbal'

published in 1551, and the he dedicated to the Queen, in 1568. was

complete work,, which The scientificacquirements various,

of Turner

were

extensive and is Turner's

his

publications numerous. generally called the first English Herbal, but mention is made of a small one written previously by Anthony Ascham, This, however, must have vicar of Burniston, in Yorkshire.

been

and

for it is generally of but littleconsequence, a description of it. overlooked, and I have not met with even After Turner the study of Botany spread rapidly with us.* a

work

Jacques

Dalechamp, the

several of

names

here.

mentioned

He

was

Dalechamps,

of

our

a

authority for be Flora, must

the

British

French

in 1513.

born at Caen

was

or

botanist,

physician and He

made a collectionof plants in the neighbourhood of Lyons, and published a ' General History of Plants/ giving descriptions of over a and

Dalechamp

thousand. He

edition of Pliny.

an

also published

died at Lyons

about 1588. Lonicer (inLatin Lonicerus) was

Adam

a

Herbal

to others of the

same

In respect to type

period.

illustrationsit is rather uncouth ; it was

and *

on

work

He

lived at Frankfort, and published History," which is a similar "Natural

writer of this time. there

another botanical

A

in 'The

writer

Garden* by

incidentally mentioned Turner's time, being born Shakespeare

mentions

Of exotic flowers,

his period,

or

than

more

1564

about such

as

300

(1874)notices

Shakespeare, :

"

"

our

15, alluding to were

years

the plants that

are

little after a wrote English wild flowers

who

Of

published at

some

only

or

once

twice.

cultivated in the scanty gardens of ago, he mentions

or

nine

ten.

Of

shrubs, exotics included, there are notices of about 25. Of fruits,whether ripened in England or imported from foreign countries, trees and

I find the are

spoken

names

"

sometimes

of in about

spices and medicines the *

is about

same

weeds,'

"

or

are

often recurrent

equal proportion. mentioned

the number about 150 in all."

"

of about 80. Vegetables

Products

of the nature

to the extent of about

of what

are

a

score

contemptuously

of

; and

called

Google

HISTORY

Frankfort

in 1551.

1586

genus Lonicera

; the

About

the

Lonicer was

born

was

1528,

died

and

in his honour.

named

time, and

same

39

BOTANY.

OF

until the end of the sixteenth

of celebrated botanists, who Though they aided in the advancement of the Science. followed for the most part in the footsteps of their predecessors, there

century,

a

were

number

fresh ideas and described they did not establish an

they published some fresh plants, and, though

some

epoch in

history, they introduced improvements

our

and

added

in classification,

greatly to botanical knowledge

by the

We gardens. notice the following frequently Tragus, and authors: quoted Lobelius, Csesalpinus, Columna, Camerarius,

cultivation of physic well-known Dodonaeus,

"

Prosper Alpinus, Gerard, and Clusius. Hieronymus Tragus* was German a He

period.

botanist of this his 'History of Plants,'

in 1532

published

on their three classes, founded under qualities,figure,habit, and size,which plan was followed by

arranging them

other botanists of about

most

first published

David

Kyber,

This

was

work

edition of it, by published at Strasburg in 1552, with a

in German was

that time.

; but

a

Latin

preface by Gesner

Eeinbert physician, 1585.

He

being his of the

'

same

attached. in Latin Dodoens, or

Dodonseus,

a

Flemish

born at Mechlin, 1518, and died at Leyden, published differentbotanical works, the principal

was

History of Plants,' a Herbal very similar to others time in most respects, but a fine work and well

illustrated; it appeared complete, with 1305 figures,in 1583. There is also another edition, revised by the author shortly *

A Latin travesty of his real

words "

or "*

Fuchs an

signifying "goat," "

which

should be called in Latin

Englishman

called

Jerome

name,

in Latin "

or

Bouc,

is "Tragus,"

Vulpes,"

"Woodcock"

Bock,

instead of

as "

these

though

Fuchsius/

should be latinised into

Scolopax."

Google

40

OF

HISTORY

before his death ; itwas from

the

common

BOTANY.

published 1616.

way allied; and though his groups

sufficientlyincongruous, he must improvement brought about some of Dodoens

departed

plan of arranging the plants in alphabetical attempted the bringing together of those

order, and which seemed in some

Herbal

Dodoens

was

a

are

be credited with having in classification. This

very popular

one

in England,

as

abroad, at the end of the sixteenth and the beginning A translation of it into English of the seventeenth century. by Henry There were Lyte, came different out in 1578. as

well

' editions of it,one called Barn's Little Dodeon.'* ' is also founded on that of Dodoens. Herbal

Gerard's

'

Matthias

Lobelius,

Lobel,

or

or

L'Obel,

Fleming,

a

very celebrated botanist. At the age of sixteen he evinced a great love for plants. He studied at Montpellier, and afterwards travelled over the south

born at Lisle, in 1538,

was

a

Switzerland, the Tyrol, and parts of Germany Italy; then he settled at Antwerp, and afterwards

of France,

and

Delft, practising as a physician. Subsequently he came to England, over explorations, and which he made many added many plants to our Flora ; he superintended a physic

at

I. garden at Hackney, physician to James and became After publishing several learned botanical works, the chief being his ' Notes of Plants/published firstin 1570^ he died

in London, Andreas

1616.

Cfiesalpinus,an

Italian naturalist, was

born

at

in 1519, and died 1603. He studied medicine, and took the degree of doctor. The botanical ideas of Csesalpinus

Arezzo

were

*

more

"

scientificthan

Barn's Little Dodeon,

any of his time, and

out of the most

exquisite

their introHerball,

new

or

by D. Keinbert History of Plants, firstset forth in the Dutch Tongue Lyte, Esquire, and Dodeon, and translated into English by Henry abridged by "William Ram, it. ; I Jiavenot seen

Gentleman."

This is from

a

book

catalogue

Google

History

duction in his work of

a

rational system

on

of

"otan".

4i for the advancement

plants did much

of classification. He

proposed a system of the flower, fruit,

of classificationaccording to the nature in the Science. era and seeds, thus initiatinga new

His

herbarium

is preserved in the Museum The of Florence. genus Csesalpinia was named in his honour by Plumier. Fabius

Columna,

born

was

Fabio

Collonna,

a

learned Italian,

about the year 1567, and died there he belonged to the ancient Roman family of the same Columna's were very extensive; accomplishments

1650 ; name.

he

or

at Naples

skilled in languages, mathematics, music, designing, painting, botany, "c, and wrote treatises on many was

subjects.

His

'

History of Plants ?* was his 'Ecphrasis' (full

first published

account)was

and Eome,

1606, and another edition appeared

Joachim

Camerarius

died there 1598. many

published at Naples in 1592 ;

He

born

was

at

in 1616.

at Nuremburg,

1534, and

physician and botanist who in forwarded his favourite Science. He founded a

ways

was

a

for which he obtained many Herbal in German, at Frankfort,

botanical garden at Nuremberg, rare

plants, and published a 1590. This really fine volume professes to be a translation of Matthiolus, but has allthe merit of an original for the most part new, and work; the illustrationsare they are scarcely equal to the beautiful artistically advantages of their prints in Matthiolus, they have some Thus own. separate pictures are given of the various flowers and fruits, both entire and dissected, which are

though

absent

from

Matthiolus.

Much

of

Matthiolus

is also Herbal,

omitted in this work that has no connection with a for instance, all the minerals and animals, with the as, solitaryexception of the Civet, and why that is retained it is difficultto understand : much letterpressforeign to his object is also omitted by Camerarius, and fresh matter is introduced. *

*

Phytobasanos,

siye Plantarum

aliquot Historia.'

Google

42

liiSTORY

OF

BOTANY.

Our author treats of the medicinal uses of plants under two sections in each case : inwardly applied, and outwardly. Prospero

Padua,

Alpini,

or

Prosper

Alpinus,

a

of

physician

did good

by describing several service to Botany fresh plants that he discovered in his travels. He was born As physician to at Marostica, in the north of Italy, 1553. consul, Alpini visited Egypt, where he spent three years. He published works on exotic plants, on the balsam plant, and on rhubarb, and died 1617 at Padua, the Venetian

he

where

book

on

Alpini'S professor of Botany. Plants' appeared in 1614, and a second* A number Alpini was published 1629.*

at that time

was

'Exotic

edition by his

son

of the plants described the original author

from

are

tells us

the island of Candia, and

that he had

not

only collected

plants himself, but had

many

grown many from seed that by friends in different countries,

had been

supplied to him including France and England. named in his honour by Linneus. We

may

turn

now

to

our

The

genus

Alpinia

country, and consider the if not very erudite quaint "

"

also because most

not only because he

he

was

to be excused if I on

our

some

much

countryman,

excellent botanist, and wrote ' Herbal' that we have. and popular

amusing John Gerard,

an

was

or

born at Nantwich,

was

own

work of a very genial and Englishman, John Gerard, and I hope dwell rather longer on him than I have learned men.;

,

more

but the

he is frequently called Gerarde,t was in Cheshire, in 1545, and died in London, as

has the date 1027 a edition by Alpini Alpini (also physician) " appended to his Address to the kind reader*" but on the titlepage we *

find

The

"

MDCXXVIIII."

this essentiallyEnglish Write* should have a by the addiforeign appearance, and a false accent, given to his name tion in It is final the on so title e. a Johnson's (1633), spelt of edition

f

I know

not

Why

page, but in the original (orGerard's own) he subscribeshimself plain Gerard" to his dedication to his patron, Lord Burleigh, arid "John this is correctly adhered to in Johnson's edition.

Google

43

fcOTANY.

OP*

HISTORY

surgeon, and practised in London, but is best known as a botanist. He superintended the management of Lord Burleigh's garden for twenty years, He

1607.

was

as

educated

a

which he and had also a large physic garden* of his own, frequently alludes to in his 'Herbal/ and of which he caries' published a catalogue. He became Master of "the Apothe-

Gerard's

Company. of Plants'

'

published in 1597;

was

'

Herbal

'

or

it is

a

General

Historie

folio volume

of

nearly 1400 pages, exclusive of introductory matter and indexes. It is founded on the work of Dodoens, of which indeed to a considerable extent it is a verbatim translation.

Gray, in his

'

British Plants' t writes as follows :" "Gerarde, the Master of the Chirurgeons' Company, was not

although

sufficientlyversed in Latin to make

this translation himself,

Dr. translation of one thereof altered a manuscript Priest, which the latter had intended to publish, but died before he had accomplished his purpose; and his papers and

falling into the hands from

of Gerarde, they of his arrangement

transposed

were

into subject

Dodonseus's

that of

Lobell, and published by Gerarde without an acknowledgment of Dr. Priest's labour in the translation ; indeed he speaks

in his preface of Dr.

Priest's translation having

affirm that he perished, although both Lobell and Johnson used it himself with no other alteration than the above mentioned change of order in disposing the chapters, and *

some

*

additions. Gerarde having adopted

*

Lobell

was

his method,

extremely at which

we

angry at be may

may be considered at this surprised, since it undoubtedly time of day as an acknowledgment of his superiority over the order, if order it can be called, of Dodonteus ; perhaps *

Gerard's

t

*

Gray,

the firstEnglish physic garden* A Natural Arrangement of British Plants,' by Samuel Frederick was

lecturer

Chemistry.

on

Botany,

the

Materia

Medica, and

Pharmaceutic

London, 1821.

Google

44

HISTORY

Of

BOTANY.

Lobell's anger was that Gerarde's work, being in English, had a preferable sale to that of his own works in Latin, and might thus injurehis purse, however the complaisance of Gerarde might flatterhis self love." There would seem to be either

mistake in this account

some

hypocrite, else how introductory matter

can

we

or

Lobel

was

a

great

for finding amongst the General Historic of Plants a

account *

of the

'

de L'Obel to highly commendatory article by "Matthias John Gerard greeting,"* in which our author is addressed To friend Gerard." t "Dearest as consider Gerard's '

'

translation of Dodoens, with Lobel's arrangement, would be a great mistake ; as our author would * probably express it They are no more alike than things that

Herbal

are

a

most

mere

unlike/

"

There is a good and pleasant foode rootes of Parsneps as my friend master

bread made of the Plat hath set foorth

or

in his booke of experimenes, which I have made no triallof, That is Gerard's style of writing, a to do." nor meane

quaint, quiet humour, with abundance of local allusions ; at one time to plants in his physic garden, at another to the remarkable effects he had found to be produced by some of his friends at different times plant, then again how some had found particular benefit from some remedy, or pointing out particular habitats for plants, gossiping, entertaining,

quently As Gerard will be freand I think instructive throughout. other quoted in the second part of this work, one illustration shall suffice in this place. It is in relation to the

"

Vertues

"

"

of

Panax

Coloni,"

(Stachys palustris of Linneus). Axungia,

Hogs

"

or

Clown's Woundwort

The leaues heerof stamped

applied vnto green in maner of a pultis, doth heale them in such short wounds that it is hard for any that time and in such absolute maner, with

or

*

"

Matthias

f

"

Gerarde

grease, and

de L'Obel Jolianni Gerardo

felicitatem."

aruicissime."

Google

HISTORY

OF

45

BOTANY*

hath not had the experience thereof to heleeue : for being in in Kent about a Pacient, it chanced that a very poore man

made

a

he

did cut his leg with the Sieth, wherein

of Peason

mowing

to the bones, and withal very large and wide,

wound

crept and also with great effusion of bloud, the poore man vnto this herbe which he brused in his hands, and tied a great quantitie of it vnto the wound with a peece of his shirt,

which presently stanched the bleeding and ceased the pain, insomuch that the poore man presently went to his daies work againe and so did from daie to daie, without resting

day vntill he was perfectly hole, which was accomplished in a fewe daies by this herbe stamped with a littleHogs one

grease, and so laid upon in maner of a pultis,which did as it were togither, and glewe or soder the lips of the wounde heale it according to the firstintention (aswe tearme it)that

is without or

"

drawing

bringing the wounde to suppuration daies, that fully performed in seauen

or

matter,

which was woulde haue required fortiedaies with Balsam the wounde, and offered to heale the same

itselfe. I

sawe

for charitie, which he refused, saying, that I could not heale it so well as himselfe ; a clownish answer I confesse without thankes for my

good will,whereupon as *

aforesaide," a Herbal is divided into three books, the first " Containing "

'

Grasses, Eushes, Plants." time,

The

names,

Corne,

nature, or

and

vertues

sweete smelling

the description, place, time,

Trees, Shrubs, Bushes, plants not

remembered

Also Mushroms, The "

Flags, Bulbose,

Goose

names,

or

Onion-rooted

"

the description,place, of all sorts of herbs for

second book contains

meate, medicine, "

I haue named it Clounes Woundwoort Gerard's it bears to this day. name

vse,

"c. ;

nature

"

and the third and vertues

of

Fruit-bearing plants, and other rare to the first booke. in the Proeme

Corall, and their several kinds, "c.M

concludes with an extraordinary chapter on tree," from which I make the following extract

the

work

:

"

Google

4(5

"

Of the Goose

Geese.

Chap.

tree, Barnakle

tree,

the tree bearing

or

167." "

"Hauing

BOTANY.

OF

HISTORY

The

trauelled

Description.

from

the

Grasses

growing

in the

of the fenny waters, the woods, and mountaines, euen vnto Libanus it selfe; and also the sea, and bowels of Historie, thinking are arriued to the end of our : we the same bottome

it not impertinent to the conclusion of the same, to end with one of the maruels of this land (we may say of the world). The

Historie and

woorthines

whereof

to

set

foorth

raritie thereof, woulde

according to the

onely require a deeper search into the not

large and peculiar volume, but also a bowels of nature,"then my intended purpose wil suffer me to wade into, my insufficienciealso considered ; leauing the

historie thereof rough hewen, vnto some excellent men, learned in the secrets of nature, to be both fined and refined : in the meane space take it as it falleth out, the naked and bare truth, though north

parts

There

vnpolished.

of Scotland

and

the Hands

Orchades

certaine trees, whereon

fishes, of

a

founde

are

in the

adiacent, called

doe growe

certaine shell

white colour tending to russet; wherein are conteined little liuing creatures; which shels in time of maturitie doe open, and out of them grow those littleliuing foules, things; which falling into the water, doe become Brant we call Barnakles, in the north of England whom Geese, and in Lancashire tree Geese ; but the other that do fallvpon the land, perish, and come to nothing : thus much by the writings of others, and also from the mouths

of people

of those parts, which may very well accord with truth. " But what our eies haue seene, and hands haue touched, we shall declare. There is a small Ilande in Lancashire

called the Pile of Foulders, wherein peeces of old and brused ships, some cast thither by shipwracke, and

are

found

whereof

the broken

haue

also the trunks

or

beene

bodies

Google

OF

HISTORY

47

BOTANY.

with the branches of old and rotten trees, cast vp there likewise : whereon is found a certaine spume or froth, that in time breedeth vnto certaine shels, in shape like those of the muskle, but sharper pointed, and of a whitish colour ; wherein is conteined a thing in forme like a lace of silke finely wouen it were as togither,of a whitish colour ; one ende

whereof

is fastend vnto

the fish of Oisters and

as

fast vnto the belly of

the inside of the shell, euen

Muskles

are;

the other ende

is

or lumpe, rude masse which in to the shape and forme of a Bird : when it is time commeth perfectly formed, the shel gapeth open, and the first thing

made

a

that appeereth is the foresaid lace

the string ; next come legs of the Birde hanging out; and as it groweth greater, it openeth the shell by degrees till at length it is all come or

foorth, and hangeth onely by the bill; in short space after it to full maturitie, and fallethinto the sea, where it commeth gathereth feathers, and groweth to a foule bigger than a Mallard, and lesser than a Goose ; hauing black legs and bill or beake, and feathers black and white, spotted in such Magge-Pie, called in some maner as is our places a Pie- Annet, then which the people of Lancashire call by no other name a tree Goose ; which place aforesaide, and all those parts

therewith, that one abound of the adioning, do so much best is bought for three pence ; for the truth heerof, if any it please them

doubt, may

to repaire vnto

me,

and I shall

satisfiethem by the testimonie of good witnesses." We Barnakle are afterwards told of these remarkable in March trees that " They spawne as it were and Aprill ; the Geese

are

formed in Maie

and Iune, and

come

to fulnesse

of feathers in the morieth after."* *

Johnson,

whose

haue

in his edition of Gerard,

fabulous breed also deliuered,

my were

originall,and that by egs

Author found as

here

by

some

remarks

:

sets downe,

Hollanders

other birds haue

:

"

"

and

The

Barnakle

diuers others

to haue

another

for they in their third

Google

48

HISTORY

Clusius born

was

or

Charles

at Arras,

OF

d'Ecluse

1526,

and

BOTANY.

Dutch

botanist who He died at Leyden, 1609. was

a

various parts of Europe, and was time director of the Botanical Garden of Vienna. travelled

he

over

for

some

In 1593

professor of Botany at Leyden, and he was the author His 'History of Rare Plants' appeared of several works. in 1601. was

voiage to find out the North-East

about

the 80 degree

two littleIslands, in

and one

eleuen minutes of which

their eggs, of which sixty eggs "c." sitting vpon

passage to China " the Molucco's, of Northerly

they found aboundance they got

one

latitude, found of these geese

Goose, and

tooke away

Google

CHAPTER

V.

OENTUBY.

SEVENTEENTH

The

seventeenth

knowledge,

Bauhin

are

and

Among

Science.

the

John,

a

the

was

with

1541,

on

Caspar

and

they

:

were

invited

in which

afterwards

and

plants

he

be

travelled

in France

situation he continued

published

several

medical

and

the most

important

did

appear

during

published

in 1650.

contains

is his

'

5000

of about

History

in the

until

botanical his life,

of Plants,'

is illustrated

and

figures.

3577

jCaspar

not

This

descriptions

to

physician

He

death.

and

in Basle

of rhetoric to

He

1613.

whom

with

professor

was

died

and Fuchs,

under

collected

also

he

in 1570

of Wurtemberg,

;

born

appointed

Duke

which

John

commencement

of Gesner,

He

and

was

at the

Tubingen,

at

1566,

but

brothers

acquaintance

He

Italy.

works

these

was

physician,

Switzerland.

his

many

the

in botanical

advance

illustrious writers

produced

pre-eminent

studied Botany

in

further

a

of Basle.

natives

made

saw

century

Bauhin

first at the Montpellier,

born

was

University and

Paris.

doctor

of medicine,

Greek,

and

in 1588

in

1560,

of Basle, In 1582

and

1581

he

professor

the University of Basle, where

was

He

died 1624.

and

at Padua,

afterwards

he

took

of Anatomy

degree

of

professor

of

Botany

in

the

appointed and

studied

he afterwards also occupied 4*

Google

50

HISTORY

OP

BOTANY.

the chair of practice of physic, and was made rector of the University and dean of the faculty. Of the several works that he wrote on medicine and Botany the most celebrated is his 'Table

Theatre

the

of

Botany,**

of

which

was

It is an index to the works of the published in 1623. earlierbotanists, in which are described nearly 6000 plants, given to them : it was the labouy of with the various names

forty years, and remains

until

an

now

invaluable collection

large work planned by C. Bauhin he did not live to complete; it was called 'Botanical Theatre/1 and was to have been a history of all known plants, completed in twelve folio parts : three of these he of synonyms.

finished,but

Another

one

only

was

published. Plumier of Caspar Bauhin;

genus Bauhinia in honour after the two illustriousbrothers, might suggest. Though they may

have

as

named or

the

perhaps

the twin lobed leaves

littledirect bearing

on

botanical

must not omit notice of two English nomenclature, we botanists of this time, Johnson and Parkinson. Thomas Johnson born at Selby, in Yorkshire, and was

brought up as an apothecary in London, where he kept In 1629 he published a 'Journey into Kent in a shop. Search of Plants," and in 1632 an account of the plants Heath, which is the first of our growing on Hampstead

was

'

Local Floras.'

But

his most

important, '

largest work, Herbal/ published in 1633. or

edition of Gerard's Johnson became a soldier during the civil wars, having the rank of lieutenant-colonel on the royalist side, and he died a new

was

of

a

gun-shot wound

received in

sally from

a

Basinghouse,

Hampshire.

Parkinson, another apothecary, and contemporary an account with Johnson, published in 1629 of garden ' his Theatre appeared of Botany/ giants. In 1643 John

*

'

Pinax Theatri Botanici.'

f

'

Theatrum

Botanicum.'

Google

OF

HISTORY

describing 3800 of age. I should

'

it not that the is, or

died about 1650,

it necessary

not think

.

He

plants.

English

51

BOTANY.

to notice Culpeper, '

Physician

or

'

were '

Herbal

Culpeper's

until quite recently, the most

was

80 years

over

books of hand-

popular

with botanists of the operative class ; therefore I feel

bound

not to pass him

Nicholas Culpeper

astrologer, who plants

born in London,

was

was

several editions, but

in the other

certainly

we

it has

cannot

of all

properties

English

'The a

medical

through

passed

for this

account

by its being the only English

case,

subject,and

Herbal'

'Grete

the

medicinal

an

was

and

1652, and is,of the sort,

published

Like

1616,

stellar influences.

and

'

Physician

the

referred

to planetary

work.

over.

on

work

as

the

Culpeper's

therefore of necessity the best.

superstition is equalled by his wonderful

might only raise him

a

smile,

to reflectoffensively

headed

physicians.

He

to the world

have

were

the works

on

of other and clearerthus addressed his wife, to whom "

he lefthis manuscripts

self-conceit,which it not that it frequently leads

:

"

The

(though envied by such

merited

works some

just applause,

that I have published

illiterate

physicians)

that

thou

mayest

be

anything I leave thee, friends and assuring my especially this master-piece; benefit by this, that they will receive as much countrymen,

confident in proceeding

Dispensatory,

by my

as

to publish

and that incomparable

Uranica

piece, called Physician,"

enlarged, and English Perhaps this self-exaltation is which is highly probable. rather to be pitied than blamed, being a natural result of superstition, which may often be noticed in varying degree, Semiotica

when *

an

easy

Sir Walter

astrology

was

"

faith oversteps Scott says

almost

in

universal

'Guy

.

bounds.*

reasonable Mannering':

in the middle

"

"The

of the

It

belief in

seventeenth E

2

52

OP

HISTORY

BOTANY.

be said that Culpeper did anything to advance the He died in London, 1654. science of Botany. About this time botanists were endeavouring to improve cannot

the hitherto very imperfect

of classification,and Ray, John countryman

methods

our these was greatest among formerly spelt Wray, but altered by himself. A rather particular notice of Ray will not be irrelevant,for he was a

careful student of the British Flora, and it is a pleasure to dwell upon the memory of this truly great and good man, be

of England's greatest lence worthies, not only on account of his learning and the excelof his uprightness of his writings, but also by reason

who

ever

must

revered

as

one

As a botanist Haller terms him " the and independence. a commendation, consider* greatest in the memory of man," be him it, in ing that applied no way exceeded which could

in force.

Ray

of humble origin, his father being a in what we during a long lifehe was never

was

blacksmith, and

doubtful towards the close of and became century ; it began to waver that period, and in the beginning of the eighteenth the art fellinto disrepute, and

general

retained many

even

partisans,

under

general

Yet

ridicule.

in the seats of learning.

even

it still

Grave

and

loth to relinquish the calculations which had early studious become the principal of their studies, and felt reluctant to men

were

objects

from

descend

height to which a supposed insight the predominating into futurity, by the power of consulting abstract influences and conjunctions, had exalted them over the rest of mankind." It is curious,

but I have as

edition of Culpeper by

1810, in which

the Bay

Tree

Leo, and

Satan

can

speech of witch

nor

where

a

answer

some

an

:

"

"

is abundance

one

Dr. Parkins, of

of such

It is a tree of the

sun,

rubbish and under

as

so

late

a

date

this respecting

the celestial sign

resisteth witchcraft very potently, as also all the evils old do to the body of man, and they are not a few ; for it is the one,

and I

am

mistaken

devil, thunder

bay-tree is."

nor

if it were

not Mizaldus,

lightening, will hurt

a

cooks suppose to be all one

Laurel,

or

in

man

I have planted bays ; they will do

better in cookery than Aucuba,

that neither

no

a

place

harm,

Rhododendron,

and

which

thing.

Google

HISTORY

should call

"

53

BOTANY.

OF

good circumstances," though if he could have

sacrificedsomething of his high sense of duty, his history will show that his abilitymight have led him to high preferment. He

born at Black Notley,

was

1628, and

was

Braintree,

School at young to the Grammar At about sixteen to Cambridge.

sent when

and he

twenty-one

Braintree, in Essex,

near

when

chosen juniorfellow of Trinity, after acquiring the degree of B.A., and when he took the master's was

degree he became

major senior

fellow ; at twenty-three he

Greek

lecturer of the college,at twenty-five mathematical lecturer,at twenty-seven humanity reader, at twenty-nine he was made prselector primarius, and at thirty was

chosen

juniordean.

In 1660 he took orders in the English church ; but refusing to subscribe the Act of Uniformity,* in 1662, he deprived

of his fellowship, and In 1667 he preferment in the church. was

lost all chance of was elected a Fellow

of the Royal Society. *

Act of Uniformity "provided that every minister should, before the feast of St. Bartholomew (Aug.24),publicly declare his assent and consent to everything contained in the book of Common The

lose his benefice. The appointed day came, and about two thousand ministers, the far greater part of them men of extensive learning, sincere piety, and irreproachable life,laid down their preferments, Prayer,

or

and, rather than do violence to their conscience, faced poverty and persecution."" -Keig%tley"b History of England. some "Among miscellaneous observations of Mr. Bay's one is as

September 18th, 1662. The

follows : "

Wood

and

College, Mr.

new

Mr.

Tuckney;

as

Trinity College, Mr.

Mr.

Derham's

Wray;

Emanuel

Hulse

Jesus College, Mr. Huffe ; Magdalen King's College, Mr. Duncombe; of Emanuel

were

and Mr. Brinsley; Pembroke Mr. Green ; Bennett College, Mr. Chapman ;

Ulingworth,

Hall, Mr. Clifford and

master

of such fellows of Colleges

deprived for not subscribing Act for Uniformity, 1661 : St. John's College, Mr.

in the University of Cambridge, according to the

names

College, Mr. Hill and Mr. More ; besides these, Dr. Dillingham, from

the original edition of Dr. lifeof Kay, published by Mr. Scott. College."

"

Note

Google

54

HISTORY

BOTANY.

OF

Early in lifeRay took great interestin Natural Science, especiallyin Botany, and after travelling over a great part of England, Scotland and Wales, he extended his herborisathe continent of Europe. in England, accounts of his journeys

tions to

itineraries,or

His are

most

interesting.*

His works chieflyin Latin, which he wrote with the same facility as English numerous were and on differentsubjects. Of those on plants may be mentioned * A Catalogue of Plants "

"

growing about Cambridge,,, 1660, and 'A Catalogue of English Plants/ 1670. After these followed 'A Catalogue Method of of Plants' observed in his travels; 'A new Plants'; a 'History of Plants/ in three large foliovolumes, ' dical enumerating and describing over 17,000 species ; a MethoSynopsis of British Plants'; 'An emended Method of Plants/ Besides these he wrote on quadrupeds and fishes birds, insects, serpents, and and also several religious

Ray

died 1706, at his native place, in the condition as that in which he commenced

works. humble

leaving three daughters

same

life,

Dr. family of four. Derham, who wrote a memorial of Ray, says : " In a word, in his dealings no man more ; in his conversation strictlyjust out

a

of

"

no

God

no

man

more

man

distressed

more

no

man

humble, courteous, and affable; towards devout ; and towards the poor and more

compassionate

according to his abilities." As a systematic botanist Ray

and

charitable,

in advance of his time, duly appreciated in his life

was

not and though his method was time, he must be looked upon as the founder of the modern " or as it is called. natural system of classification, "

Magnol and Tournefort in France, andRivinus in Germanjr, each had his system of classificationand his followers. Pierre Magnol *

See

'

was

born at Montpellier, 1638, and died there

Memorials of John by the Ray Society, 1846, or

Ray/ by the late Dr. Lankester, published '

Remains

of John Ray,' by Dr. Derham,

1760.

Google

HISTORY

He

55

BOTANY.

OF

botanist of great repute, and deservedly. It is after him that Plumier has named the genus Magnolia. Joseph Pitton de Tournefort was born at Aix, in Provence, 1715.

a

was

He was of a noble family, died at Paris, 1708. destined for the church, but his tastes leadinghim in

1656, and

and

was

the direction of Science, he became

botanist of considerable great part of Europe, and also a

authority. He travelled over a iiiAsia Minor, Armenia, the Caucasus, the neighbourhood of the Black Sea, "c, and made large collectionsof plants.

Augustus

QuirinusRivinus

He and died 1725. Anatomy and Botany. my

a

was

born at Leipsic, 1652,

was

physician, and.a professor of I have before stated; it is not

As

to explain the principles

purpose

botanists have founded their systems trace minutely the steps by which

a

on

which

different

or to of classification, universal system has at

last been reached. Though the three last learned botanists each invented a system, these were all eclipsed by that of

Linneus, founded

in its turn

on

has

by

been

superseded the principles firstenunciated by Ray.

which

one

Plumier, whose name has already been frequentlymentioned, He born 1646, at Marseilles, and died near Cadiz, 1704. was was appointed to explore the French settlements in the West Indies, and

afterwards sent to the Antilles ; he resided Plunder's principal work, ' New some time in St. Domingo. Genera of Plants/ was published the year before his death. was

taking leave of the seventeenth century a word " " be said in honour but scapegrace* merry of our

Before may *

Rochester, at the request of the king, wrote

from its extreme "

gave great offence :

pungency Here

"

lies our

sovereign lord the King,

"Whose word "Who And Perhaps

never

no

said

never

the foundation

his epitaph, which

did

mail

relies on ;

foolish thing,

a a

wise

of the Royal

one."

Society may

exception which is said to be necessary to prove

a

be taken

as

that

rule.

Google

56

HISTORY

0*

BOTANY.

Charles II. He established the Royal Society, monarch which, from his time to the present, has included amongst its fellows the most eminent scientific men of the Kingdom, of great increase of knowledge. and has been the means Bay has justbeen mentioned as a fellow, and one of the the gentle Evelyn, who earliest was contributed to its

his celebrated "Silva," Forest Trees." Transactions

or

"Discourse

on

Google

CHAPTER

VI.

EIGHTEENTH

CENTUEY.

There the

is very great rariety in the

eighteenth

from

DlLLENIUS.

HaLLEE,

" 1. BOERHAAVE,

a

and

century,

of the world

all parts

It would

occupy

notice of

a

too much

botanical

of fresh plants

great number discovered

were

space

to give

literature of

described.

and than

more

a

passing

few of these writers, reserving the greater part of for Linneus,

this chapter

between

comparison

contemporaries,

because,

him

and

other

it is without

doubt

merit of inventing

our

is the

have

subjectwe

he

who

for previous

has

his

were

who

the

of nomenclature,

principally in hand.

of Linneus

contemporaries

botanists

system

present

instituting any

without

chief

which

I select these

mention

:

Boerhaave,

Haller, and Dillenius. Boerhaave,

Hermann from

Leyden,

of the

1668,

eighteenth

his father, who

he made

such

one

was

of the most

rapid

him

about

two

miles

celebrated physicians

carefully educated

by

for the clerical profession,

and

He

century.

intended

at Voorhout,

born

progress

was

in his studies that at eleven

Greek and Latin. When years of age he understood sixteen lost his father, who left a family of nine years old Boerhaave children, in but poor which

he

philosophy

greatly and

much study, in himself, in mathematics,

circumstances.

distinguished

theology,

he

After

finally devoted

himself

to

Google

58

OP

HISTORY

BOTANY.

medicine, taking as his models Hippocrates and Sydenham. In 1693 he took the degree of doctor of medicine, at the University of Harderwyck, in Guelderland. In 1701 he was chosen lecturer on the institutesof medicine at Leyden ; his duties by a discourse in favour of and he commenced In 1714 he became Rector of the the study of Hippocrates. University. He was elected a member of the Academy of Sciences of Paris in 1728, and of the Royal Society of London

in 1730.

had

great zeal for Botany, extended the botanical gardens at Leyden, and published many botanical memoirs. He acquired a considerable fortune, and resigned the chair He

In his final address to of Botany and Chemistry in 1729. his pupils he reverted to the doctrines of Hippocrates, qpd declared that man to be the firstphysician who knew how to Boerhaave died wait for,and second, the effortsof Nature. 1738, at the age of sixty-nine. With all his learning he to have

christian; Haller speaks of his venerable simplicity and his power of persuasion, and states that he has often heard him say, when speaking of the seems

been

a

humble

gospel precepts, that the Divine Teacher had shown in the Bible far more knowledge of the human heart than Socrates with allhis wisdom. works may be noticed the botanical ' Catalogue of Plants in the Leyden Garden,' and ones" ' History of Plants/

Among

his

numerous

It would be impossible, in

to short notice, to do justice Italler.One of his biographers

as phenomenon describes him (Dr.Willis)

such

a

a

"

of the most learned and We find in indefatigablemen seen." the world has ever him an early erudition like that of Avicenna, combined with intellectual power, diligentlyapplied to original enormous as

one

regearch.

Albrecht

von

Haller

was

born at Berne, in Switzerland,

Google

OF

HISTORY

59

BOTANY.

From

his earliestyears his great talents hecame apparent, for with littleor no efforthe mastered the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages between his sixth and ninth 1708.

then he had assumed the habit of noting all the information that he considered interestingor valuable ; so that while yet a lad he had the particulars of the lives of

year.*

Even

thousand eminent persons written in his common-place book. In studying for the medical profession Haller went firstto Tubingen, and afterwards to Leyden, where, among some

others, he had

Boerhaave

for

a

teacher.

Among

numerous

time with Botany, and other studies,Haller occupied some in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Gottingen (under be found some George II.)may the patronage of our

interestingand beautifully illustratedarticleson some plants in their garden. As a physician, anatomist, physiologist, botanist, and poet, Haller will always be held in esteem. His biographer, already quoted, says : " It is impossible to deny that by his learning and assiduity,by the example of his life,and his teaching, and by the quickening influence

of his theoretical views, he set his seal not only on his age, but has leftit imprinted on all time.,, Haller died 1777. Johann Jacob Dillen, or Pillenius, the first Professor of born at Darmstadt, He became 1687, and studied at the University of Giessen. to be cona very celebrated botanist; indeed, he wished sidered Botany

at the University of Oxford,

was

the greatest of his time. In 1727 he published a Flora of Giessen ; he adopted the system of Ray, in prefer* ence

good service to Botany leading the way to a *

Dillenius did and Rivinus. by his study of the Cryptogamia,

to those of Tournefort

It is open to anyone

knowledge

to doubt,

or

of

their

manner

of

qualify according to his judgment

extraordinary statements ; but it is not at all unusual to meet by intuition,what with instances where children acquire, as it were many could not gain in a lifetime.

such

Google

60

lilSTORV

OP

BOTANY.

reproduction and development. Sherard was struck with the botanical merits of Dillenius, and invited him to England, where he remained for the rest of his life,supported by the patronage of the two Sherards.* He had the superintendence of Sherard's celebrated garden at Eltham, in Kent, and tions wrote a large folio catalogue,with illustrationsand descripof the rare plants growing in it, called 'Hortus Elthamensis' (Eltham Garden). Dr. Sherard, dying 1728, bequeathed

to the Oxford

of money to providing, at the same

University

a

sum

professorship of Botany, time that Dillenius should be the firstoccupant of the chair, thus placing him in a position of considerable eminence : he endow

a

died at Oxford, 1747.

without doubt an excellent botanist, the temper of Dillenius was not pleasant; it is " generally called peculiar," which may be freely rendered, Though

It is to be regrettedthat somewhat jealous and unamiable. this infirmity should have led him to treat Linneus with littlerespect when -the latter came to England, and should have caused our illustriousvisitor to return home with a feeling of disappointment from our usually frank and

hospitable country. " 2. Linneus. Carolus Linneus,

Rashult, in Smaland, was

him

born 1707, at His father province of Sweden.

Carl

or a

von

Linne,

was

unable to assist clergyman of small pieans, who was much in the prosecution of those studies to which he

a

intended for the church, and handicraft afterwards his father inclined to put him to some dissuaded from this by Rothman, business, but was the devoted himself.

First he

was

principal physician at Wexio, who took him into his house, he studied medicine for three years. and under whom *

See under

"

Sherardia," 2nd part.

Google

OF

HISTORY

61

BOTANY.

Afterwards he matriculated at the University of Lund ; and in 1728 he went to the University of Upsal, where, obtaining a royal scholarship, he was enabled to pursue his studies

without difficulty. In 1731 Linneus

was

travel in Lapland

to

appointed

of the authority, and at the expense In this remarkable journey,which University of Upsal. both of hardship and danger, Linneus travelled, was one

under

the

mostly

on

was

royal

about 3800 English miles. After this he in various scientificwork, his fame continually

foot, over

employed

increasing.

In

he

1736

came

England,

to

over

but

was

disappointed with his visit,not gaining so much information he expected; Dillenius too, professor of Botany as at Oxford, though

a

very able

was

man,

of

curious temper,

a

and aspired to be thought the firstbotanist of his time, and

he did not give Linneus

a

cordial reception. In 1738 Linneus

from as a physician, and settled in Stockholm He was his fame and fortunes prospered apace.

that time appointed

successively botanist to the king, president of the Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, professor of medicine and then of Botany

until, in

at Upsal;

he

1757,

raised to

was

the

the title of Von Linne, by which he nobility, assuming in writers* use this name preferred to be known, and some preference to Linnaeus, which is of the two stillmore usual. *

Willdenow,

Thus

in his enlarged

and Jeffreys, in his beautiful work in " It was originally Linnaeus writes :

*

"

nobility, he assumed the twelfth

the

(andmost perfect)edition

in all his subsequent

; but

of Linne.

name

*

Species of Plants,' British Conchology.' The latter edition of

receiving the patent of The latter name is given in on

of the

'

Systema

Naturae ; ' and

he always

used this Society which Dears his name in this country is Linnean, and not Linnaean, as appears from their Charter and Under these circumstances I have adopted the name Transactions.

titleof distinction.

which

Linneus

he

himself

works

The

and

correspondence

learned

preferred."

instead of Linnaeus.

Newman I have

also

('British

followed in the

Ferns

same

')writes

course.

Google

62

OF

HISTORY

BOTANY.

raised to the nobility Linneus had become sufficiently wealthy to purchase an estate in the neighbourhood of Upsal. He was of all the learned societies of elected a member When

Europe,

and many

honours

scientificacquirements. He died in 1777, and vault in the cathedral in the most performed

were

his remains

university, the pall being supported

medicine, all of whom

had

been

by

a

were

obsequies

manner

respectful

for his

deposited in

were

His

Upsal.

of

him

conferred upon

the

whole by sixteen doctors of

his pupils.

There

was

a

general mourning at Upsal, and the king of Sweden caused to be struck expressive of the public loss, and a medal in a speech from the throne. The alluded to the

subject

of classificationinvented by Linneus, together with he made in botanical nomenclature, the great improvement have served to greatly popularize the study of Botany; what system

before chaos he brought into order, and what was before based difficulthe made easy. His system of classification,

was

position of the stamens and pistils,serves of a plant that admirably to guide the learner to the name he may wish to determine ; though as a scientific arrangement on

the number

or

it is worth nothing, plants of the vegetable kingdom being arranged side by side that have nothing in common

this trivialcoincidence of two sets of organs. Thus in the class and order Triandria Monogynia (threestamens beyond

and

one

find Valerian, Bryony, Butcher's Broom, we pistil)

Iris, Sedges ; and these incongruities follow the system

in

a

throughout, though in ", few instances" aB great measure for example the class Tedradynamia, which is equivalent to is not met with. the natural order Cruciferse this "

objection

general system of Botany could be permanently be even temporarily satisfactory, which established, or

But

no

depends

for its distinctions on

organs only ; and

Linneus

one

would

or

seem

two

organs, or sets of to have been aware

Google

OP

HISTORY

of it. Buffon

says

on

this

63

BOTANY.

: subject

"

"

This pretension of

botanists to establish general systems, perfect and methodical, has then littlefoundation ; and their labours have only defective methods, which have been availed to give us by the other, and have the one successively demolished founded on arbitrary suffered the usual fate of all systems contributed to the principles; and that which has most for another, is the of such methods substituting of* one liberty that botanists have

given

themselves,

to

choose

arbitrarilya single part of plants and to make of it a specific establish their method on the shape of the character : some leaves, others flowers, others others

on

their position, others

on

the

on

the

number

number

of

on

the form of the

of their petals, and

their stamens.

If I

still

should

that have been thought of recal in detail all the methods finish, but I shall only treat of those that I should never have

been

received with

favour, and

have

followed, each

in its turn, without

sufficientattention being paid to that in principle which is common to them error all,and which consists in trying to judge of a whole, or the combination of several wholes, by a single part, and by the comparison of the differences in this single part." But notwithstanding the Linnean system has been seded superby a more scientificone, its study must be recommended to botanical tyros as a great assistance towards the perfect plan in many ways. of the larger, and more The latter in its bare simplicity is so abstruse as to be to the beginner, and in order to quite incomprehensible

mastery

plant which he may have found, keys are made, which frequently turn out to be far artificial bewildering than the Linnean arrangement. more

guide him

to the

name

of

a

It is not, however, $o much

botanical classificationthat

we

concerned with, as nomenclature, and this Linneus may be said to have based on such sound principles that in are

Google

64

BOTANY.

OF

HISTORY

still remain a law to all essential particulars his canons botanists. Nothing will better illustrate the principles of modern as

are

botanical nomenclature follow :

than these

"

1. The

names

are

of plants are

order, which

class and

never

class and order

2. All plants

name

must

of the

different genera

a

are

to

have

the

are

to

have

a

plant. same

distinct

the

name.

distinguish new

7. Generic

ought

genera

them.

name

on

no

derived

names

from

barbarous

languages

to be admitted.

account

8. Generic

names

compounded

of two

entire words

are

Thus Vitis-Idsea ought to be excluded. give way to Vaccinium, and Crista-Galli to Rhi-

improper, must n an

those of the

be single. be designated by cannot

6. It is the business of those who to

those of the

are

generic name. 3. All plants differing in genus

5. Two

:

and

understood;

agreeing in genus

generic name. 4. Each generic

kinds

of two

expressed. The name enter into the denominations of

genus and species, which

same

They

canons.

and

thus.

9. Generic

names

formed

Some

tolerable. Cornucopia,

of them Rosmarinus,

of two Latin words are scarcely have been admitted, such as Sempervivum, "c, but these

examples are not to be imitated. formed half of Latin 10. Generic names

Greek

hybrid, and on no account Chrysanthemmdwm, Cardamindwm, 11. name

are

Generic of

unworthy

one

names

plant, and

of Botany;

compounded a

portion

Cannocorwa,

and

half of

to be admitted ; such ad

"c.

of the entire generic of that of another,

are

Jjilionarcissus,Lauro-

cerasus.

Google

12.

A

generic

syllables, so

is prefixed

one

applicable to other plants is not admissible ; Cynocrambe, C7"am#nerium. castanum, " ending in oides Agrimonowfc*, A"teroides, "c.

13. Generic as

"

formed

names

of other generic

final syllable, are addition of some "c. Acetosella, Balsamtta, Bapislmm, names

sounding

as

it

Bulbo-

; rejected

names,

with disagreeable, as

the

15. Generic

more

render

to be

are

names

14. Generic

or

alter its signification,and

to

as

to which

name,

65

BOTANY.

OP

HISTORY

alike lead to confusion.

16. No

be admitted except such can generic names derived from either the Greek or Latin languages.

as

are

appertaining previously to Zoology, to be cancelled, if subsequently or other Sciences, are applied in Botany. 18. Generic names at variance with the characters of any 17.

Generic

of the species 19. Generic cannot

20. ones,

names

are

bad. the

names

those of the class or order

be tolerated.

Adjective generic names

the goodwill

are

not

so

good

as

substantive

be admitted.

but may

21. Generic

ought not to be misapplied to gaining favour of saints or persons celebrated in

names or

other Sciences ; they can

as

same

expect, and

are

are

the only reward

intended for him

of the Science names

are

alone.

of deities or of worthy of being retained.

22. Nevertheless, ancient poetical

great promoters 23. Generic

that the botanist

names

that express the essential character

or

habit of a plant are the best of all. 24. The ancient names of the classics are to be respected. have no 25. We ancient generic right to alter an to one name more though it may be for the modern, even better : this would

in the first place be

and in the next place would

an

endless labour,

tend to inextricable confusion. F

06

HISTORY

26. If

new

generic

ascertained whether

no

OF

names one

BOTANY.

are

among

first be

it must

wanted

the existing synonyms

is

applicable. 27. If an old genus is divided into several new ones the will remain with the species that is best known. old name 28. The

termination and euphony be consulted as far as practicable.

of generic names

disagreeable names

29. Long, awkward,

are

are

to

to be avoided,

of Vaillant, Coriotragematodendros of Plukenet, and the like. 30. The names to the of classes and orders are

Calophyllodendron

as

subject

same

as

rules

express

some

81. The

consist of

those

of genera.

They

always to

ought

essentialand characteristicmarks. names of both classes and orders must

a

always

single word, and not of sentences.

Lindley remarks of these canons* that they are must respects, that we excellent in many

edly undoubtattribute

of the greater perfection of Natural History, since the time of Linneus, to the adoption of them, and that they are constantly appealed to by the school of Linneus as a much

departure whatever standard of language from which no is allowable. He continues : " It is,however, necessary to "

remark,

that notwithstanding the undoubted

excellence of

of these rules,yet there are others adherence to which is often out of the question, and which have indeed fallen to be an admitted principle wholly into disuse. It seems many

that it is of littlereal importance what name to distinguish that bears, provided it serves

everything else. This being 11, 12, 14 and 16 of the

so

an

object objectfrom

it will follow that Nos. 7, 9,

Linnsean

canons

are

either person is

unimportant, or at least that no by custom, to observe them. or bound, either in reason This is particularly apparent in considering the practice

frivolous

or

*

'

Introduction to Botany.'

Google

HISTOEY

OF

67

BOTANY.

by Linnaeus, universallyadopted, although condemned by which plants are known in of converting the names by countries called barbarous into scientificgeneric names, now

adding

Latin termination to them ;

a

"I

agree with those

conclusion

"

sounding

unmeaning

name

as

"

and he

think

who as

good

any

to this

comes a

good

that

well'

be

can

contrived." I shall not be alone in dissenting from this opinion, but itsbeing held by such a high authority as Lindley will serve as

a

reason

are mere scientificnames gibberish* as far as lies in their possessing in themselves any comprehensible meaning. This does not apply so much to the

why

many

*

*

nomenclature

of the British Flora

to the Botany

as

of the

world.

The more

most 6

great excellence of Linneus' plan will perhaps appear plainly by a comparison of his names with those of the If we take up the eminent botanists of his time.

Hortus

Elthamensis,' of Dillenius,

find that the

we

name

quently fregenerally consisted of three words, and these were followed by about three more, of less importance, " but stillpart of the name, Bidens latifoliahirsutior thus : "

"

" Bidens pilosa of semine angustiore radiato." This is the Linneus ; " Bidens Succissefolio,radio amplo laciniato of " Again, if Dillenius, is " Coreopsis lanceolata of Linneus. "

'

in Willdenow's ' Species Plantarum referto the synonyms find that Haller called " Helleborus foetidus,"of Linneus, we "Helleborus ramosus multiflorus,foliis multipartitis,serratis, we

stipulisovato-lanceolatis,coloratis."

This

was

of nomenclature which Rivinus did but which Linneus put in its present form.

the kind

much to amend, Names without

any

good as those ^rhich convey information to impress them reason.

cannot

meaning

generally be held

at least on

some

the memory,

It might be said that the

names

smattering iffor

no

as

of

other

of people applied f2

Google

C8

to plants give case

"

:

us

information, but this is not exactly the before could not have received its name

no "

Sherardia

BOTANY,

OF

HISTORY

"

" before the time Linnsea the time of the Sherards, nor at least give us a scrap of Linneus ; so that these names

of information in botanical history. Sir J. E. Smith took an entirely different view from Professor Lindley. He says : " Botanists of the Linnean "

school, however,

no

admit

such

other language than

the Greek

esteemed barbarous.

Without

not only with

but

a

names

generic or

from

any

Latin, all others being

this rule

we

whelmed, should be over-

torrent of uncouth

and able unmanagewhere to fix our

be puzzled plant may have fiftydifferent original choice, as the same denominations in differentparts of the world, and we might words,

happen

we

to choose

should

by which

one

Smith, though

it is least known/'

But

strong supporter of Linnean rule, " Perhaps the barbarous name exceptions : admits some of local been some very plants, when they cannot possibly have

even

a

"

known

previously by any other, and when that harmonious and easily reconcilable to the Latin

name

is

tongue,

be admitted, as that of the Japan shrub, Aucuba ; but such a word as Ginkgo is intolerable." As is usual in other cases, it has happened in this; so

may

custom

does not

middle

course.

some

settle down to extreme views, but takes a It would seem that where convenience, or

other very good

reason,

a deviation justifies

from the

Linnean

system, it would be least likelyto lead to confusion

if such

cases

were

considered

exceptions, and

not

fresh

principles which should abrogate any of the Linnean canons. For after all naturalists in adopting this universally concur system of our authority, nothing better having been invented. Linneus *

And

guided

these

canons

himself:*

rules by which in fact, the comprehend,

are

they

the

Being evidentlyvery methodical, Linneus

was

in the apparently

Google

OF

HISTORY

69

BOTANY.

doubtful if there is anything and it would seem to be said in favour of these so-called barbarous names, more than that from want of that lively and fanciful imagination system;

which Linneus possessed so largely; or from the difficulty, if not impossibility, of finding some ence special botanical differwhich should distinguish a genus from all others, and could be commodiously expressed by a Greek or Latin botanists have been forced to take the best course name, they knew.

*

I justmentioned

the livelyimagination of Linneus ; Smith " naeus Linthus draws attention to some of his quaint fancies : "

in his entertaining book 'Critica Botanica' has in several instances drawn a fanciful analogy between botanists and their appropriate plants distinguished brothers John "

two-lobed

twin leaf.

or

the two

commemorates

thus, Bauhinia, after the two and Caspar Bauhin, has a

Scheuchzeria, Scheuchzers,

a

grassy alpine plant,

one

excelled of whom in the knowledge of alpine plants, the other in that of grasses. " Dorstenia, with its obsolete flowers devoid of all beauty, alludes to the antiquated and uncouth book of Dorstenius. American beautiful of "Hernandia, an plant, the most all trees in its foliage,but furnished with triflingblossoms, bears the

name

of

botanist highly favoured by fortune,

a

ample salary for the purpose of investigating the Natural History of the western world, but whose labours and allowed

an

have not answered the expense," "c. This may be called scientifictrifling, and Smith over a

instances where,

plan "

says,

has become

is well known

pretensions

chuckles

such with a trivial name, tenuifolia," he offensive. "Buffonia to be a satire on the slender botanical coupled

of the great French

zoologist, as

the Hillia

habit of firstlaying down the principles and rules by which he guided himself in his writings. We find a set of similar canons in the introduction to differentworks of his.

Google

70

OF

HISTORY

BOTANY.

parasitica of Jacquin, though

meant,

is

upon our equally justone he becomes severely virtuous, and

Hill."

Then

perhaps not Sir John pompous

" I exceeding fierce: not to approve of such satires. They stain the purity lovely Science. If a botanist does not deserve commemoration,

mean our

of

an

"

It peacefully into oblivion. his crown a crown savours of thorns, of malignity to make it is truly diabolical." and if the application be let him

sink

unjust

As to the naming

rules that have

Canons

though

there is '

work

no

The

of classes and orders there are been attended to in the modern

30 and

of selecting one adding acece to its name, followed, and, however to

If objection.

some

rule, Canon

improved

23 would

upon

fixed

system,

31

might well apply; consequently Lindley, in his great uniformity.

absolute Vegetable Kingdom'

system

no

(1846)adopts the uniform

plant as the type of an order and but this plan has not been generally we may desire uniformity, it is open

apply the principles of Linnean lead us to think that Lindley has not we

of Jussieu and others in many

the naming

Cruciferae (bearingcross-shaped flowers or better than Brassicacese* (theCabbage would seem

Thus

cases.

crucifers) family),because it

expresses

better the character of the

(compound flowers)is superior Asteraceae (the Aster family); for in the case of common Compositse

order.

to

other plants of the order, the ray which In the is usually wanting. gives the star-like appearance

groundsel, and many

same

to

LeguminossB

(pod-bearingplants)is preferable Fabacese (theBean family), for though neither is perfect way

(as Bean

some

Leguminosse

bear

drupes

and

not

pods), the

sub-order of this extensive tribe (thePapilionaceae,*or butterfly-shaped flowers) out of threeAgain, for similar reasons, I prefer Stellatse (star plants, in only represents

one

reference to the whorls *

of

leaves)to Galiaceae (Bedstraw

Lindley lias Brassicaceae, Crucifers, Asteraceae, Composites !

HISTORY

family),and Gramina

OF

71

BOTANY.

is (grasses)

more

convenient family : see Canon euphonious than Graminacese (grass

and

28).

We

the second name will consider now which is given to plants. The firstis called the substantive, or generic name,

and the second the trivial,or

specific name.

It

serves

to

point out the particular species of each genus, as generic names separate divisions of an order, and they are make

governed to a great extent by the rules already cited, but being of less consequence greater latitude is tolerated. As might be expected there is every shade of merit to be found in these

apply the four

we

west,

the

corners

"

borealis,australis,orientalis,and occidentalis; or European, Asian, African, names of countries as or

"

American, the

good, bad, and indifferent. First, nortM, south, east and of heaven

; they are

names

names

or asiaticus, africanus, americanus; of countries as English, Welsh, Scotch, Irish,

europseus,

"

French, German,

anglicus,cambricus, scoticus, hibernicus,

stillagain in reference to particular Man Isle to belonging the ; of places as monensis, lancastriensis,to Lancaster; tunbridgensis, to Tunbridge

gallicus,germanicus, "c. ;

or

"

Wells ; cornubiensis, to Cornwall, "c. As this classof names becomes more particular it becomes of less value, for it rarely happens that a plant is confined to one particular habitat. Those are

the

names

that point out

best;

as

Arenaria

a

decided specific character

trinervis (with three-nerved

Epipactis (stems perfoliate), ensifolia (leavessword- shaped),grandiflora (largeflowers), "c. Then there are comparative latifolia(broad leaves), that are also good ; as Sagittaria sagittifolia (arrownames Bufrus Eanun cuius hederaceus (ivy shaped leaves), -like),

leaves),Chlora

perfoliata

Next we have names that indi-. corylifolius(hazel-leaved). cate some particular habit of a plant; as Scilla nutans Potamogeton natans (nodding,in allusion to the flowers),

Google

72

HISTORY

OF

BOTANY.

(floating, alluding to the leaves).There

other names, of the species; as Mercurialis

referring to the duration M. annua perennis (perennial), in which

they grow ;

are

: and (annual)

as

to the situations

Myosotis

palustris the time of flowering ;

(swamp),

as Scilla (ofhedges): or Leucoium (spring), sestivum (summer); and in fact

Vicia sepium verna

anything will serve for a good trivial name is correct, but generally those founded on flowers

are

not

(purplefoxglove)has

flowers, and

white

the colour of the variable feature, thus

good, because it is a

Digitalis purpurea

the

provided that it

very

commonly Digitalis

"

name

gardeners'

of

would alba" shows the absurdities such names lead us into. There are many similar cases : I will instance, in the British Flora, Viola lutea (yellow Now, according purpurea

violet).

to high authority,* this species is not necessarily

yellow.t

Then

though generally again Milkwort (Polygalavulgaris), blue, we frequently find red, white, and blue, in the compass of a few yards, and to have called it caerulea would have been to give it a bad specificname. The Weatherglass be said of Poor-man's same may both with pink and blue flowers, the two sorts being formerly called mas andfoemina

(Anagallis which is met arvensis),

have also Greek Valerian (Polmonium white and blue; and the same with our

(maleand female); both cseruleum),

we

Blue-bell.

common

So the colour of flowers must

bad

specific distinction, and Anagallis, specific distinctions are as

a

should be founded *

on

if, as

in the

be taken case

of

believed to exist, they

other characters than colour.

Bentham.

f Though attract the

between between

I have

seen

in such profusion as to passer by, as, for instance,

this plant growing

attention of almost

every

Chapel

en-le-Frith and Castleton in the High Peak, and quently Aberystwith and the Devil's Bridge, all yellow, I have fremet

with parti-coloured flowers that I could not refer to any

other species.

Google

HISTORY

OF

It is not unusual to apply the a

of

as

species

a

in the possessive case, letter) Cress); while a personal name as

a

Such

a

capital

(Smith's

an

termination adjective

when

it is complimentary

with

specificname

I know.

names

with Smithii

Lepidium

as

only, as Carex Boenninghauseniana,

botanical

of the first describer

name

(spelt of course

specificname

is properly used

73

BOTANY.

of the longest to be deprecated

which is one

names

are

and inconvenient, "and it is as possible. allowable to model them into grace as much Thus the elegant Tournefort made Gundelia from Gundel-

(see Canon

scheimer,

29) as

uncouth

induced

which

me

to

choose

Goodenia

for my

honoured now much and valued friend Dr. Goodenough, bishop of Carlisle, though it has when too late been suggested that Goodenovia might have been preferable "

(Smith). This is in reference

to generic

names,

but the

principle applies to specific ones.

same

it was as method of naming plants remains left by Linneus, with the exception of such few and trifling variations from his rules as have been already The

pointed

out.

pursue

this

further.

will

sketch

Most

for every An

It

of

new

our

therefore

the of British

generic and

improved

be

not

history '

Floras

to

necessary

6f

nomenclature

'

give the authority specific name since Linneus.

scientific and of classification, on principles, occupied for a long time the

system

comprehensive attention of botanists, and their labours have resulted in the now as it is called. universally adopted "Natural System"* Ray

has been

already mentioned The which it is basedl

on

*

Though

a

convenient

and

imperfect

us

to

measure

the principles propounding important Natural most

usual term

universally admitted, for all the systems It is not given to

as

this is

a

misnomer,

of classificationare

out creation, "

we

can

as

is

artificial.

but index itin

an

manner.

Google

74

HISTORY

OF

BOTANY.

Systems De *

afterwards published are those of Jussieu, 1789 ; Candolle, 1819 ; Endlicher, 1836 ; and Lindley, 1846.*

A

full account

of these may

be found in Lindley's 'Vegetable

Kingdom.'

The most approved method of learning the modern system is by means of schedules to be filledin by the student, invented by the late Professor Henslow, which is fully and clearly explained in

Professor Oliver's ' Lessons in Elementary

Botany.'

Google

CHAPTEB

VII.

SUPPLEMENTAEY.

Though

I have

beyond

sketch

long

not

Lindley,

Brown,

and

opposition,

A

our

from

so

last chapter,

chronologically

subject,for

introduce

but

them

they

in

a

Edward

James

they

as

age he turned

and

who

repute,

Smith,

in that order because

as

in

of two

be placed

should

impertinent of great

all plant-namers to my

the

or conjunction,

representatives

Lindley

general plan I

chapter.

supplementary

his first'education

short

who

I allude to

us.

exceptions

born

was

a

country,

authorities is not

tfere

are

Smith

own

our

often mentioned

brief notice of these

experience,

received

ifc.the

though

systems,

last.

hesitate to omit

placing them

been

going the fore-

to prolong

of world-wide

since passed

first have

two

to

were

contemporaries,

have

1

Linneus,

not

of three illustrious botanists of

account were

it best

thought

at

Norwich, At

at home.

1759,

and

eighteen years

his attention earnestly to Botany,

of

and

wishing to devote his life to medicine and natural science he went While in 1781 his studies. to Edinburgh, to prosecute there he

of Natural he

went

instrumental

was

History, to

Pitcairn, and

London was

and to

in forming was

Society for the Study

elected first president.

study

introduced

a

under to

most

John

Hunter

In 1783 and

Dr.

of the best scientific

Google

76

HISTORY

BOTANY.

OF

By the advice of Sir Joseph society of that time. Banks,* the well-known patron of naturalists,and with the assistance of his father, Smith purchased the collectionsof Linneus, which were then on sale,for nine hundred guineas.

It

however,

was,

was

property

only by lost to

not

lucky chance

a

that this valuable country, for though, with the

our

intention of combining the profession of medicine with lecturing on Natural History, Smith prevailed on his father to advance the purchase money, when Gustavus III. of Sweden, who had been absent in France, heard of the transaction,

he

a

sent

which 1785

to

vessel

Sound

the

intercept the

to

ship late. In

too conveying it; fortunately he was Smith was elected a Fellow of the Boyal Society. was

In

Italy, and Switzerland, and in Holland obtained the degree of M.D. at Leyden. On returning to England, Botany soon occupied In nearly the whole of his time. with Sir he

1786

Holland,

travelled through

France,

conjunction

Joseph

Banks,

Goodenough,

Dr.

few

a

and

others, he

founded the Linnean

Society in 1788, of which he was first He president, and retained the post for forty years. house, delivered lectures on Zoology and Botany at his own

and on Botany at Guy's Hospital. honour of knighthood from George *

Banks

Sir Joseph

his time

must

(seeVirgil, p.

be

5).

In 1814 he received the IV., and died 1828.

briefly noticed He

of family, of ancient and a he a traveller ; great also went

was

with

of naturalists. He was Captain Cook to observe the transit of Venus

1771

brought

great patron

home

Terra del Fuego,

numerous

New

the Maecenas

as

specimens

in 1768, and

of plants

Zealand, and Australia.

He

from for

was

in

Otaheite, some

time

Society, and

died 1820, at the age of 77. He was not a writer of any great work, but contributed many valuable As learned Botany, a to in which societies. patron of several papers he especially took delight, Sir Joseph Banks must be credited with

President of the Boyal

having

done

a

great deal to forward the Science.

liberal,and his treasures

were

open to

men

He

was

exceedingly

of science at all times.

Google

HISTORY

The

of Sir James

77

BOTANY.

Edward

Smith

and valuable. Among

numerous

very

his

works

OF

Botany

on

are

be mentioned

them may

*

'

to Botany/ Grammar Introduction of Botany/ English Flora/ English Botany/ illustrated by Sowerby ("flippantly" *

he complains, called 'Sowerby's botanical articles in Bees' ' Cyclopaedia/and as

of Linneus' Lapland

Smith

was

his writings

only

are

at

are

say that he

would

close observer, and

Of

his work,

so

translation

learned and excellent botanist, but

a

the

time

same

interesting and from his works one

very

not

dry.

was

naturally quick

a

Judging

of apprehension,

of great industry, but

man

criticaland combative, and sometimes temper.

a

journal.

not

they

amusing;

Botany'),the

rather peppery

a

highly in his

might expect that Smith would be a great upholder of Linnean rule, as he became in youth the possessor of Linneus' treasures, and, as it were, continued

new

a

of

see

not

course

that he

we

apt to hold too cheap the principles

was

and not yet fully accepted system for which the necessity. It must not, therefore, be

that Sir J. E. Smith

he did

judged

a

good vegetable physiologist or systematic botanist ; his works prove the contrary. I am inclined to think that we cannot yet with advantage put the Linnean

was

sexual system

not

completely

on

one

side.*

botanist, who attempted an extension of the natural system of De Candolle, which, to possess great merit, has not taken much though it seems John

hold near was

Lindley

was

an

admirable

the botanical world so far. He was born at Cotton, Norwich, where his father had a nursery garden, and We School. Grammar may educated at the Norwich on

industrious and of this painstaking, accomplished, botanist, that his lifewas a pretty even-running career, and say

*

The

Rev.

the Linnean

Mr.

Henslow's

plant schedules include

class and order, and they

are

a

statement

of

generally approved.

Google

78

HISTORY

leaves littlefor the pen The striking incident.

BOTANY.

OF

of the biographer amount

of work

in the way of that he did was

prodigious, and we shall be best enabled to appreciate the by reference to his publications. Chief among them is man ' The Vegetable Kingdom ; or the Structure, Classification, of Plants, illustrated upon the Natural System/ It is a lqrge work of over 900 pages, and is illustrated

and Uses 1846.

by upwards

of 500 pictures, which are not only beautifully executed, but so well selected as to show the student almost at

a

glance the method

by dissections which of classification,

exhibit the peculiarities of particular parts or organs, as fruits, seeds, stamens, pistils,ovaries, or the arrangement of the floralwhorls. Lindley divides the vegetable kingdom classes ; these again into fifty-sixalliances,as he calls them ; and these into 303 natural orders, which proceed from the simplest forms (Diatoms)to the most complex. into

Each

seven

order is described

of its distribution, and

as

to structure,

an

is given important and

account

of the most

some

striking genera with their uses; and at the end of each chapter a list of the recorded genera, and the number, as be, of species. Lindley is much to be admired near as may tions. for the clearness of his style,and for his excellent illustraHe was not only a profound botanist, but a popular

of his professedly writer also ; and yet my experience of some elementary works is that they do not completely answer, in a school of about thirty for I remember boys, which would give a fair average of intellectand enthusiasm, not one made any progress in Botany, though the their purpose

class book work

;

was

Lindley's

*

School

Botany,'

and very light reading to those who beforehand.

an

admirable

understand

the

subject We

have

the Linnean

justnoticed system.

for

the strong predilection of Smith

Lindley

was

equally bigoted,

will say enthusiastic,in favour of the natural system,

or

I

and

Google

HISTORY

OF

occasionally his enthusiasm

For

79

BOTANY.

carried him

beyond

able all sustainhostile criticism. be maintained can

grounds, thus laying him open to much instance, it is not a proposition that

that plants falling into

the

cases

same

Such

stomach.

into the human

similar effects,if taken

or a

in all

certain natural order have

a

statement

the following in praise of only exaggerated but absurd : as

the natural 'system is not "Its advantage in applying Botany to useful purposes is immense, depend men,* especially to medical who for their remedial so the vegetable kingdom upon much A knowledge agents. of the properties of one plant "

the

to

judge

scientifically of the fore qualities of other plants naturally allied to it, and therethe physician acquainted with the natural system of

enables

Botany

practitioner

foreign station, fixed principles, into the qualities

direct his inquiries, when

may

not empirically, but upon

on

of the medical plants, which have been provided in every region for the alleviationof the maladies peculiar to it.t Every one of these bears inscribed upon it the uses to which .

be applied, the dangers to be apprehended the virtues with which it has been endowed."

*

we

moment

generally the

even

glance

formerly medical

Though

now

a

apothecary,

nor

case,

in

excepting

any special service to them

t This

is

Thus

rare

supposing

the order Leguminosce

over

were

beyond

Now

botanists, this is not

always

the knowledge

necessary

Botany

would

circumstances

to

be of

I do not write

in their profession.

an

as

a

neither did Lindley.

man,

medical

men

.

from it,or

it may

for

.

curious fancy, which

a we

might

would

lead

to curious conclusions.

us

infer from it that the most

sterile lands had

the fewest diseases, and vice versa, in regular gradation ; or, that it is to use such medicines as opium in principle for us in England an error or

quinine.

If the statement

provision of Providence that or

we

find of great

use,

:

is not

a

that medicines, are

so

induce, the different members

fact as

distributed

we

well over

of the human

might as

fancy

many

the world

family

another

other things as

to oblige,

to help

one

another.

Google

80

HISTORY

OF

BOTANY.

at least 6500

(pod-bearingplants), which numbers

species,

find the greatest diversity in qualities and effects. There

we

is scarcely

a

purpose

for which

we

vegetation to which for fodder we have clover use

this order does not contribute : food peas and vetches; for human "

variety;

for ornament

laburnum,

a

deadly

and

tolerate in

we

poison;

in great

beans

our

gardens

dye-stuffs

among

we

the have

indigo, red saunders, "c. ; tanning materials, divi-divi,"c. ; and so on gums, Arabic, tragacanth, "c. ; medicine, senna, "

might go for pages ; for such differences may be found in most of the larger orders, and where there is great uniformity, as in the Crucifers and Mallows, it is rather a

we

general rule. Of Lindley's other the following: 'Monograph on works may be mentioned Boses/ 1820, with drawings executed by himself, followed by curious exception than

a

"

His ' Introduction works on several other special subjects. System' appeared in 1830, and afterwards to the Natural of Botany/ 'Figures of Plants/'Introduction to the

'Elements

Study and Physiology of Plants/ ' School Botany/ ' Medical Flora/ "c. He devoted much attention to Orchids, and also made a study of fossil Botany, on Besides all this he was for many work.

which

he

wrote

a

years editor of the

Botanical Begister/and from its commencement edited the ' Gardeners' Chronicle/ Further horticultural part of the '

Professor of Botany in University College, London, from. 1829 to 186Q, when he resigned ; he was also lecturer Botany at the Royal Institution, and at the Apothecaries' on he

was

Garden,

at

Chelsea,

was

secretary

of

the

Horticultural

'

' Society, and edited their ' Transactions and Proceedings/ Fellow of the Boyal, Linnean, and Geological He was a

Societies.* He *

died in 1865.

'

ally Introduction to Botany/ 3rd ed., 1839, Lindley incidentmentions his herbarium as containing 30,000 species ; those who In his

have collections of dried plants will understand

how

much

labour this

Google

In Kobert

Brown

have

we

satisfaction to bring to He

was

was

of

not

not men

only

life seems

heart.

the

becomes

to have

Scratchy

a

great traveller; he fame, but was one of that kind

great botanist, but

a

it is

botanist with whom

a

close the first part of this work.

a

only of world-wide whose

81

BOTANY.

OF

HISTORY

a

influence on

mysterious to

cease

pens

a

acrid ink

spirt, and

in

kindly

writing of them, and so their is handed down from one to another ; we memory cannot tell exactly how this is, though we might recall several instances. Such a one was Eobert Brown. To most *

He

"

of his biographers* he was distinguished botanists that Britain ever one

quote

the

was

born

more

son

of

a

of the

produced."

Scotch Episcopalian in

Montrose,

at

one

College, Aberdeen,

and lectures

1778,

clergyman, and was educated at Marischal

was

afterwards studied at Edinburgh, of Dr. Butherford, Professor of

attending the Botany, in the University. at the

After passing his examination College of Surgeons, he was assistant appointed

surgeon

and

ensign

implies. Many hear Lindley

would as

to

a

to keeping specimens

; especially

500 unarranged

as

by attending

specimens

well arranged

a

:

in

a

a

few

"

herbarium

constantly As

specimens.

I have

myself

of

We

not be without

hints may

to them

fair collection ;

"

by multitudes of unarranged

this is a great evil, I trust that

fencibles,

Scotch

of

in all was

think 1000 specimens

find botanists embarrassed

use

regiment

their

probably not

than 30,000 species."

more

bagatelle, practically the same So 500 specimens was to him a mere ! as having his drawer empty * Professor Balfour graphy.' in ' Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biois This short sketch of the lifeand works of Bobert Brown "

There is a German translation of his chiefly taken from that source. by Dr. 0. G. Nees von works from 1825 to 1834, in five volumes,

Esenbeck,

in

with conjunction

some

friends, the two

in Leipsic, and the others at Nurnberg.

his Australian Land,

and

discoveries, a Flora of New

numerous

These

include

Holland

first published an

and Van

account

of

Dieman's

other works. G

82

HISTORY

OF

BOTANY.

stationed in the north of Ireland, where he remained until 1800, prosecuting his botanical studies with great zeal and About this time he became acquainted with Sir success. Joseph

Banks,

by

Brown

whom

naturalist to the expedition sent the

explore

Flinders,

coasts

in the

Port Jackson, and to the northern

Then

out by the Government

Captain

Investigator,' 1801.

Sound,

on

Matthew

The

the south-west

to

vessel

tralia, of Aus-

Kemaining

1802.

and

'

ship

as

recommended

of Australia, under

George's

King

reached

was

the

there three weeks, he next visited in July, 1802, the survey was continued

taria, and north-eastern shores, the gulf of CarpenPellew,

the ship went

Wellesley,

wrong, and the

Wessel's

and crew

became

islands.

sick, which

alteration of the plans, and the expedition returned to Port Jackson, arriving there June, 1803. There had been great mortality among the crew, and the

caused

an

as unseaworthy, so Captain Flinders condemned Brown would return home. and some others remained, and Captain Flinders intended to have returned, but suffering

ship

was

by of shipwreck and imprisonment somethe French governor of Mauritius, his plans became what Brown disarranged. the rest of the party and the double misfortune

until 1805, exploring the Blue South Wales, as well other parts of New the islands in Bass' Straits. remained

Mountains,

and

Tasmania

and

as

As Captain Flinders did not arrive,Brown returned home, bringing with him a collection of 4000 species of plants.

Shortly afterwards he became was

subsequently Society. He was now

and

librarian to Sir Joseph Banks,

appointed librarian of the Linnean in a position to give careful attention

published accounts both of he also contributed a number them and of his journeyings; ' Transactions of the Linnean of valuable papers to the to his collection of plants, and

'

Society.

Google

HISTORY

In 1823 herbarium

Brown

OF

83

BOTANY.

into possession of the library and them to of Sir Joseph Banks, who bequeathed came

him for his life. The British Museum,

of plants he offered to tfie collection

he

and

botanical department

was

keeper

appointed

in 1827, which

of

the

post he occupied until

his death. In 1811

Brown

became

Fellow of the Boyal Society; in he received the degree of D.C.L. from the University

1832

of Oxford, and

in 1833

a

he

associates of the French the Copley medal

was

was

elected

Academy

awarded

of the foreign

one

of Sciences.

In

by ihe Boyal

to him

1839

Society

In 1849 he vegetable impregnation. Society, which office was elected president of the Linnean He received from Sir Bobert Peel a he resigned in 1853. pension of "200 a year for his scientificmerits, and died in

for his researches

London,

on

1858.

"Brown

botanist of the

a

was

possessed

singular

Humboldt

*

acumen,

the

stamp.

denominated

was

He by

facile princeps,,,

botanicorum

freely rendered,

and

highest

(which may be chief of botanists).

acknowledged

"All his writings display

a

wonderful

power

of botanical

analysis, and an enlarged view of vegetable affinities. His is known wherever Botany is cultivated as a Science, name the advancement promoted of and his researches have As during the long period of nearly half a century. He loved, and respected. was a private friend he was ness admired by a large circle of attached friends for the sound-

Botany

the simplicity of his habits, and of his judgment, kindness of his disposition."

So was

a

we

may

since amply only wish more

Great Britain

say in conclusion that though

laggard in Botany made

three hundred

amends

that space

would

me.

ago, she has of its study. I

years

in all branches

permit

the

to make

this still

apparent. g2

/

Google

II.

PART

The

Derivations

Names British

of

and

Plants

Flora

as

Meanings

"1.

SUBSTANTIVE

"2.

ADJECTIVE

the

admitted

generally

Natives

of

or

Scientific into

the

Colonists.

NAMES.

NAMES.

Google

Digitized

by

G00gle

INTKODUCTION.

In the earlier part the

first hit

brought

Linneus now

only

local

two

foemina, additions It

has

species,

for

var.

a

require

so

on

name,

plants

long were

are

ago

a

ranged

different in

that

recorded

under

botanists

have

the a

others

tendency

think

distinctions, and Thus

Bentham

forms,

or

a

would

see

0,

",

were

groups

reunite

('Handbook

importance

only

Some in these

several distinct species,

that

of the

generally

3; "c.

y,

was

greatly

often

forms

great

make

were

It

of Linneus

of little consequence

them

varieties

which

certain

not.

name

specific

letters, to

or

other

for

botanists

to whether

as

these

and

Greek

and

such

limits

different

by

each

of forms,

respects,

differences of form, while

from

under

number

some

Filixand

fix precise

to

study

careful

distinct species

observed

we

genera,

of explanation.

impossible

very

as

works,

Lady-fern,

of

have

Athyrium

as

and

We

order.

particular

form

a

word

found

been

only,

plant ; still in limited

third

a

with

Eivinus

names

complete

how

explained

about.

two

given rise to differences of opinion

has

as

a

plumosum,

and

into

Monographs

and meet

having

of

this plan

names

Floras

frequently

idea

the

upon

been

came

of nomenclature

system

present

it has

of this work

have

British

of Primula

as

been

specific

separated.

Flora

') treats

veris, those

three

Google

88

which have been separated and P. elatior. Again some

species, P. veris, P. vulgaris, would divide Viola canina into

as

others tinguished, forms have been dis-

have

"

been

splitters respectively. In most to the painstaking to

what

"

all appearance

These two

"lumpers"

jocularlycalled

"

"

while

These V. canina: sylvatica,b. flavicomis, cJ lactea.

would write under

schools

lactea, "c,

flavicomis, V.

V. sylvatica, V.

a.

PLANTS.

OF

NAMES

and

it has to be conceded

cases

splitter" that he has distinguished distinct forms, are permanently

distinguished theorists do not believe there is such a thing as a permanently distinct form in all creation. Without reference to these differences of opinion there

though

many

it is expedient to multiply plan were species beyond certain limits. If the same that has been adopted throughout the vegetable kingdom worked out, or is stillprogressing, with the British Flora, the question whether

remains

in the sooner we

course

of

a

few

Botany

"

should

hundred

become

a

mere

would relapse into that chaos

rescued us. It frequently happens

years

probably

"

ocean

from

much

of words, and which Linneus

labels in gardens, conservatories, "c, the word variety is omitted for convenience, but this need not mislead ; thus we may see in a fern-house, Gymnogramma peruviana argyrophylla, where the last word is not

a

part of the

name

that

or

on

of much

botanical importance.

applies to all cases where we find three names. important than specific As generic distinctions are more

The

ones,

same

because they include the latter, so

a

generic

name

is

important than a specific one. We have considered more how careful Linneus was to preserve from his canons seen far as was so old generic names, practicable. In order to do this to the greatest extent possible, he used an old single

given to the plant, when there was one, as a second or trivialname, where he found it necessary to place a plant name

Google

,

OF

NAMES

89

PLANTS.

Of this we have many under a newly distinguished genus. instances: thus Yellow-rattle was formerly called CristagaUi, but Linneus

requiring

other

species, and purpose (seeCanon

for this and unfit for his

generic name Crista-galli as

a

rejecting 8, p.

64) called the genus Ehinanthus,

and

this particular species Crista-galli. The

case

with Achillea Millefolium, Aconitum

tum

Capillus-Veneris, Ranunculus

maria, Teucrium v

In all these

two

Napellus, Adian-

Flammula,

Spiraea Ul-

Botrys,."c. the second

cases

It is commemorative,

name.

is the

same

is an

name

not

and

old substantive have we

adjectival;

in order to preserve

together, and distinctlyit is spelt with a capital the more the old name letter,and retains its original termination irrespective of the other name with which it is joined; thus we say Galium substantive

names

Cruciata, Anthriscus in which these

Bistorta, "c,

Cerefolium, Polygonum

do not agree as to gender. All included in my first list,or that of stantive sub-

the terminations

names

are

names.

Trivial

explained p. derived from

from

taken

names

73) are the

spelt with

of people (as capital letter, while those

the a

names

names

of continents, countries, or places, are generally spelt with a small letter,though by some with to English usage we a capital. According might think it the

more

correct plan to spell such like names

with a capital letter,but as affectingthe clearness of botanical nomenclature it letteris was the small preferable, and always used by A capital letter to a trivialname loses something In ways. of its significanceif it is applied in too many a cases most plant is specified by the name of its when Linneus.

habitat, this is expressed

Euphorbia sometimes

same

in the possessive

is attained object case,

of

an

(Linneus),Portland

portlandica the

in the form

as

Saccharum

as adjective,

Spurge;

but

by using a substantive Teneriffse (Willdenow),

Google

90

NAMES

OF

PLANTS.

Sugar-cane of Teneriffe. In this case the second name is spelt with a capital letter. It is rather a nice distinction, for Willdenow

Saccharum

has

close beside the last-mentioned

benghalense,

or

Bengal

principle applies to the names Tanacetifoliuin, Tansy-leaved, the form

as

is

Sugar-cane.

plant

The

same

of plants. We do not write or Corylifolius,Hazel-leaved,

but adjectival,

write Cuscuta Trifolii of Clover, because Trifoliiis a proper

Dodder (Babington),

we

in the possessive case. After the explanations given

name

letter for the second necessary

to notice them

it should

name

substantive it is the name

of

a

person

by the termination. an

names

as

to the

use

a

capital of plants I do not think it is further. If we meet with an old of

be found in my first list,and if be judgedof or a country it may

Where

trivialname

a

is the

same

as

ordinary botanical term, I have pointed it out by repeating in its form it. English the word and explaining It is unnecessary

to encumber

the text with the accidence

be equally useless to Latin, for it would I whether he understood these languages or not.

of Greek anyone,

and

haye therefore taken

no

notice at all of the terminations.

of explanation will be sufficient. terminations of Latin may be taken

A

few words The

adjectives

to be governed in this way neuter,

um

"

substantive In other

as

;

name

cases

:

rally gene-

masculine, us; feminine,

a

;

according to the happen to be joined.

acut-ws, acut-a, acut-wm,

with which where

it may

the termination is is,it

serves

for the

genders, being changed to e for the have as neuter, gracilis, gracile. We masculine niger feminine, nigra, neuter, nigrum, but such instances (black), masculine

are

not

and feminine

common.

Where

they

occur

I have

written them

out in full.

Google

Pronunciation

91

PLANTS.

OF

NAMES

Scientific Names.

of

It would be impossible to lay down correct

pronunciation

insist upon

of scientific names,

the accuracy

be

another may

more

language.

told by those who

are

We

have

the accentuation of words in this they

even

are

also it has It

short

o

also the custom

was

Eules

a

have been

that subject

were

Greek language

our

to write Greek

long

e

short

the long sound a

to

as

the Latin, because

(as in on),and

we

of syllables,but

The

letter representing

another representing

pet),and

ancient Eoman,

an

and the number

not certain guides.

a

alphabet contains

English fashion

our

valuable information

us

to

reason

these languages

to how

phonetically better than

us

guides

as

Their poets yield

pronounced.

good

have studied the

certain knowledge

according to

them

nation pronounces

would have sounded exceedingly strange to and we have no

to

absurd

certain pronunciation when The Greek and Latin are dead

that the purest Latin spoken in

suppose

and

a

of

usual.

languages, and each the usage of its own

absolute rules for the

o

its

(as in

(asin peat); (as in hone). accents.

with marked

in schools of learning, deduced

laid down

from the critical examination of classical writings, but it is foreign to my purpose to dwell on them ;" further, critical these

on

continually subjects

changes. We must then fallback on usage, but even then we have What kind of usage ? Suppose we examine this perplexity the English language as spoken in Great Britain; the opinion

"

the Scotchman,

Englishman,

once

is true

the Welshman,

of speaking it,and we may generally And what distinguish his province by his accent.

has each his at

the Irishman,

own

way

of the greater divisions applies

degree)to nearly is all but

England,

every county

incomprehensible

and

can

be

even

:

to

(though in

thus the Lancashire a

native of the

a

less

dialect

south

of

readily distinguished from that of

Google

92

NAMES

Cheshire, Derbyshire,

or

OF

be all equally learned, and

classes, for though precisely the

use

phrases, the pronunciation of Irishman, each a graduate or

is very

vowels.

Such

lead the

men

same

terms

and

Scotchman,

Englishman,

an

they might

university of his own different, especially in the sound of the of

a

ever, peculiarities of pronunciation need not, howinto any confusion, for in the case of educated

us same

discourse.

differences are

These

Yorkshire.

not confined to the working

country,

PLANTS.

is followed uniformly

method

I think, therefore, that

we

may

in their whole

safely adopt the

usage of our universities, as exemplified by their graduates in all parts of the country, especially in our pulpits and law It is true these learned men courts. may know nothing of Botany, but,

Greek so

I

as

have

or

no

occasion to pronounce

juststated, we

generally in the

that

a

necessary

correct

in England

same

pronunciation

for, the correct

or

as

way

botanical

pronounce we

pronounce

names?

Latin and

English,

of the latter leads to, and is

of scientific As to accentuation, it is usually marked in our names. British Floras as decided by botanists who are also classical usual pronunciation

frequently university professors ; if any in what these names pronounce would

scholars, and

desires to

considered the most

correct

manner

by competent

one

be

judges,it

will have to be accomplished competent

by observation of the usage of and study of the accents as set down in the are stilla few difficultiesremaining, but they

men,

books.

There

are

of great importance.

not

Though

in most

cases

our

authorities agree, they sometimes differ,so that it is hard to how we could by any means see arrive at absolute uniformity: ever, the difference of opinion to which I allude is met with, howeasily be only in a few words, so few that they can pointed out. In many cases of what would

the discrepancies arise from

a

yielding up

appear to be the correct to the usual pronunV

Google

NAMES

ciation. On in a manner

OP

the other hand,

93

PLANTS.

often hear words pronounced which not only sounds odd, but for which there authority of any kind to be found, and which would be

is no

we

universally called incorrect by those qualified to judge. For instance, cotyl'edon instead of cotyle'don; umbilicus instead of umbili'cus; Hydrocot'eel

instead of Hydrocot'y-le; ; ach'er instead of a'cre.

instead of maritlmum maritee'mum A few illustrations may be given of the uncertain is correct,

Cle'matis long

e,

used,

but Clem'atis is far more

"

it is therefore not

authority

for.

spelt in

Greek

the

with

and has long been

common,

incorrect ; Clema'tis there is

no

Gladi'olus is not

is correct;

Gladiolus

:

and (by usage)may be said to be not incorrect ; is a very common pronunciation, but I know of

uncommon,

Gladiolus no

being

as

names

I should call it incorrect. I believe to be correct, and it is the accent usually

book

for it, and

authority

Veronica

is much more common, given in the books, but Veronica and is adopted in the last edition of English Botany. Arlmtus is not uncommonly called Arbu'tus ; Eri'ca, Erica; GEnothe'ra,

(Enoth'era,

reasons

we

why as

case

may

the most

like

in such

correct,

cases

prefer

is Latin, and

a

a

The

on.

tion pronuncia-

in the

diminutive

of

is short, and this with other first Eadiola, Corrigiola, is pronounced as

(a sword)in which the

diminutives,

go

might

easily illustrated. Thus

are

of Gladiolus the word

gladius

we

so

and

as

a

rules of the language. according to undoubted In a word like Veronica I prefer the pronunciation Veronica, because it is that given by the older authorities ; and -^first, secondly, because I accept the derivation Hiera Eicon (Holy set down,

image),Vhich, if correct, decides the question of pronunciation at

In placing the accents

once.

to

the

names

I have

consulted several authorities, and set down the different pronunciations that have any claim for notice, in doubtful

cases

putting that which

justexplained.

seemed

to

me

best first,on

the principles

94

OF

NAMES

Passing

by

doubtful

these

PLANTS.

instances, there

be laid down

general rules that may

a

are

few

govern the great

to

of cases. majority It is well to keep continually in mind that we pronounce Latin in the same should English, in giving the way as we value to the vowels. True, we language, talking as in our own

are

same

a

mareen,

mercantile

about iodine and

do

we

have maritime powers But anyone is most not marine.

chloreen, instead of chlorine ; then and

not at all consistent

likely to be correct who

we

uniformly pronounces

the vowels of

according to their ordinary English value

scientificwords

:

thus, vulga'ris,not vulgah'ris; marit'imum, not maritee'mum. If this If you must place the accent wrong, say mariti'mum. course

is taken

the pronunciation

incorrect; and

will be uniform, and not

the tendency

though

at present

is towards

the continental system of pronunciation, any person who be prepared to study the that method must undertakes whole matter, that is to say, three or four languages, "

otherwise, to mess of it."

polu, many,

a

use

The

familar expression, he will "make Greek u is always changed into y ;

into poly.

Then

the Greeks

had

.

a

a

as

letter called

it has been disputed whether chi, which represented ch ; and it should be pronounced gutturally, as in our word loch, or hard like lock. Some cannot pronounce the guttural if they try, and it is

As

a

matter

of

no

to the pronunciation

there is rather

more

letter c, which may

great consequence. of the two

consonants

c

and g,

difficulty. First, in respect to our be called a useless letter,possessing the

sounds of others without having any peculiar to itself.* It has the sound of s, as in celery, and of k, as in cabbage ; and it is often mute, as in science. In Keltic it is equivalent In Greek to k ; the Cimri (Welsh) are Kimri, not Simri. The general rule is that in English before a, o, u ; and of 9, before e, i, y. *

or

Latin

c

has the sound of 7c,

Google

NAMES

there is

Greek,

95

PLANTS.

letter; but in passing through the Latin k (kappa)is always changed into c: kephalos,

no

such

Greek

the

OF

becomes

cephalus, Latin.

There

is difference of

opinion whether in such words c should be pronounced soft, as sephalus, or hard, as kephalus ; but I think the s sound is I most usual. In Greek words the k (c)was always hard. always, in the following pages, changed the Greek k The difficultiesof the letter g are very similar. into c. have

Those have

Greek words that come been long in use with

to

us

through

the Latin, and

generally follow English soft, though not always: for us,

usage, and are pronounced In instance, both gymnastic and jymnasticmay be heard. scientific words direct from the Greek, especially modern hard. terms, as parthenogenesis, the g is prounounced following useful hints are taken, from Withering's Systematic Arrangement of British Plants :'* "1. The English reader is desired to observe that the The

'

"

accent,

or

force of the voice, is be thrown

on

that syllable or

Thus, in Arbutus, the Ar letter which precedes the mark. is to be the accented or strongly-sounded syllable,and not though erroneously, the case ; and the bu9 as is commonly, in Veroni'ca the ni is to be the accented

the "

error. which is also a common 2. That the letter e at the end of

syllable, and not

ro,

a

name

is always to

the word Elat'ine is to be pronounced E-lat'-ti-ne,with four syllables,and not E-la-tine. be

u

sounded:

thus

3. That

in words long.

pronounced

ending in ides the i is always

to be

hard, like the letter k. ch is to be pronounced " 5. That in words beginning with see and sci,the c is to be pronounced few soft; though it is allowed that some "

4. That

words, derived from the Greek, are exceptions to this rule. have sch, the c is to be That in such words "6. as *

Fourth edition,in four volumes, 1801.

96

NAMES

pronounced hard Skinus. were "

:

OF

PLANTS.

thus Schcenus is to be pronounced

if it

as

and g before e and i, and before ce and ce, are to be pronounced soft, but before the other diphthongs 7. That

c

hard."

I take this exception to the last canon, that in Greek words the g is always hard, as Geum, Potamogeton ; not

pronounced Jeum9 Potamojeton. A very slight attention to the marks found in many

botany books

pronunciation

of

to

uncommon

.would scientific names,

hear

good

and directions to be

lead anyone to a correct yet it is not at all

botanists

them

pronouncing

incorrectly.

In

the

following list the generic

names

are

alphabetically, and old substantive names, indicate particular species, are placed in

now

arranged used

to

inner margin

an

after the genus to which they are attached. The authorities for the names are given, so far as they have been noticed, in the former part of the book, but the others are omitted.

of the authorities, since Linneus, are to be found in most Floras ; and unless I gave an account of them There are about fiftyof they would be of no interest here. The

names

these

are namers of plants, which authorities who included in the British Flora, that I have omitted, some

whom

are

stillliving. This, however, does not give

idea of the extent to which

a

are

of

full

of these authorities would stretch my proposed limits. I will give an illustration. in ' English Botany/ or other turn to Epipogium If we standard works,

Gmelin. about the 1774, and

Now same

1804.

an

account

find that the authority for the is .name living there were at least four Gmelins

we

time.

They

They were

all botanists, all authors;

died respectively

"

1755,

1768,

all of Tubingen, all travellers, and it would be necessary in

Google

OF.

HISTORY

such

cases,

account

of which

several, either to give some to give such information as might

there

of all of them,

or

are

mislead, on account of its incompleteness. would fallin with my intention. List

I have

made

G. for Greek;

use

of

97

BOTANY.

Neither

course

Abbreviations.

of the following abbreviations only

L. for Latin;

:

"

E. B. for 'English Botany'

(3rd Ed., 1863"1872).

Digits zed by

G00gle

5 1.

LIST

NAMES

SUBSTANTIVE

THE

OF

OF

BRITISH

PLANTS, ,

Including

Specific

those

Names,

and

for

L.

Pliny.

are

with

Meaning.

the

maple

Substantive

old

Capital

a

and

Keltic,

Ac,

hard.

which

spelt

Derivation

their

A'cer,

are

ones

tree;

in reference

Letter;

meaning to

with

sharp

the nature

or

of the

wood. Pseu' 'do-plat1'anus, a

G.,

R. Brown. it is without

a

without,

; after Achilles,

that it healed

first discovered

L., mille,

Millefolium,Tragus. a

from

leaf;

Ptar'mica,

from

G.? causing

town

said to grow

was

it

Fuchs.

the

and such

NapeVlus,

others

from

Acone,

thousand,

upon

(sneezewort).

sneeze

a

Some

doubtful. near

abundance

suppose

to

which

dart, because

called used

it

because

; others

rocks,

naked

foliutn,

and

of the leaf.

in Bithynia,

in great

akon,

a

to

derivation

is said to have

who

acorue

;

to poison

weapons.

Diminutive

Dodonseus.

referring *

;

said to grow

was

; because

wounds.

divisions

the minute

Dioscorides

Aconi'tum,

horn

ceras,

and

nectary.

Theophrastus

Achillea,

platanos,

tree.

plane

Ac'eras,

G., pseud, false, and

Linneus.*

The

to the

sycamore

form was

of L., napus,

of its roots. called Platanus

by Tragus.

a

turnip ;

NAMES

Ac'orus, Dioscorides. the eye;

OF

G.,

99

PLANTS.

a,

without, and the diseases of which it

the pupil of

core, was

to

supposed

cure.

Cal'amus, Dioscorides. Actje'a, Pliny.

G. and L., a reed. A

G., acte.

originally assigned to

name

the Elder, which the leaves of this plant resemhle. Actinocar'pus, R. Brown. G., actin, ray; and carpos, fruit,from its radiated fruit.

Damaso'nium, known

Pliny.

to

some

Pliny says as

persons

that the Alisma

was

It has

the Damasonion.

also been

applied to other plants : thus Gerard tells have Alisma and Damasonium that the names us both been used for Saponaria officinalis. The meaning

is uncertain. Adian'tum,

Theophrastus.

G., adiantos, dry; because water will not adhere to the fronds, so says Pliny ; applied to Maiden-hair Ferns. L., capillus,hair, Veneris, Maiden-hair Fern.

Capil'lu8Ven'erw, Apuleius. The of Venus. Ado'nis, Matthiolus.

After

heathen mythology, was Venus. He was fond

Adonis,

who, according to the favourite of the goddess

of hunting, and received mortal bite from a wild boar which he had wounded he was then changed into a flower.

Adox'a,

Linneus.

humble

G.,

a,

a

;

without, and doxa, glory ; from its

appearance.

Moschatelli'na, Cordus. of its smell. iEooPOD'iuivf,or iEGOPo'DiUM,

Late

L.,

muscus, ,

musk

;

on

account

From

G., aig, goat, and pod, foot ; its leaves being cleftsomething like a goat's foot. Linneus.

Podagra1 'ria,Lobel. it

was

G., podagra, gout in the feet; because formerly supposed to cure gout. Goutweed,

Herb-Gerard,

or

Goatweed.

Google

100

OF

NAMES

jEthu'sa,

PLANTS.

G., aitho, I burn ;

Linneus.

acrid property. Rivinus; Cyna'pium,

on

account

of its

G., cyn, dog, and apion, Fool's Parsley we call it.

from

parsley ; dog's parsley. G., a, not, and graph, write. The youth HyaAg'raphis. accidentally killed by Apollo, and was cynthus was

By him

into

changed

leaves of which his name; so

flower

a

This

the story.

runs no

called Hyacinthus

such

"

the

streaks the initialsof

bore in dark

(agraphis)having

the Hyacinth

"

has

marks,

non-scriptus

similar plant

(L., won,

been

also

not, and

8criptus,written). Doubtful, Agrimo'nia, Brunfels.

said to be derived from cataract of the eye, which this or some

G., argema,

other plant was supposed to cure. Eupato'rium, Dioscorides. From Eupator, king of Pontus. The

has been

name

which

he has been

given to supposed

a

of plants, of

number

discovered the

to have

uses.

Agrostem'ma,

G., agrou stemma, crown of the field; from its being an ornament to cornfields. Giiha'go, Tragus. From Gith of Pliny and the older Linneus.

botanists. the 16th

Githago is mentioned

by the botanists of

applied as the specific and was name of this plant by Linneus. Agros'tis, Theophrastus. G., agros, a field; a name given by the Greeks to different grasses. century,

Spi'ca-uen'ti,Lobel.

L., spica, a spike, "

Ai'ra, Theophrastus. to Lolium

by

(of corn),

Derivation

reason

"

temulentum

injurious effects,and Aj'uga, Pliny.

ear

of his feather top, Gerard. with the wind." G., airo, I destroy ; anciently applied

venti, of wind ; which is easily shaken

and

or

now

(Darnel),on

account

of its

to this genus.

uncertain ; said by Pliny to be

Google

NAMES

OF

101

PLANTS.

to corrupted from abiga {abigo, of the Latins, expel), a medicinal plant allied to this.

Charrue'pitys. G., chamce, on the ground, and pitys, pine ; Ground-pine. " Chamsepitys, called in Latin Abiga," Pliny.

Alchemii/la, on

Tragus;

account

of

from

Arabic

alkemelyeh, alchemy;

its pretended

virtues.

alchemical

Theis. Alis'ma,

Pliny ;

a

name

that has been applied to different

Its derivation is said to be from the Keltic It seems to have been most generally alis, water. applied to species of Water Plantain. plants.

Planta'go, Pliny ; the L.

The

for plantain.

name

water

plantain was formerly called Plantago aquatica ; and next to it Gerard places land plantain, sea plantain, "

and

buckthorne plantaines."

sea

these plants

being

Allia'ria,

are

widely

monocotyledonous,

and

L., A Ilium, Garlic;

Fuchs.

In modern

fication classi-

separated, Alisma dicotyledonous.

Plantago

on

account

of the

scent of the bruised leaves.

Al'lium, Plautus.

L., Garlic.

Dioscorides.

G., ampelo, vine, and prason, leek. Dodonseus a tells us that it grows spon^ taneously in vineyards, and hence its name.

Ampelopra'sum,

Schoenopra'sum, Dodonseus. prason,

a

leek;

from

G., schoenos, the

a

rush, and

rush-like form

of the

leaves.

Scorodopra'sum, to

corides applied by Diosto kind of leek, and given by Linneus

Dioscorides. a

Name

this species. From G., alios, various, and sorus, a heap ; Alloso'rus. " the intention being no doubt to indicate the variation in the arrangement of the sori, occurring among

Google

102

NAMES

OP

PLANTS.

the

belong

to

plants originally thought family." Moore.

to

this

"

Ai/nus,

Pliny.

L., the Alder

The

etymology has been referred to the Keltic and the Hebrew, but is

uncertain. Alopecu'rus, Theophrastus.

tree.

G., alopec, a fox, and

oura,

a

tail,Foxtail. Alsi'ne, Dioscorides.

G., alsos,a grove ; from This name habitat, according to Pliny.

its kind of has been

given to several quite different plants, but is now confined to a genus of the Pink family, and the name of a sub -order Alsineae is formed from it. Altile'a, Dioscorides. L., Marsh Mallow, from G., althein, to heal ; from its healing properties.

Alys'sum, Dioscorides. ;

Amaran'tus,

G.,

a,

a

lyssa, canine ness madfor this disease.

not, and

reputed remedy Pliny. From G., amarantos,

unfading.

ranth, Ama-

Everlasting Flower. for the wild Amaranth, Bli'tum, Dioscorides ; old name Blite. Pliny describes it as being "without or any pungency whatever ; hence it is that find husbands giving this name to in Menander we

flavour, or

In G., bletton,in their wives by way of reproach." bliteus, L,, blitum, from which is formed the adjective signifying tasteless,insipid, silly,foolish,or stupid. Ammoph'ila.

From

G.,

ammos

(the same

as

psammos),

sand, and philos,loving. See Psamma. G., ana, without, and charis, elegance. Anach'aris. Alsinas'trum. Alsine-like, or like Chickweed, a

name

given by Professor Babington to a plant imported by from America, firstobserved in some means unknown 1842, and

now

a

very troublesome

Anagai/lis, Dioscorides. name

The

meaning

water

weed.

is doubtful.

The

has been used for several plants, as Pimpernel,

Google

NAMES

or

Poor

Man's

OP

103

PLANTS.

Glass, Devil's Bit, and

Weather

Brooklime.

Anchu'sa,

Hippocrates.

G., anchousa, alkanet, from ancho,

I tie together, or constrict ;

on

account

cinal of the medi-

attributed to it. It was considered good for ulcers, ringworm, lepra, measles, smallpox, and powers

(properlycompounded) or

punctures,

"

was

made

wounds

most

singular in deep

with thrusts," according

to Gerard.

The

of a fabled daughter king of Ethiopia; she was chained of Cepheus, on a rock, that she might be devoured by a sea Some resemblance of conditions was monster. supposed

Androm'eda,

Linneus.

name

in the habitats of the Androgrew on "turfy hillocks in the midst

Linneus

by medas,

which frequented by toads, and other reptiles." of swamps This is rather fanciful, and characteristic of Linneus.

Anem'one,

Anemo'ne,

or

wind;

From

Dioscorides.

because it was

G.,

anemo,

supposed. that the flowers did

until beaten by the wind. From L., pulso, I beat; apparently Pulsatilla, Dodonseus. idea as that mentioned having reference to the same not expand

under Anemone. Angei/ica, Brunfels.

Church

L., angelic ; from its cordial

and medicinal properties. L., antenna,

Antenna'ria.

from

literally an

extended

thing;

of the sterile florets insects.

the hairs of the pappus

resembling the antennae of some G., anihemis, a flower ; from the profuAn'themis, Turner. sion of its blossoms. Cot'ula, Brunfels. Old officinalname

Anthoxan'thum,

Linneus.

From

Cotula foetida.

G., antho, flower, and

xanthos, yellow.

Google

104

OF

NAMES

Anthris'cus,

PLANTS.

Pliny.

Derivation of the name given by Pliny to a plant probably

unknown,

but

allied to this

genus. Dodonaeus. Cerefolium,

Old

for Chervil. officinalname It is mentioned by Lonicerus, Camerarius, and other Linneus (Materia writers of that time.

medica)

gives it

the officinalequivalent for Scandix, and

as

It is a calls this plant (Sp. pi.)Scandix Cerefolium. Latinised form of Chcerophyllum, which see. Anthyi/lis, From G., anth, flower, and Dioscorides. ioulos,down ; from the downy calyces. Theophrastus.

Antirrhi'num,

G.

referring to rhin, a nose ; because of the shape of the flowers. One of is Calf s-snout. the English names

Oron'tium,

G.

Apar'gia.

Dodonaeus.

for

name

An

name

old

name

for

Snapdragon.

some

uncertain weed which sprung from, up apo, argia, idleness (of the cultivator)! Hooker and Arnott. "

for celery; from G., apion, parsley, water-parsley, "c. From L., aquila, an eagle; whose Aquile'gia, Tragus. to reclaws the nectaries have been supposed semble. A'pium,

L.

Pliny.

The

Ar'abis, Dioscorides.

Arabis

of Dioscorides

was

not

of our British Cresses. Turri'ta, Clusius; who called this plant Turrita major. The name Turritis, which was also formerly used for one

applied by Linneus

this plant, was which see. Ar'butus, Pliny. Une'do, Pliny. plant;

L.

name

Another

for the Strawberry-tree. L.

because, according

bad that

un,

one

to Turritis glabra,

given to the same to Pliny, the fruit is so

name

(only), edo, I

eat.

Google

OF

NAMES

Arc'tium, Dioscorides.

G. arctos,

L., the rending Burdock.

Arctostaph'ylos, a

From

bear,

on

account

Adanson

U'va-ur'si,Clusius. berry.

tearing thing, hence

or

L.,

Bear-berry.

berry, ursi,bear's. Bear-

a

uva,

of grapes.

a

G. arctos,

(seeCicendia). From

bear, and staphyle, a bunch

Arena'ria,

a

texture of the involucres.

of the coarse Lap'pa, Virgil. bur.

105

PLANTS.

#

From

Linneus.

L.

arena,

sand ; the species

growing most abundantly on sandy soils. Aristoloch'ia, Dioscorides. G., Birthwort. Clemati'tis. See Clematis, later.

Armeria.

Said to be

Latinised

from

French,

armoires,

and originallyapplied to various species of Dianthus.

Gerard

"

The

says,

William,

Sweet John, and

both

are

comprehended is to say Armeria, in French that

also the Sweet under

one

armoires;

title, upon here-

Buellius nameth it Armerii flores.,, Thrift was by Linneus, and Armeria called Statice Armeria vulgaris by Willdenow. Armora'cia.

A

formerly given to the Wild

name

Badish

(Baphanus Baphanistrum),and also to some of the Catchflies (Silene).Armoracia, Armoraria and Armeria appear

last case. Arnos'eris.

The

G.,

used indifferentlyin the is not clear. origin of the name a lamb, and seris,chicory. Lamb's

to have

arnos,

been

Chicory. Arrhenath'erum.

G., arrhen, male, and ather, an awn; alluding to the structure of its florets,distinguishing it from Avena, which it otherwise much resembles.

Artemi'sia, Hippocrates.

From

Artemis, the Diana

of the

from Artemisia, the wife of king Mausolus, who according to Pliny adopted this plant, formerly " called Parthenis," and gave it her name.

Greeks,

or

I

Google

106

NAMES

Absinthium, Name

Dioscorides.

G., apsinthion, L., absinthium.

G., from arthro, joint, and lob,pod;

from

jointed seed-vessel.

A'rum, Dioscorides. As'arum,

PLANTS.

for Wormwood.

Abthrolo'bium. the

OF

G.,

G.,

Dioscorides.

because

; the

aron

a,

not,

from rejected

it was

the ancients. Aspar'agus, Dioscorides.

is uncertain.

meaning

L., from

sairo, I

adorn; the garlands used by and

asparagos, from

G.

of the species being armed probably from aspairo, with spines ; or perhaps more I tremble, from the tremulous foliage. sparasso, I tear ;

Asperu'go,

Pliny.

Asper'ula,

Dodonaeus.

Cynan'chica.

From

some

L., asper, rough. From L., asper, rough.

G., cynanche,

for this complaint. Aspid'ium. G., aspidion,

resemble. Fi'lix-mas, Fuchs.

quinsy,

a

reputed

remedy

Squinancywort. a

small shield; which its indusia

L., filix, a fern, and

mas,

male ; the

male fern.

Loncki'tis,Dioscorides.

From

G., louche, a lance ;

given by Dioscorides both to the Holly Fern Hard

name

and the

Fern.

G.,

Oreop'teris. From

oreo,

mountain,

and pteris, fern ;

Fern.

the Mountain

G., thely, female, and pteris, a fern. Lady Fern is now applied to a different

Thelyp'teris. From The

name

species.

Asple'nium,

See Athtrium.

by Dioscorides be

a

G., asplenon ; the name was given to Ceterach, which he sets forth to

Dioscorides.

remedy

for diseases of the spleen

and splen, the Adian'tum-ni'grum,

(a,privative,

spleen). See Ceterach. Lobel;

See (Spleenwort).

the

Black

Maiden-hair

Adiantum.

Google

NAMES

Fern.

107

PLANTS.

female ;

L., filix, a fern,

Fuclis. Fi'lix-fce'mina, the Lady

OF

Formerly

SLiidfcemina,

applied to Bracken

(Pteris

aquilina). L., ruta,

Ru'ta-murafria, Dodonaeus.

rue,

and muraria,

pertaining to walls ; Wall Eue. later. Trichom'anes. See Teichomanes, As'ter,

Linneus.

G., aster, Dodoneeus

flowers.

star ; from the form

a

suggests the

of the

of Aster

name

marinus, but himself calls the plant Tripolium, Dioscorides. Tripo'lium, Dioscorides.

G.

said that this

name

name

after

for the plant. Dioscorides was given because the

colour of the flowers changes three times in a day ; but this is not the case. Gerard argues that, though it is

a

fable that

flower changes three times in

one

day, three colours may at

a

be found in diflferentflowers

according to their state of development. G., astragalos, a cervical verDioscorides. tebra, The exact application of this or neck-bone.

once,

Astrag'alus,

is doubtful. It has been used for several plants, but for some time for the Milk Vetch.

name

Astran'tia, Linneus.

From

G., astron,

a

star;

on

account

of the star-likeumbels. "

Athyr'ium.

from

The

the

of the genus

was

G., athyros, opened,

or

nium. At'riplex, Pliny. reason

Linneus.

duty it

having

an

open "

Moore.

At'ropa,

derived by Both

alluding to the repressed indusium." The Lady Fern, which is also called Asple-

entrance,

The

name

was

G.,.a, not, for the

name

and

is not clear.

of the Fates, whose cut the thread of life without any

G., Atropos, to

trcphein, to nourish.

one

regard to sex, age, or quality; deadly qualitiesof the plant.

in allusion to the

Google

108

NAMES

OF

PLANTS.

BeUadon'na, Matthiolus ; beautiful lady he says with the Venetians. that the

name

It has been

affirmed the Italian ladies

given because

was

name

a common

"

it to give brilliancyto said to have employed It is a property of the plant to cause their eyes. were

dilatation of the pupil Theis,

a

distilledfrom it

water

According

of the eye. was

to

used in Italy to

freckles from the skin. Ave'na, Pliny. L., the oat ; the derivation is unknown. G., azaleos, parched, arid ; because it is Aza'lea, Linneus. remove

in such places that the plant grows.

Dioscorides.

Ballo'ta,

G., ballote,from ballo,I

on reject;

of its disagreeable smell. Dodonseus. Dedicated to St. Barbara.

account

Barbare'a, Bart

Linneus.

of John Bartsch, a Dutch He died at botanist and friend of Linneus. the age of twenty-nine, at Surinam, in 1738, where

sia,

he

had

examine

Named

been

sent

in honour

by

Boerhaave

and

Linneus

to

the products of the country.

Odontites, Pliny, who says that " a handful of the stems, boiled in astringent wine, is used for the cure of Hence toothache." (G., odont, probably the name

tooth). This plant is supposed

to be the

same

as

mentioned by Pliny. Bei/lis, Fuchs. L., beUus, pretty.

the

Ber'beris,

one

Brunfels.

Berberys

is the Arabic

name

of the

fruit. Be'ta,

Pliny.

according to Fuchs, from the of of the seed to the second letter (beta)

L.,

resemblance

beet;

the Greek Beton'ica,

alphabet. Pliny. Derivation

uncertain. Pliny wrote: " The Vettones, a people of Spain, were the original ' discoverers of the plant known as the Vettonica* in "

Google

NAMES

"

Gaul

OF

109

PLANTS.

of Linneus, Foxtail

(theBetonica Alopecuros

Betony,

European

a

species).Theis says that the

is altered from Bentonic, in Keltic; meaning head, and ton, good, or tonic. Bet'ula, Pliny. L., a birch tree. name

Bi'dens, Linneus.

L., bi, double, and dens,

a

ben,

tooth ; from

the two teeth which crown the fruit. Blech'num, Dioscorides. G., a fern.

Spi'cant.

A

formerly given to the Hard

name

have

Fern, but

satisfactory explanation of it. Bauhin haps attributes it to the Germans, and suggests that perit is from Spica indica (Spikenard), on account

we

of

no

some

Linneus

resemblance.

treated it as

an

old Spicant ; but

in writing Osmunda substantive name in his ' Species of Plants,' he gives the name Blechboreale. The name Spicant was num re-applied by Both,

and, notwithstanding the unusual termination, it is generally accepted by botanists as correct, on the score

Blys'mus.

of priority. From G., blysmos,

in wet places. Bora'go, or Borra'go,* and

ago, I

spring ; because they grow

a

Apuleius. "Pliny

move.

because it maketh

a man

thing also the olde

From

L.,

the heart,

calleth it Euphrosinum,

joyfull: which

merrie and

verse

cor,

concerning

Borago

doth

testifie:

"

"

Ego

In English 4

Borago

gaudia semper

ago/

"

1 Borage

bring alwaies courage.* ""

Gerard. i

*

*

A spelling used by many

writers, and adopted The Student's Flora of the British Islands.'

by Dr. Hooker

in

Google

HO

NAMES

Borkhau'sia.

Named

hausen,

PLANTS.

in honour

of Moritz Balthasar Borkbotanist, who died at Darmstadt

German

a

OP

in 1806. Botrych'ium.

From

G., botrys,

of grapes; from of the fertilefronds.

bunch

a

the appearance of the branches Luna'ria, Fuchs. From L., luna, the

moon

on

;

account

of the crescent-shaped pinnae of the barren fronds. Brachypod'ium, From G., brachy, short, and or po'dium. podion, littlefoot ; from the nearly sessile spikelets. Bras'sica, Pliny. L. for cabbage. Na'pus, Columella. L. for turnip. Ra'pa, Pliny.

Bri'za.

L., Rapum,

turnip.

a

From

G., brizo, I nod, or hang the head given in ancient times to some sleeping ; name

of corn. Bro'mus, Theophrastus. the Greeks

Bryo'nia,

G., bromos

the

;

as

in

kind

given by

name

to the oat.

Dioscorides.

G., bryo, to shoot,

From

or

grow

rapidly ; on account of its quick growth. Bu'nium, Dioscorides. From G., bounos, a hill; referring to its favourite habitats. .

Bupleu'rum, a

Hippocrates.

From

in allusion to

rib;

species. Theophrastus. Bu'tomus,

G., bou, an

and pleuron, the ribbed leaves of some

From

G., bou,

I cut ; because the sharp leaves cattle that browse upon

Bux'us, Pliny. for the the

L. for the Box

same

and

the injure

temno,

mouths

of

Tree, from G., pyxos, a

name

(box-wood)box, from

root.

Caki'le, Serapion. to this or

ox,

them.

plant ; L., pyxis,

same

ox,

An

old Arabic

name

applied probably

some

allied genus. Calamagros'tis, Adanson (seeCicendia). G., calam, reed,

Google.

OF

NAMES

Smith

speaks of this as a as it is of two very faulty appellation," compounded see.

and agrostis,which "

Ill

PLANTS.

names,

established 11, p.

canon

Linnean

to

contrary

64).

Calatviin'tha, Dioscorides.

G.,

calaminthe

the great repute in which

held

on

as

a

cala,

account

remedy

.

of for

diseases.

Ac'ino8, Dioscorides.

Clinopod 'ium, foot ;

it was

from

;

beautiful, or useful, and minthe, mint ;

many

rule (see

for Basil.

name

G., meaning bedpo'dium, Dioscorides. the tufts of which are like the knobs at the

"

feet of

G.

a

or

bed."

Nep'eta, Ne'peta,

Nepe'ta, Pliny. L., cat-mint ; used for this species of Calamint by Linneus. Callit'riche, Pliny. G., cali, beautiful, and triche,hair; or

its stems

being very long and slender, like hairs. From G., calluna, I cleanse or adorn. Smith

Callu'na.

says that

"

this name

take it to express

made sense

of Ling,

a

or

is doubly suitable, whether

cleansing property, brooms

whether

of the word,

adopt the

we

to ornament

more

we

being

common

adorn, which is Bentham does not

or

very applicable to the flowers." separate this genus from Erica.

Cai/tha, Pliny.

From

G., calathos, a cup, which its flowers

resemble. R. Brown. Calyste'gia,

Calos, beautiful, and stegc, a covering ; referring to the bracteas. Gerard Soldanel'la, Dodonseus. called this plant Soldanella marina.

Soldana

Soldanella

and

were

both

for it with the apothecaries; but some writers called it Brassica marina, though, as hath mooued Gerard remarks, "what them reason

common

so

names

to do I cannot

sure,

*

conceiue ;

that this plant and Brassica

*

*

are

of this I no

more

am

alike

Google

112

OP

NAMES

PLANTS.

then things which are most unlike." Linneus called the plant Convolvulus Soldanella. The origin of the Soldanella is by Pfeiffer referred to the Italian name "

u

coin

soldo From

Cameu'na.

by

of its round

reason

G., chamai, does not seem

flax. This

plant. Dodonseus. Campanula, L., campana,

A

the ground,

on

a

suitable

linon,

and

for the

name

littlebell ; diminutive of late

church bell ; from

a

leaves.

the shape

of the

flowers. A littleturnip; diminutive of cuius, Lonicerus. L., rapum, a turnip ; on account of the shape of the

Rapun

Matthiolus

root.

arranges turnips thus: (or round turnip),E. sylvestre

rotundum

E. longum turnip), (thisplant, which three

are

Crucifers, and this last a Campanula.

or

neck

which

(or wild

(orlong turnip), and Eapunculus we call Eampion); but the first

Trache'lium, Gerard. a

Eapum

"

Throatwort;

throat ;

it had

as

so

a

G., tracheitis,

of the repute for inflammations of the

called

remedy

from

on

account

throat.

G.

Can'nabis, Dioscorides. Capsei/la. box

A littlebox

or

name

for Hemp.

capsule ; diminutive of L., capsa,

alluding to the seed-vessels. Pera-pastoris of some Bursa-pasto'ris, Gerard; or old From L., pera, a pouch, or authors, as Lonicerus. Shepherd's-purse. purse, pastoris, of a shepherd; a

The

;

word

bursa would

of French bourse, a purse is Bourse de Pasteur, name

Cardami'ne, and

Dioscorides. damao,

qualities. Car'duus, Pliny.

I

L.,

From

overpower;

a

to be

seem

thistle.

or or

a

pouch.

Latinised form The

French

Shepherd's-purse.

G., cardia, the heart, from its supposed

Said to be from

Keltic

Google

NAMES

OF

113

PLANTS.

wool ; and this again from Keltic this is not certain.

card, for combing ard, a point : Maria' nus, Linneus.

Marise of Fuchs, "c, " In the days of monkish after the Virgin Mary. superstition the milky veins were said to have originated in the milk of the Virgin Mary having fallen them

on

she nursed the infant Jesus ; hen^e it was

as "

called the E. B.

Carduus

The

Holy

Thistle* and

'

Our Lady's Thistle/"

"

Ca'rex, Virgil. L. for sedge. is uncertain. "

The

Dodonseus. Pseu'do-ci/perus, perus (whichsee).

Carli'na, Dodonseus.

Same

"

Charles). From by

a

etymology of this word

G., pseud, false, and

as

Cy-

(CarolusL. for

Carolina

tradition that the root

was

shown for the

as a remedy angel to Charlemagne Theis. plague which prevailed in his army." Carpi'nus, Pliny. Named from car, wood, and pin, a head in Keltic ; the wood having been employed to make

an

"

yokes for

The

oxen.

English

"

Hornbeam"

signification. Theis. Bet'ulus, Gerard. L., Betula, a Birch tree. same

"

called Betulus, as if it Gerard. The Hornbeam Betulus

Ca'bum,

has the

were was

a

kind

"

It is also

of Birch."

"

formerly called either

Carpinus.

or

Dioscorides.

L. for caraway,

from

G.

caros

of

It

Caria, where it grew. was and Carui in called Caros, Caron, Carum, Careum the shops, according to the writers of the sixteenth

Dioscorides,

from

century.

Bulbocas'tanum, castanea,

Tournefort.

From

L., bulbo, bulb, and

chestnut ; the root having the flavour of

a

Chestnut. Carui,

or

Carvi.

See Carum. K

Google

114

NAMES

Castan'ea,

OF

Casta'nea,

or

Castania,

town

a

PLANTS.

Pliny.

from

L. for Chestnut;

in Thessaly that

famous

was

for its

Chestnut trees. Catabro'sa.

From

G., catabrosis, a

gnawing;

from

the

extremities of the glumes. Cau'calis, Hippocrates. G., from ceo, I liedown, and caulos, erose

a

stem.

Centau'bea, a

Pliny.

being half

From man

said, effected

a

of heathen mythology, " Centaury, it is and half horse. for Chiron, on the occasion cure centaur,

while handling the arms of Hercules, his fall upon his foot ; guest, he let one of the arrows hence it is that by some it is called ' Chironion.'

when,

"

"

Pliny.

This

centaur

Chiron

to be famous

mythology

was

reported in Greek

for his knowledge

and to have taught mankind

the

uses

cine, of mediof plants,

especially medicinal herbs. Calcit'rapa. " Name due to the resemblance of the calyx merly to the caltrops, or iron ball covered with spikes forunder the horses' feet to lame them on a field of battle." E. B. Cy'anus, Pliny. G. name for this plant (which we call used

for throwing

"

Blue

cyanos, meaning of a blue colour. -bottle),

Ja'cea, Clusius.

The

meaning

is uncertain.

The

name

originally given to Heart's-ease ; Centaurea Jacea was called Jacea nigra, to distinguish it. but L., rough, scurfy, scabby; Scabiosa, Brunfels. was

whether

on

account

plants to which the

"

of the roughness name

was

given,

of most

of the

supposed of some Gerard tellsus,

or

medicinal virtue, I know not. It is reported that it cureth scabs." The

name

was

formerly given to several thistle-heads, From G. centr, a spur, and anthos, flower ; Centranth'us. Spur Valerian.

Google

OF

NAMES

Centun'culus,

Pliny.

to Theis, from

According

from

the way

From

G., cephale,

patchwork;

ground. Cephalanth'era.

115

PLANTS.

in which

it

a

cento,

the

covers

head, and anthera,

a

anther.

Ceras'tium, Linneus. of the

From

rather long

G.,

and

ceras,

a

curved

horn ;

on

account

of

capsules

some

species. Ceratophyl'lum,

Linneus.

G., cerato" horn, and leaf; from its forked leaves.

phyllon, a Cordus. Ce'terach, had

From

many

Asplenium

Scale Fern

but

names,

was

(which see).

derived from

Arabic

an

rusty back.

or

It has

formerly generally called It is said that Ceterach is

name

of this

or

some

similar

plant, but this is uncertain. Chjerophyi/lum, Dioscorides. From

G., chairo, I rejoice, " leaf. It is be to a thought and phyllon, called so because it delighteth to grow with many leaves ; or rather in that it causeth from Dodonseus.

From

Chamagros'tis.

G.,

joy and

chamai,

gladness." "

on

Gerard

the ground, and

agrostis,grass.

Cheiranth'us,

Linneus.

with red

and

"Kheyry.

very

Arabic

sweet-scented

name

of a plant flowers. It was

embellished with the termination anthos to give it a Then Greek appearance. this Arabic word has a mology, meaning in Greek from which Linne draws the etycheir,hand, anthos, flower hand-flower; that is to say, one which we carry in the hand on account "

of its fragrance." Theis. Chei'ri. See Cheiranthus, above. "

The

usual

name

for

with the sixteenth-century botanists luteum; Leucoium was and Gerard (1597)calls it are also Viola lutea. These names given in Bay's

the Wallflower

Google

116

OF

NAMES

"

names

reason

this

why

name

not very clear. Pliny says,

as

G. chelidon, a swallow. was given to the plant is

From

Dioscorides.

Chelido'nium, The

also Keiri, and he gives Wall-flower or Wild Cheir"

(1690),as

'Synopsis' English

PLANTS.

"

The

brute animals have

also been the discoverers of certain plants ; among Chelidonia firstof all. It is by them we will name the aid of this plant that the swallow restores the as sight of the young birds in the nest, and even, some people will have it, when the eyes have been

"These

plants" (the lesser Celandine) "blossom both of

out;"

plucked

greater and

and

again,

at the arrival of the swallow and wither at the

them

So far as I am time of its departure." aware, no has been suggested for the application other reason

of this Chenopod'ium,

name. or

pod, foot

"

G., from chert,goose, and Goosefoot ; from the shape of the leaves podium,

Pliny.

species. of some Bo'nus Henri' cus, Fuchs. to be

rich.

a

L. for good Henry.

translation of the German includes Good

Fuchs

Lapathum,

or

Dock,

The Heimlich

Henry

of which

this being the third.

He

Germans

name

guter Hein-

in his chapter

on

he gives four kinds,

praises it greatly as have also the name

(wickedHenry) for Dog's

Haller.

It appears

a

vulnerary. bSse

Mercury.

In honour

of John Henry Cherler, a friend and He died at of John Bauhin. coadjutor Montbeliard in 1610.

Cherle'ria,

G. chloros, yellowish, or pale green; in reference probably to the flowers, which are yellow,

Chlo'ra.

or

From

to the general appearance

remarkably on

of the plant, which is

glaucous, and produces

the eye amongst the

more

a

curious effect

dark green herbage.

Google

Chrysanthemum,

Dioscorides.

flowers of

G. from

flower ; from

a

anthemon,

117

PLANTS.

OF

NAMES

the golden colour of the

of the species. From Leucanttiemum, Dioscorides. anthemon,

chrys, gold, and

some

G. leuc, white, and

flower.

a

Chrysosple'nium,

Tournefort.

splen,the spleen ; virtues. Cicen'dia, Adanson.

"

on

A

From

G. chrysos, gold, and of its reputed medicinal

account

of Adanson's,

name

the etymology

of which is nowhere explained ; perhaps derived from (G.)kikinnos, curled hair, on account of the slender, Hooker and Arnott. entangled stems and branches." "

derivation of this genus

find the

"We

of plants

given from L. cis, and candeo, to burn within ; thus E. B. (which,however, have cicindela,a glowworm." we "

burns

or

glows

on

outside).Adanson,

the

celebrated French botanist, published It seems the families of plants in 1763. a

able

to

all appearance,

The

whatever.

no

conveys

meanings

to

name

a

should give

man

so

a

sense

of many

his work

a on

strange that plant which, or

of his

meaning names

are

equally obscure.

"G., cichorion; L., cichorium; chikouryeh in Arabic." We do not know the meaning of the name.

Cicho'rium, Theophrastus.

In'tybw,

Intubus, L.

Pliny.

L. for Hemlock

Cicu'ta, Pliny.

genus. CiRCiE'A, Dioscorides. a

goddess

knowledge procure

name

;

for Endive

or

given by Linneus

cory. Suc-

to this

from the enchantress Circe, said, by her of antiquity, who, it was could of herbs and skill in their use,

love.

Named

The

reason

why

to this plant is not clear. It

the was

name

was

confounded

given with

Google

118

OP

NAMES

the

Mandrake,

which

PLANTS.

long

has

had

such

virtues

attributed to it as those just alluded to, and the Circsea is said to have been formerly used in the of love philters. Gerard remarks of compounding Circsea lutetiana : " There is no use of this herbe chirurgerie that I can read of, which hath happened by the corruption of time, and for the errour who have taken Mandragoras of some

either in phisicke

or

Circea, in which errour they have stillpersisted unto Circea the vertues this daie, attributing unto of

Mandragoras." Cla'dium.

G., dados,

From

a

branch;

from

perhaps

its

branches bearing spikelets. A name Maris cm. that has been given to different plants. Marisca, L. for a kind of Fig : a kind of Onion has many

also been called by this

and Haller used it for

name,

the genus Schoenus.

of John Clayton, botanists, and a correone spondent of the earliestAmerican he contributed the of Gronovius, to whom specimens for the 'Flora Virginica,' which are now

Clayto'nia, Linneus'.

Named

in the British Museum. Clematis,

or

Clem'atis,

in.honour

He

died in 1773.

Dioscorides.

G. clema,

From

a

of growth. shoot of a vine ; from its manner From L. vit, vine, and alba, white. Vital'ba, Dodonseus. The

Bryony

vine in

Cni'cus,

Vitis alba

name

was

formerly

hence called white (Bryoniadioica), some

for

also used or

wild

places.

Tournefort.

From

G.,

I

cnizo,

prick

or

wound.

Cochlea'bia, account

Gesner. of the

From

L., cochlear,

a

spoon;

of the leaves; in German, was of its old English names

shape

Loffelkraut.One

on

Spoonwort.

Google

OF

NAMES

Colch'icum, Dioscorides.

119

PLANTS.

Colchis, where it was

From

said

to be firstfound and its virtues discovered.

Com'abum, by

G.,

Theophrastus.

Theophrastus

to

some

term

a

comaros,

plants

applied of the Arbutus

tribe.

Co'nium, Theophrastus.

G. for Hemlock.

Convalla'ria,

L., from

Linneus.

See Cicuta.

ferring convallis,a valley; re-

to its usual locality.

Convoi/vulus,

L., convolvo, I entwine ; as we call the plant Bindweed Soldanel'la. See under Calystegia. Pliny.

Coballobhi'za,

From

G., corallion, coral, and from the form of the roots.

Haller.

rhiza, a root;

just

From

G., coris, a bug; on account of the foetidodour of the bruised leaves. for the Cornel tree, and also for Cor'nus, Pliny. L. name a

From

Theophrastus.

Corian'drum,

of its wood. Corrigi'ola, Cordus.

javelin made

Corrig'iola,

or

corrigia, a strap

Coryda'lis, Galen.

or

thong

;

of L.,

Diminutive

Strapwort.

G. for the Fumitory.

Dodonseus

quotes

the authority for the name. for the Hazel tree. Cor'ylus, Pliny. G. and L. name Galen

as

Avelldna, Pliny. in Campania, The nuts of

a

Cotoneas'ter, Cotyle'don,

According

to Pliny from

the districtin which it place is now

"

Abellinum"

was

first produced.

called Avellino, and Hazel

particular variety stillabound there. L., cotoneum, the Quince. From Bauhin.

Dioscorides.

From

G., cotyle, a cup; from Besides our Navelwort, the

the form of the leaves. Cotyledon was formerly given to the Ivyleaved name

the Marsh Pennywort (Linaria cymbalaria), Hydrocotyle vulgaris), other plants. See and some

Toadflax

Cymbalaria, under Linaria. G. for Kale. Cram'be, Hippocrates.

Google

120

NAMES

PLANTS.

OF

Cratje'gus, Theophrastus.

G., cratos, strength ; on account of the hardness of its wood. Oxyacan'iha, Dioscorides. G. name which has been given From

to the Barberry, the Sweetbriar, and the Hawthorn

by the older writers.

The

oxy, sharp, and acantha,

Cre'pis, Pliny.

G.,

from crepis,a

meaning thorn.

a

of the word is

plant, given by Pliny to some supposed sandal, which the leaves were a

name

to resemble.

Crith'mum, Dioscorides. G., crithmon, itis said from crithe, barley ; because the fruit of this plant is like a grain of barley. Crocus, Theophrastus. ; from

G.,

From

sativus. Cryptogram'ma, gramme,

E. Brown. a

a

thread

or

ment fila-

the appearance

consists of the

which

croce,

line ;

on

of the saffron of shops, dried stigmas of Crocus

From account

G., crypto, hidden, and cation of the lines of fructifi-

being hidden.

Cucubai/us, Pliny.

derivation has been

The

given as an bad, and caco,

altered form of G., cacabolus, from bole, a shoot, or sprig, meaning a noxious weed. Pliny's plant seems Nightto have been the Black shade.

Cuscu'ta, Matthiolus. name

Epili'num.

Derived

probably from its Arabic

Chasuth.

Growing

on

Flax.

Not

an

old substantive

though having the appearance of one. Epithy'mum, Dioscorides. Growing on Thyme. name,

Cyc'lamen,

Theophrastus.

circle; probably peduncles. Cyn'odon. From

Dac'tylon. G., a

on

G., cyclamenos, from account

cyclos,a of the spiralturns of the

G., cyn, dog, and odon, tooth. finger; on account of the fingered spikes.

Digits zed by

GoOgle

Cynoglos'sum,

121

PLANTS.

OF

NAMES

G. cyn, dog, and glossa, a tongue ; from the form of the leaf. Cynosu'bus, Linneus. From G. cyn, dog, and oura, tail;

Dioscorides.

From

from the shape of the spike. Cype'rus, Theophrastus. G., cypeiros, a reed. Cypripe'dium, Linneus. From G. cypris, a surname

goddess Venus, Venus' slipper ;

as

Cal'ceolus,Dodonseus. is the

we

say Lady's Slipper.

L.,

a

Lady's Mantle,

Cystop'teris.

In mediaeval times

e.

of the hood-shaped

cover

of the sori.

G., dactylos, a finger; from the form

of the panicle. Daph'ne, Dioscorides.

The

who was of a nymph Laurel or Bay-tree to

name

changed by the gods into a her from the pursuit of Apollo. Some save plants have a resemblance to Laurels. Diminutive

"

Meze'reum,

Linneus.

Linneus, as

of these

of L., laurus, a laurel; given by the later Latin writers to this plant. Daphne-like. Daphnoides was older name

Lavfreola, Dodonseus.

The

g. (our)

G. cysto, bladder, and pteris, fern ;

Dac'tylis, Linneus.

and

transferred

were

(our)Lady's Slipper, "c.

From

account

slipper;

slipper. Calceolus Marianus

given by Dodonseus.

name

or

sock,

plants originallydedicated to Venus to " Our Lady," or the Virgin Mary"

many

on

a

podion,

and

of the

Madzaryoun,

name.

Medica,' gives Mezereum Dodonaeus quotes for Daphne.

in his 'Materia

the officinalname

Avicenna

its Persian

and Serapion

as

using this

name,

but not

for this plant.

Datu'ra,

Altered from

Linneus.

(Forskal).*Eumphius *

A Swedish

its Arabic

says that in

naturalist of the last century, who

the king of Denmark

on

a

some

was

scientificexpedition to Egypt

tatorah

name

parts of the employed by and Arabia. L

Google

122

OF

NAMES

it is called daturo. Linneus gives both the officinaland the botanical name

Indies

East Datura

as

('Materia Medica'). Camerarius

Thorn-apple

of

PLANTS.

gives Tatula " Stramonia."

the

as

Stramo'nium, Lobel.

of his second

name

The

Stramonia

name

by

given to the Thorn-apple

species of

generally the botanists of the was

sixteenth century, and Lonicerus says that it was so by the Italians. The derivation is obscure. named Dau'cus,

G.

Dioscorides.

for the plant.

name

"From

of its effect in medicine. All the ancient authors speak of daucus, as a heating daio, I burn ;

on

account

plant."" Theis. Carrot is the English Caroifa, Linneus.

name,

and carotte Carotte is also used in German, but is the French. to be It has been supposed not the usual name. of Keltic origin, and root ;

car,

From

account

of the form

of Dioscorides Linneus, but the

Consol'ida, Fuchs. and

colour of the

red.

Dioscorides.

Delphinium, on

to refer to the

also to

The

of the flower. was

dolphin;

a

Delphinium

the Delphinium

not

of

used by him. given formerly to Larkspur,

name

A

G. delphin,

was

name

Self-heal, Daisy

Comfrey,

other virtue in

and

plants, in reference to

some

the healing of wounds.

L. verb consolido means See Solidago. compact.

solid, firm or From Linneus.

I make Denta'ria,

real

or

supposed

The

L. dens,

tooth-like scales of the root. G. Di, From Dianth'us, Linneus.

a

tooth;

from

Jove's, and

the

anthos,

flower.

Arme'ria, Linneus. William

pinks.

A

name

formerly given to the Sweet

See earlier under Armkrta.

CaryophyVlus, Linneus.

From

G. CaryophyUon,

the spice

Google

which

we

The

call clove.

123

PLANTS.

OF

NAMES

above tree

was

formerly

or the clove gilliflower, pink, called Caryophyllus; Caryophyllus multiplex; and Avens, or Herb Bennet,

called Caryophillata ; the last on account of the smell of the roots, and this plant from the smell of

was

the flowers being like cloves. Digita'lis, Gesner. From L. digitale, a glove ; as we say Fox-glove, from the flower being like the finger of a

glove. Digita'ria, Haller. Di'graphis

or

From

L. digitus,a finger.

Dig'raphis.

From

G\ di, two, and graphis,

a

style, Dio'tis. G., di" two,

and

otis, eared; to the fruit.

from

the ear-like

appendages From Diplotax'is.

G. diplo, double, and taxis, order or of seeds. arrangement ; in allusion to the two rows Dip'sacus, Dioscorides. Fronj. G. dipsao, I am thirsty; the leaves forming

connate

kind of cistern in which

a

water is retained.

Doron'icum,

Brunfels.

from

"Named-

(G.) doron,

a

gift, and nicey victory; because it is said to have been formerly used to destroy wild beasts, whence the English name say from of Leopard's-bane ; or some doronigi,

or

dwrungi,

Leopard's-bane, doronicum,

the

Arabic

of the Latinised by earlier botanists into

and enumerated

name

by Linneus

among

barbarous

ought to be rejected.He, which retained it, perhaps because its sound, if

names

however,

not its sense,

is Greek."

"

Hooker

and Arnott.

G., pardali, panther, and anch, Leopard's-bane.

Pardalianch'es, Linneus. strangle ; or Dros'Era, Cordus. by

This plant is not mentioned the ancients, but it was called L., Ros

G., dros, dew.

(dew) solis (ofthe sun) by the apothecaries of the

Google

124

middle exude

PLANTS.

OF

NAMES

ages; referring to the viscid drops which from the leaves, and present an appearance

resembling dew. From Dry'as, Linneus.

G. drys" oak ; on account of some Clusius calls it Chain the leaves.

resemblance ,

maedrys montana. G., echino, hedgehog, and chloe, grass. G., echino, hedgehog, and phora, Columna.

Echinochlo'a. Echinoph'ora,

bearing

"

one

as

wears

clothes;

referring to the

prickly nature of the plant. G., echi, viper; because it was Dioscorides. E'chium, for, supposed to be a protection from, and a cure the bite of a viper. Gerard says of this plant: "

"

The roote drunke with wine is good for those that be bitten with serpents, and it keepeth such from being stung as haue drunke of it before ; the leaues and seedes do the

as

same,

Dioscorides writeth: Nicander,

in his booke of Treacles, maketh

viper's Buglosse to

be

cure

one

of those plants, which

the biting of

especially of the viper, and that driue

serpents, and

serpents away."

Elat'ine,

Dioscorides.

corn.

growing among to which, and

the

reason

G.

we

have

applied to some plant It is not known with certainty

name

no

satisfactory explanation of for its application. Matthiolus represents

it to be the sharp-pointed Fluellen (Linaria Elatine). G., hydro, water, and peperi, Hydropi'per, Dioscorides. Hydropeperi.

slightly altered form Hydropiper is given by Fuchs, Matthiolus, "c. G., heleo, marsh, and chair, to Eleoch'aris, E. Brown. pepper;

delight in;

from

The

the situations in which

it grows.

It would be more correctly spelt Heleocharis. See Eleocharis, G., heh, a marsh. Elo'dea.

Google

OF

NAMES

El'ymus, Dioscorides.

125

PLANTS.

given by the Greeks to Panic-

Name

grass. Em'petbum, Dioscorides. G., en, in,and petro, rock; growing in rocky places. Epilo'bium,

G., epi, upon, and lob,pod ; from the

Gesner.

flower growing upon Dioscorides.

Epime'dium,

the pod-like ovary. "

Analogous

to medium,

a

plant from in Media, only See Dios. b. 4, c. 18. He

to grow

was

supposed which it obtained its name. Th6is. next after Medium" speaks of Epimedium Epipac'tis, Dioscorides. A name given by the Greeks to which

"

sort of Hellebore.

some

this genus of Orchids. Epipo'gium, or Epipo'gum.

"

applied by Haller to Derivation doubtful. It

From

was

G. epi9 upon

(ormost), upper-

and pogon, a beard ; an appellation given by Gmelin,* because the lip (called by him the beard)is uppermost."

Hooker

"

tail, L., equi, horse, and setum, hair ; horse-

Pliny.

Equise'tum, as

we

and Arnott.

say.

G., pertaining to a marsh or swamp. G., ery spring, and anthis, flower.

Telmatei'a. Eran'this.

G., ereice. The derivation is said merly forereico, I break; because it was

Eri'ca, Dioscorides. to

from

be

supposed to have the power of destroying calculi of the bladder. Yet the old botanists give but little prominence to this supposed property. Matthiolus

mentions

it, but from Dioscorides downwards

the chief virtue ascribed to the genus is as an It puzzles me application to the bites of snakes. where they got so many snakes in Europe, especially in England,

for

we

have

only

one

venomous

kind,

and its bite is seldom a very serious affair. From G., eri,early, and geron, Erig'eron, Theophrastus. *

A German

an

botanist of the last century.

Google

126

NAMES

old

man,

which Eriocau'lon,

or

soon

OP

PLANTS.

grey-head ; in allusion to the receptacle, becomes like a grey head.

Gronovius.

G., erio,wool, and caulon, stem ; in allusion to the downy stems of the species first known.

Erioph'orum,

Theophrastus.

G., erio,wool, and phor, bear ;

bearing wool, cotton-sedge. G., erod, heron ; from the beaked fruit,as Ero'dium.

we

say Heron's-bill.

Eryng'ium,

Dioscorides.

from erygein,

in Greek;

"Eryngion

derived

the act of eructation. word which means Dioscorides states positively that Eryngium dissipates all windiness." Theis. a

"

Erys'imum,

G., derived from eryo, to draw

Theophrastus.

(blisters). G., erythr,red ; the colour of the flower. Centavfreum, Dioscorides. See earlier,under Centaurea.

Erythr^'a.

plant is the Centaureum parvum

Centaureum

This

Cheshire

of Gerard.

it is not

uncommonly

minus of Fuchs, In Lancashire and

called Sanctuary, Centaury.

which is a corruption of the name for the plant; from Theophrastus. G. name Euon'ymus, Euonymey mother of the Furies, the berries being poisonous.

See earlier,under Agrimonia, Eupatorium this plant of Matthiolus; which was (Hemp Agrimony) being his Eupatorium vulgare.

Eupato'rium,

Euphor'bia,

Dioscorides.

Dioscorides.

of food, and

seems

of plants which unless indeed on

This word

literally, plenty

means,

to apply to a genus strange name for the most part, poisonous ; are, a

the principle that

a

littleof it goes told, is from

long way. The derivation, we are Euphorbus, physician to Juba, king of Mauritania, who is said to have brought the plant into use. a

Google

NAMES

OF

127

PLANTS.

Cyparis'sias, Dioscorides.

G.,

From

cyparissos, the cypress; on account of its similar foliage. This plant was called by Matthiolus, "c, Tithymalus Cyparissias.

Ef8ula, Dodonseus,

gives this ingenious

who

as conjecture

Esula may the explanation of the word:"" The name be derived from (G.)pityusa" like the Pine-tree "

(pity 8) in foliage; scientificmen

a

usually given by for, lay aside the first

then

name

"

to the plant, "

nutive remains, of which the dimiis vsula; change the first vowel, and you have Esula." This looks at firstrather a far-fetched

two

syllables(!)and

usa

derivation; but Esula plant, and time

the officinalname

was

of the

before and about this remarkable feats in the way

the apothecaries

performed

such

of corrupting names Dodonseus is right.

that it is quite possible that

Heliosco'pia, Dioscorides.

G.,

helio,

sun,

and

scop,

watcher ; because the flowers face the sun. Lath'yris, Dioscorides. for the plant. G. name Para'lias, Dioscorides. Pep'lis,Dioscorides

G., paralias, growing

(seelater).So called

the foliage somewhat

Pep'lus, Dioscorides.

on

on

the coast. account

of

resembling that of Purslane. for a kind of G., pephs; name

Spurge. We

the unusual number of substantive remark for Spurges, which shows the estimation in names held. Gerard describes twenty-one which they were may

kinds.

Euphrasia,

Fuchs.'

G. for gladness.

called Euphrosyne, The

plant

was

so

called

for clearing the eyes. is corrupted by name

The

meaning

on

account

Fuchs

plant

merly for-

also gladness. of its reputation

complains

"ignorant

was

that the

druggists"

from

Google

128

NAMES

Euphrosyne.

OF

Other

PLANTS.

names

were,

which

and

some

of

them still are, used for this plant, refer to this remedial property as Ophthalmica and Ocularia ; in French, Euphraise ; in German, Augentrost ; and in

English, Eyebright.

Fa'gus,

L. for the Beech-tree, from

Pliny.

G. phegos; not the Beech, but a kind

the G. phegos was of Oak; so there has been some confusion. here I may not omit a note of the accurate

though

Palmerius,

upon

he animadverts

"But critic

passage in Theophrastus, where upon his interpreter, and shows that a

the ancient phegos was by no means the Beech, but Evelyn's 'Silva.' White, in his a kind of Oak.""

Dictionary/gives Fagus

'Latin

G.

to

equivalent

bearing

an

us

"

acorn,

esculent

(Beech)." The

Liddell and Scott Phegos, " a kind of Oak

but

phegos;

(GreekDictionary) give

(a Beech-tree)as

the

not

Latin

is evidently the

name

Fagus

same,

confusion has arisen in its application. Fe'dia, Adanson (see Cicendia). A name without

but

some

known Auricula.

or

L.,

probable meaning. ear.

an

L.,

Festu'ca, Dodonseus. "

Hooker

stalk, stem,

or

Fila'go, Dodonseus.

"

fest,Celtic, food or pasturage." Arnott. L. festucameans a

from

and

straw.

L.,,/%thread

with thread-like hairs. Fcen, hay; Fcenio'ulum, Pliny.

;

the plant being covered

the

smell of the plant

being likened to that of hay. Fraga'ria, Pliny. L. for the Strawberry. Sanscrit root

Linneus.

"

Fraga

(akinto

odorari),the fragrant things;

ghra,

hence Strawberries." Franken'ia,

any

"

White's Lat. Diet. 1869.

Named"

from

John

Franken,

Google

a

NAMES

OF

129

PLANTS.

Swedish botanist and professor of medicine who died in 1661. Frax'inus, Virgil. L. for the Ash the

is uncertain ;

name

some

at Upsal,

derivation of supposed it to be

The

tree.

have

from G. phraxis, a separation, because the wood may be easily split; others from G. phrasso, to enclose or hedge round ; and some from L. frango,I break, from

its brittleness; but the wood

remarkably tough. Fritilla ria, Lobel. L.,

of the Ash

a dice-box fritillus,

;

is

alluding to

the form of the flowers. Melea'gris, Dodon*eus. G., a guinea-fowl ; in allusion to the markings of the flower. Fuma'ria, Gesner. L., fumus, smoke

; Pliny says

because

it makes the eyes water when applied to them, as was fumus terrce, smoke smoke does. The old name of the earth.

in honour

Named

Ga'gea.

Gage, Bart., a of Sir Thomas in 1820. died at Rome

British botanist, who G., gal, milk, and anthus, flower ; Galan'thus, Linneus. account of its milk-white flowers.

Galeob'dolon,

Dioscorides.

G., gale, a weasel, and bdolon, '

fetid smell.

G., gale,

Galeop'sis, Dioscorides. appearance snout

Lad'anum,

on

weasel, and opsis, ; because the tip of the flower is like the a

of the weasel. G., ledanon, Dalechamps.

a

substance, gummy which is stillgathered from the Cistus creticus of ledon for the plant were The G. names Linneus. or

ladon, ledanon

or

ladanon.

It

was

applied by

and the writers of his time to several kinds of Cistus, and by Dalechamps (1587)to this used as a specific name, plant. By Linneus it was according to his rules. Dodonseus

M

Google

130

OP

NAMES

"

Tet'rahit,Dillenius.

PLANTS.

Derived from G. tetras, four. Its

has four very decide"corners."

stem

formerly given to

Th6is.

"

Name

of the Hemp-nettles. G., gal, milk ; from the plant having

Ga'lium, Dioscorides.

some

been used to curdle milk. This plant of Dioscorides An English name Galium verum was of Linneus. for it is Cheese-rennet, and the French call it Caillelait,in allusion to its former use. L., literally,crucified,but intended to signify

Cruciata.

; Crosswort, as we cruris,a cross) cross-shaped [crux, call it, from the leaves, which are four in a whorl. Formerly used as a substantive name, but now more

small letter,erroneously according ' practice. Bentham, in his British Flora/

usually spelt with to Linnean

a

retains Cruciata.

Gentian,

a

was

"

Gentiana

is stillcalled Gentiana

Dioscorides.

Apart! ne,

apairo, I take,

or

Galium

named

Camerarius

by Withering. to

It

gives the

name

"

minor,"

or

cruciatum Cruciata

Cruciata."

It

Cruciata.

G.

for the

name

plant;

from

lay hold of.

According to him, from the softness compared with Aparine. of its leaves (L., moll, soft), These two species were formerly classed together under

Mollu'go, Dodonseus.

the

Lappa,

name

now

used

as

a

synonym

of Arctium.

G., diminutive of gaster, the belly; a ventricle, littleswelling, as is seen at the base of the spikelet.

Gastrh/ium. or

Genis'ta,

Pliny.

L.

name

for the Broom.

It has

given to several leguminous plants, as Broom, It is said by some and Dyers' Green-weed.

a

Gorse to be

shrub, and by others from fanciful, knee ; but these seem conjectures

derived from Keltic gen, L. genu,

been

a

and of no particular value. " Gentian was Gentia'na, Pliny.

tius, king of Illyria"

firstdiscovered by Gen-

; hence the (Pliny)

name.

The

Google

NAMES

OF

131

PLANTS.

species alluded to is G. lutea, of Linneus, the roots of which are the Gentian of our shops. Amarel'la, Linneus. Diminutive of L., amarus,

i.e.,

bitter;

littlebitter.

a

From

Pneumonan'ihe, Cordus.

G. pneumon,

lung, and

anthy flower.

from geran, crane ; in allusion to the beaked fruit; as we say, Crane's Bill. doubt" to Robertia'num, Fuchs, who refers it "without

Gera'nium,

G.

Dioscorides.

name,

to Adelung old superstition. "According called from its being used to cure a disease known

some

Germany

as

in

the Ruprechts-Plage, from Robert, duke

of Normandy." Ge'um, Pliny. From Githa'go.

so

Prior.

"

G., geuo, I yield

an

agreeable flavour.

See under Agrostemma.

Glad'iolus,

Gladi'olus,

or

Dodoneeus.

L.

for

little

a

sword, referring to the form of the leaves. The is often incorrectly pronounced Gladiolus.

name

G., glauc, bluish green ; in allusion to the bloom of the leaves. G., from the colour of its leaves, see Glaux, Tournefort.

Glau'cium,

Tournefort.

Glaucium.

The

name

was

used by Dioscorides for

entirely differentplant. G., glyce, sweet ; in allusion to the Glyce'ria, R. Brown. an

.

sweet

Gnaphalium,

juices of

some

Dioscorides.

of the species.

G., soft down

species are covered with it. Named Good'yera, R. Brown. after John

or

wool;

the

Goodyer,

botanist of the time of Gerard. R. Brown. G., gymn, naked, and aden,

a

Hampshire

Gymnade'nia,

a

gland ;

because the glands are not contained in a pouch. Gymnogram'ma. G., gymn, naked, and Gymnogram'me, or line; because the lines of sori are una gramme, covered, or

without indusium.

Google

132

OF

NAMES

L., habena,

From

E. Brown.

Habena'ria,

PLANTS.

which the lip of the flower somewhat Hed'era, Pliny. L. for Ivy. L., wound for Ivy.

He'lix, Pliny, name

thong,

or

resembles.

twisted;

or

strap ;

another

See Eleocharis.

Heleoch'aris.

for the

reason

anthe?num, flower. is uncertain. It has been

G., heli,sun,

Cordus.

Helian'themum, The

about,

a

name

by

supposed

erroneously

others, that

and

poets,

flowers called sun-flowers continually turn towards is A more likely explanation of the name the sun. that their blooming

depends

much

ness the bright-

upon

Some flowers, as Anagallis, Montia, of the sun. English Eock Nymphsea, and this Helianthemum, our Eose, expand the best in bright sunshine, while others have a different habit, as Tragopogon: "for it "

shutteth it selfe at twelue of the clocke, and sheweth do make not his face open vntillthe next daies sunne

it flower noone."

anew,

Gerard.

"

called Go to bed at

it was

whereupon Then

again

some

plants

come

into bloom Helleb'orus,

in the evening. Dioscorides. G., hele

remove,

and

bor, food.

The

take (helein), name

was

away,

or

originally

especially to White Hellebore (Veratrum and Fuchs gives this as its meanalbum, of Linneus), ing. Gerard tellsus : " The root of the White Hellebore

given

more

procureth

vomit

mightily, wherein

consisteth

his chiefvertue." Helmin'thia. G., helminth,

a

umbel. Herac'leum, Pliny,

from the hero Hercules.

; refersmall kind of worm ring to the form of the fruit. Heloscia'dium. From G., helos,a marsh, and sciadion, an

mixes

up

a

Named number

of plants under

this

name

Pliny in

hopeless confusion.

Google

NAMES

OP

133

PLANTS.

Sphondyl'ium, Dioscorides.

G., diminutive of sphondyle, for the plant. a stinking insect ; old name Hermin'ium, R.Brown. Derivedfrom hermin, the knob orfoot of a bed-post ; in allusion to the shape of the tubers. Morior'chk. G., mon, single; in allusion to the single tuber. " Root of several thick woolly fibres, and one

globular hairy knob, the size of

large pea, which is the source of the plant of the present year. One of bears at its extrethese apparent fibres,rarely more, mity a

small young knob, destined to enlarge afterwards, flower in to following the summer." and

a

"

Smith Eng. Fl. Hernia'ria,

Gesner.

L.,

a

reputed

remedy

for hernia,

or

rupture.

G., hesper, the evening ; when is particularly fragrant.

Hes'peris,

Pliny.

Hiera'cium,

Dioscorides.

because

G.,

birds of prey

so

the flower

called from hierac, a hawk ;

were

supposed

to strengthen

their vision with the juiceof these plants. Diminutive of L., pilosus, hairy, Pilosel'la,Matthiolus.

i.e.,

littlehairy.

a

"

sacred, and chloe, grass, Holy it was formerly used to strew in

G., Hero,

Hierochlo'e.

Grass;

because

churches.

G., hippo, horse, and crepis,shoe ; from the form of the fruit. G., apparently from hippo, horse, Hippopha'e, Dioscorides. Linneus.

Hippocre'pis,

cation and phao, I shine ; but the exact meaning and appliHippophaes are not clear. The ancient name was

confined to the Sea Buckthorn, and doubts been expressed whether it was applied to that

not

have plant

at

all.

Pliny

says:

"These

plants would

be remarkably well adapted to the constitution of the horse, as it can be for no other

appear

too, to

Google

134

OF

NAMES

than this that they have received their

reason

Hardoin, and are

PLANTS.

however,

thinks that the

name.

hippophaes

names

hippophceston have another origin, and that they of phaos, lustre, from the brilliancy compounds

said to impart to cloths, and hippos, which they were ' in an augmentative sense, great lustre.' meaning Note in Bohn's Ed. of Pliny's Nat. Hist. The meaning "

"

be considered doubtful.

must

G., hipp, horse, and our, tail. A name given by Dodonseus to Equisetum. Hoi/cus, Linneus. G., holcos,from helco,I extract ; because Hippu'ris, Linneus.

the property of drawing out

supposed to have thorns from the flesh.

it was

Holos'teum, *

From

Dioscorides.

bone;

"by

G., hoi, aU, and osteon,

antiphrasis, the texture

being the very

soft and delicate." Theis. Honcken'ya. Named after G. A. Honckeny, botanist, who died in 1805. reverse,

"

Hor'deum,

Virgil. L. for barley.

Hotto'nia,

Boerhaave. at Leyden,

Hu'mulus,

Linneus.

Its origin is dubious.

after Pierre Hotton, died there in 1709.

Named who From

figuratively low, that without

German

a

or

L., humus, mean.

support

a

professor

soil, the ground;

It has

been

the plant would

suggested the

on

grow

ground. From

Lu'pulus, Brunfels. the plant

"

Lupus

L., lupus, a wolf.

salictarius,"meaning

"

Pliny calls literallythe

It probably took this name tenacity with which it clung to willows. for the Hop. was an officinalname willow wolf."

Hutchin'sia. Bantry,

known Hyacinthus.

Named

in honour

Ireland, who botanist.

was

of an

Miss

from the Lupulus

Hutchins,

excellent and

of

well-

See Agraphis.

Google

OF

NAMES

Hydroch'aris,

Linneus.

135

PLANTS.

G., hydro,

From

water,

and

charis, elegance. Pretty water plants. Morsus-ra'nce, Dodonseus. L., morsus, a biting, ranee, .

frog.

Frog-bit ; frogs

Hydrocot'yle,

were

from

cotyle, cup;

the

somewhat

cup-

See Cotyledon.

shaped.

From

Smith.

Hymenophyl'lum,

phyllon, leaf; Film

because hogs like

a

somesaid to eat the fruit,which is thing

are

bean. G., the meaning is doubtful. It to be derived from hyper, above,

has been supposed and eikon, image;

being used for

as

Hypericum

Lonicerus

tells us

an

amulet against

the correct

seem

would

but it is not usual. Dioscorides. G., andros,

Androsce'mum,

and

G., hyos, hog's, and cyanos, bean ;

Dioscorides.

spirits.

G., hymen, membrane,

Ferns.

Dioscorides.

Hypericum,

are

and

in watery-

growing

bearing leaves that

places, and

Hyoscy'amus,

G., hydro, water,

species

a

to eat it.

supposed

From

Tournefort.

of

man's,

because, if the seed

cema,

or

pronunciation,

blood.

the flower

be rubbed, it will give out "man's blood." Fuchs "they have said that the flower, puts it, because rubbed

Hypoch-e'ris,

in the fingers,emits Theophrastus.

chceros,a hog

Ibe'ris, Dioscorides.

:

blood" coloured

a

From

G.. hypo,

the roots being eaten

Named

from

of the species grow. Oak, I'lex, Pliny. L. for the Holm

Iberia,

juice."

for, and

by that animal.

or

Spain, where

many

Pliny; Aquifolium,

Ille'cebrum,

or

Ever-green Oak.

i.e.,

Dodonseus.

or pointed acui-folium,

L., illecebra,an

leaved, L.

enticement,

or

formerly givea to Stonecrops. attraction; a name Telephium, and Dodonseus Fuchs uses it for Sedum Applied by Linneus to for Sedum acre, of Linneus.

this lowly, but pretty littleplant.

Google

136

NAMES

OP

PLANTS.

Impatient, from

Impa'ttens, Dodonseus.

the sudden

opening

of the capsule if touched when it is ripe. Columna. L., touch me No'li-me-tarigere, not; same

reason

Gerard

Squirting Cucumber

to the

has

which

the last.

as

a

fruit parts

name

tribution provision for the dis-

its seeds, for when quite ripe the from its stem, and the contents are

discharged

force

with such considerable distance.

In'ula, Horace.

gives this

(Ecbalium officinarum),

very remarkable

of

for the

as

L., for Elecampane,

to

them

convey

said to be from

a

G.,

to have sprung supposed from the tears of the heroine of the Trojanwar. for the plant. Cony'za, Hippocrates. G. name Hele'nium, Dioscorides. See Inula; the derivation is the

Helen;

being

the plant

same.

G. for the rainbow ; from the varied colour of the flowers. G., psevd, false, and Acorus, Pseud-ac'orus, Linneus.

I'eis,Theophrastus.

which see. Matthiolus

It is

an

older

name

than

Linneus

; thus

cally which is practicalls it Pseudo-acorum, the same name, though not identically.

Isa'tis, Dioscorides.

G.

name

Named

Isnar'dia, Linneus.

of the plant. after Antoine d'Isnard,

and professor at Paris, who G., iso, equal, or Isoe'tes, Linneus. year ; meaning

Isol'epis, R. Brown.

of the uniform Holoschoe'nus, Dalechamps.

Jas'ione, Jasi'one, Jasio'ne.

alike, and

etos, the

lepis,a scale ;

on

size of the glumes.

Greek

The

for

a

kind of rush.

last accentuation is given

be considered quite out of G., generally supposed of Theophrastus;

by Withering, but

date. Name

nist, bota-

died in 1743.

evergreen. G., iso, equal, and

account

a

may

Google

NAMES

OP

to have been given by him

but

have

we

Jun'cus, Pliny.

137

PLANTS.

to

sort of Campanula,

some

certain knowledge

no

about it.

from the verb jungo, to for tying. or hind, because of their use Junip erus, Pliny. 1j.for Juniper. L. for

Knap'pia,

Smith.

Knaut'ia,

Linneus.

a

rush;

join,

of J. L. Knapp, an English botanist,and author of a work on the British Grasses: he died in 1845.

a

in honour

Named

of Christian Knaut, flourished in the latter

in honour

Named

botanist of Saxony,

who

half of the seventeenth century, and died in 1716. Kobre'sia. in honour Named burg, of M. de Kobres, of Augsa patron of Botany. Koele'ria.

in honour

Named

of a work died in 1807.

author

who Ko'niga, Brown.

"

Name

of Adanson,

Konig

of George

Koeler,

Louis French

Grasses,

revived- by Mr. Brown,

from the

German

on

and

altered by him to Koniga, in order to commemorate the important services by Mr. Konig, of the British rendered to Botany

Museum." Lactu'ca,

Hooker

"

and

and Arnott.

*

From

L., lac, milk; because of the milky juicewhich flows from the broken stems of many of

Pliny.

the species. Lagu'rus, Linneus.

G., lag, hare, and

tail; Hare's-

our,

tail Grass. La'mium,

Pliny.

G., laimos, throat;

on

account

throat-like corolla. G., Upazo, purge ; by Lapsa'na, Dioscorides.

of the

of its

reason

medicinal property. Lastre'a, Presl. " The name

form

was (Lastrsea)

honour

of M.

of the genus in its original given by Bory de St. Vincent, in

Delastre, of Chatellerant,

a

zealous N

Digitszed by

G00gle

138

NAMES

OP

PLANTS.

botanist and microscopist. Presl in adopting it,and giving it a new application, writes it Lastrea." "

*

Moore, Lathre'a,

Nature-printed British Ferns.'

Linneus.

G., lathrce,hidden,

concealed ; the plant being often much concealed by dead leaves. Lath'yrus, Theophrastus. for some leguminous Name plant; the exact

one

or

is not known.

Aph'aca, Dioscorides. to two

or

G., aphace. Name formerly given three small leguminous plants. Dodonseus picture of this plant under the name Matthiolus gives us Vicia sativa (ofLinneus)

gives us Aphace.

a

the Aphace

of Dioscorides. * in honour of M. G. Nissole, Nisso'lia,Tournefort. Named died there a professor of Sotany at Montpellier, who as

in 1734. Lavate'ra,

Named

Tournefort.

in honour

of the two Lavaters, physicians and naturalists of Zurich, and friends of Tournefort.

Leer'sia.

Named

in honour

Daniel Leers,

of John

botanist; who published

a

'

a

man Ger-

Flora Herbornensis,'

and died at Herborn in 1774. for the plant, the origin of G. name Lem'na, Theophrastus. The only derivation I have seen which is unknown.

suggested is from lepis, a scale,but this is scarcely probable. Linneus. Leon'todon,

G., leon, lion's, and

odon, tooth; from the tooth-like margins of the leaves. Lonicerus. G., tarass, change ; on account of Taraxacum, its supposed

Leonu'rus,

effectson From Linneus.

the blood.

G., leon,

a

lion, and

oura,

a

of the supposed resemblance. L., affectingthe stomach ; because of Cardi'aca, Fuchs. its repute formerly as a remedy for that disease of tail;

on

account

the stomach

that

we

callheartburn.

Fuchs

attributes

Google

OF

NAMES

the

to itsproperty

name

139

PLANTS.

of allaying palpitation of the

G. word cardiacos refers hoth to the heart The name an was officinalone. and the stomach. Lepid'ium, Fuchs. G., Up, scale ; from the form of the heart.

The

littlepouches,

or

seed-vessels ;

Leptu'bus,

Fuchs

reports,

scales and spots from the face.

because it removes Dra'ba.

as-

or,

See earlier. E. Brown.

G., lept, slender, and

our,

tail;

referring to the slender spikes. G., leuc, white, and ion, violet. Leuco'jum, Dioscorides. from Liguria, where it Named Ligus'ticum, Dioscorides. abounds. Ligus'trum,

Pliny.

L., lig,bind;

account

on

of the branches

having been sometimes used for such purposes. L. for Lily, in G. leirion; a very ancient name, Ln/iUM. which the origin is unknown. G., limn, marshy Limnanth'emum.

lake, and

of

anthemum,

flower. Limosel'la,

L., limus, mud;

Linneus.

in muddy places. Lina'ria, Tournefort. From of the leaves of

some

the plant growing

tin,flax ; from the resemblance species to those

of flax,

as

Linaria vulgaris,which we call Toad-flax. From L., cymbalum, a cymbal. Cymbalo! ria, Matthiolus. to his second species of Dioscorides gives this name Pride. There was Cotyledon, which is our London deal of confusion in the use of the name in various Latin forms: thus Fuchs "Navel-wort,"

a

good

says it was

one

Dodonseus

as

Matthiolus commonly

name a

name

for Sow-bread of Pennywort

(Cyclamen),and (Hydrocotyle).

points out that this plant, in his time called Cybalaria, is not the Cymbalaria by Dioscorides.

He

gives pictures of the three plants, viz.,firstand second kinds of Cotyledon of Dioscorides, and Cymbalaria.. See Cotyledon.

mentioned

140

OF

NAMES

of Linneus, with by his friend Dr. J. F. Gronovius.

concurrence,

It is

in honour

Named

Linn^/a, Gronovius. his

PLANTS.

pressed, plant, long overlooked, de-

"little northern

a

floweringearly,which abject, to

transmit his

Smith,

to posterity."

name

own

Linneus selected "

Eng. Fl. Linosy'ris.

from L., lin,flax,and osyris,an

Named

given by Pliny to and leaves like flax. Li'num, Theophrastus. From

a

lation appel-

plant with supple branches,

G., linon, flax,changed in L.

to linum.

Lip'aris.

G., liparos,fat,or unctuous

Lis'tera,

E. Brown.

Lister,

to the touch.

British naturalist, who Ni'dus-a'vis. L., nidus, nest, avis, of a

Lithosper'mum, seed ; Littorel'la,

Dioscorides.

on

account

Linneus.

a

bird.

G., litho, stone, and

sperm,

of its seeds being very hard. L., lit,the shore; which is its

place of growth. Lloyd'ia. Named in honour learned

of Dr. Martin died in 1711.

in honour

Named

of Mr.

Edward

Lloyd,

a

Welsh

seventeenth

antiquarian and naturalist of the century, who firstdiscovered this plant

in Britain. Lobe'lia, Plumier.

Dortman'na,

Linneus.

of Lobel. See p. 40. in honour of Dortmann, a

in honour

Named

Named

Dutch

apothecary, who did good service to Botany. Loiseleu'rea. After the French botanist Loiseleur Deslongwho published a Flora of France, and other botanical works, and died in 1849. champs,

Lolium,

Pliny.

Loma'ria,

L. for Darnel.

Willdenow.

From

G. loma, the hem

or

border of

robe ; from the marginal sori. Lonice'ra, Linneus. Named in honour of Lonicer. See p. 38. Pericly'menum, Dioscorides. From G. peri-cleio, I enclose a

Google

OP

NAMES

141

PLANTS.

entwine ; in allusion to the method the Honeysuckle stem. or

Lo'tus,

Theophrastus.

of

uncertain ; it has been of the kinds of the lotos,of

Application

that it is

supposed

of ascent

one

the Greeks.

of Christian Gottlieb Ludwig, a professor at Leipsic, where he died in 1773.

In honour

Ludwig'ia.

of Botany Smith (Eng. Fl.) calls this genus

Lu'zula.

instead of Luzula,

indispensable

and

on

remarks

correction

"Luciola"

it as

"

being

an

in the orthography of the The hairy heads of flowers,

He continues : " wet with dew, and sparkling by moonlight, gave the worms; elegant Italians an idea of their hicciole, or glow-

name."

"

written luzziole,but this is a provincial corruption. Hence, however, John Bauhin sometimes

got the for he the

luzuke, or Glow-worm Grass, of Gramen called it Luzula, which would have been

name

never

same

as

actually calling it a glow-worm." this correction the genus

be called Luzula.

All the

names

withstanding Not-

continues to

derived from

are

L., luceo, I shine. Lych

nis,

thick

cottony

G., lychnos,

From

Theophrastus.

the

on

substance

a

lamp ;

leaves

of

"

the

some

similar plant, having been employed species, or some flowers "from the flame-like or as wicks for lamps;"

of

some

There

species."

to the exact

is

some

difference of

of the name. flower, cuculi, of the cuckoo. Flos-cu'culi,Tragus. L., flos, A name that has been given to different plants that opinion

as

flower in April and May,

it)the Cuckowe

reason

"when

(asGerard expresses

doth begin to sing her pleasant notes

without stammering;" Flower (Cardamine

thus Dodonaeus

calls the May

Flos-cuculi. pratensis),

Visca'ria, Lobel.

From

L., viscum, mistletoe, and

also

Google

142

OF

NAMES

PLANTS.

bird-lime (made froin it). Lobel Viscaria, and or

Gerard

calls this plant " Catch-fly, calls it in English

Bird-lime-wort."

Clusius. G., lyco,wolf,and podion, foot ; alluding to the appearance of the branches little

Lycopod'ium,

or

po'dium,

of some of the species. Sela'go,Dillenius. G., sela,shining. G., lye, wolf, and opsis, a face; Lycop'sis, Dioscorides. fancied resemblance of the flowers because of some to a wolfs face. G., lyco, wolf, and pom, foot ; from the shape of the leaves. Lysi, dissolving, and mache, Lysima'chia, Dioscorides. Ly'copus, Fuchs.

battle. Loose-strife; because it was the strifeof oxen

said to appease

at the plough ifput about theiryokes ;

others say that it is named in honour of Lysimachus, a king of Macedonia, who was killed in battle

or

281 years before Christ, in the 80th year of his age.

is said to have discovered the virtues of the plant. From L., nummw, Nummula'ria, Dodonseus. coin; from the shape of the Twopence; Moneywort or Herb

He

but himself calls mentions the name, on the plant Centum morbia (a hundred diseases), account of its great medicinal repute.

leaves. Fuchs

Lyth'rum,

Linneus.

G., lythron,blood ; it is said from the

colour of the flowers. Salica'ria,Tournefort. Like

Willow, L., salix. WillowThis plant was formerly classed along with herb. then called Lysithe Willow-herbs, which were a

machia, and this particular one

Lysimachia

purpurea

spicata. Maianth'emum,

Moench.

G.,

max,

May,

and

anthemon,

a

flower.

Google

NAMES

The

Malach'ium. like"

OF

word

to

resemblance

a

Malaxes.

"Mallow-

mean

mallow),but the plant has

no

mallow, and the explanation is more

a

likely to be G., malakos, nature

to

seem

would

(G.,malache,

143

PLANTS.

of the plant. G., a softening ;

on

soft

feeble; from

or

the

of the tender nature

account

of the plant. L. for mallows. Altered from the G. name malache, which is from malass, soften ; in allusion to

Mai/va, Pliny.

the emollient properties of the species.

Marru'bium,

Matricaria,

is uncertain. meaning of the name from its reputed medicinal Named

The

Pliny.

Brunfels.

virtues. Chamomil'la, Tragus.

G., chamaimelon,

meaning

literally

to Gerard)because ground apple; so called (according the flowers have the smell of an apple. G. name for the plant. Parthen'iwm, Dioscorides.

Matthi'ola,

Plumier.

See p. 37. From Meconop'sis. or

in honour

Named

G.,

a

mecon,

poppy,

of Matthiolus.

and

opsis, a face

appearance.

Medica'go,

so of the Greeks; introduced into Greece by the

The

Tournefort.

called because it was

medice

Medes. Melam'pyrum,

pyros, wheat.

when

Mei/ica,

mixed

Italy to the

"

Melica,

Sorghum

flavour of its stem

by Linneus

G., melas, black, and

Its seeds resemble wheat, and are with it,to make the bread black.

Dodonseus.

sweet

From

Theophrastus.

or

Melliga,

said,

given in

name

account

of the

(L.,mel, honey),was

applied Hooker

vulgare,

to this somewhat

on

allied genus."

"

and Arnott.

Melilo'tus,

Pliny.

From

L., mel, honey, and Lotus, which

see.

Google

144

Melis'sa, Brunfels. are

Melit

'tis,

PLANTS.

OF

NAMES

G. for

fond of it. Pliny. From

a

G., mel'ma,

yielding honey to bees. Melmophyl'lum, Eivinus. From phyllon, a leaf; for Men'tha, Theophrastus. was

who

nymph

a

Bees

bee, and also for honey.

bee ; because of its

a

G., melissa,

similar reason G., mintha, or

bee, and

to the last. a

minthe,

into the

changed

a

herb

fabled by

Mint

Proserpine. Pvle'gium, Pliny.

L.

flea; because

it

for Pennyroyal,

name was

from pidex, to kill fleas. "The

supposed

a

blossom

of it,fresh gathered and burnt, killsfleas by its smell.,, Pliny. "

Menyan'thes,

G.,

Dioscorides.

flower; it is said from being

a

month, and antk, the duration of the flowers

month.

in honour

Named

Menzie'sia.

Vancouver,

in 1790

Pliny.

Mebcuria'lis,

:

Named

botanist, who

Menzies,

Archibald

the

Expedition

he died at Kensington

after the god

is said to have discovered Named

of

naturalist to

and

surgeon

Merten'sia.

men,

under

in 1842.

Mercury,

who

virtues in it. in honour of F. C. Mertens, a German died at Bremen in 1831. some

G., mespile, the medlar. Supposed to be G., meon, corides. of Dios-

Mes'pilus, Theophrastus. Me'um,

Dioscorides.

Pliny, who says: first discovered it was

Athaman'tieum, some,

because,

found

"

because, according to by Athamas; or else

others think, that of the best quality was Athamas." Athamas, upon Mount according as

to the ancients, was

king of Thebes, in Boeotia, and

of -Solus, who was the king of storms and winds, and reigned over ^Eolia ; he was the son of Hippotas, a Trojanprince, who was changed into a river, "c.

son

Google

NAMES

OF

145

PLANTS. "

Mn/iuM,

Pliny.

From

L., mille,

of its fertility. The Latin Dr. Hooker, misapplied."

'

Linneus.

mini,

sL.,

on

account

for the true Millet

name

Student's Flora/

"

MbAjlus,

thousand ;

a

"

Monkey

hence

mimic;

Flower.

Mcen'chia.

in honour

Named

of Botany at Hesse Cassel. in honour Molin'ia. Named of the Molina, who

wrote

an

Moench, Professor

of Conrad

Rev.

Ignazio

Juan

of the Natural History

account

of Chili, published in 1782, and died in 1829. G., mon, Mone'ses. account of the solitary alone; on flowers and combined petals.

Monot'bopa,

Linneus.

G., mon,

one,

and trepo, I turn ; the

flowers all turning one way. Hypopitys, Dillenius. From G., hypo, under, or about, and pitys, a Fir-tree ; the plant grows in Fir woods.

Mon'tia.

of Guiseppe Monti, Professor and Natural History at Bologna, who died in honour

Named

of Botany there in 1760.

Mulge'dium.

L., mulgeo,!

From

on

account

of its

on

account

of the

juice.

milky

Mus'cari, Clusius.

Late L.

scent yielded by

Mtoso'tis,

milk;

one

Dioscorides.

muse,

musk

;

species.

G., myos,

mouse's,

from the shape of the leaves. G., myos, mouse's, Myosu'rus, Dodonseus.

from

the elongated spike a mouse's

MTRfcA,

Qa'U, Bauhin. Gerard. Gaule, seems

Gerard

to be

called Gall,

tail;

our a,

seed vessels, resembling

name

for Tamarisk.

brabantica of Dodonseus and calls it in English Sweet Willow, or

Myrtus

The

and

and

ot, ear;

tail.

G.

Theophrastus.

of the

and

gives the Dutch

name

as

Gale

Gagel.

an

altered form of the word.

or

Gall*bush, in Scotland.

It is

now

o

Google

146

NAMES

OF

PLANTS.

Dioscorides.

Mybiophyi/lum,

G.,

myrio, myriad, and phyUon, leaf; because of its many leaves. From on Dioscorides. G., myrrha, myrrh; Myr'bhis, of the scent of the leaves.

account

Nai'as, Lijineus. Named

after the naiads, or water nymphs. The name Narcis'sus, Theophrastus. of a beautifulyouth said to be changed of heathen mythology, who was into

a

of the

name.

from

name

This is usually set down Pliny says that it has

plant.

"

"

the origin received its

as

of itseffects, in Narcissus, mentioned

on (torpor)

narce

account

and not from the youth fable; and this derivation is supported Prior writes : " an instance, among many

of a an old poet, Pamgathering Narcissi

"

legend written to

a

name

;

for

Theis.

by

as

more,

philus, remarks, Prosperine was long before that youth was born." Psew'do-narcis'sus, Dodonaeus. G., pseudo, false, and narcissus

Nar'dus,

(seeabove). G.

Theophrastus.

name;

a

plant, from

the

flowers of which a sweet-smelling oil was prepared. There is no apparent reason should why the name have been applied to this genus. From Nabthe'cium. G., narthex, a rod;

probably from the elongate, straight raceme of flowers. The name Narthex was given by the Greeks to quite a different plant,

species of Ferula, the genus from which

a

obtain Assafoetida. L., Pliny. Nasturtium, from

the

nose,

sensation

tortus,

and which

twisted;

its pungency

to the nostrils.

causes

Neoti'nea.

smarting

nas,

we

"

The

name

of this genus

was

originallyTinea, prefixed Neo, to

the younger Reichenbach distinguish it from Tinea, a well-known to which

genus

Google

of

NAMES

OF

147

PLANTS.

E. B. Tinea is L. for a moth, and small moths." Neo is a G. prefix signifying new, fresh. Such or "

names,

of Greek

composed

10, p.

good (seecanon by Linnean

considered

not

64); further, names are

rule to be used for plants

Nep'eta, Pliny.

not

allowed

(seecanon

17,

Named,

according to Linneus, from Nepi, in Italy; others say from nepa, a scorpion,

town

for whose

sting this plant was See Nepeta, under Calamtntha.

Cata'ria, Dodonaeus. "

are

65).

p.

a

Latin,

kingdom

of the animal

of members

and

considered

L., catus

From

or

latter herbarists do call it Herba

The

a

cure.

a

catta,

cat.

Cattaria, and

Herba

Catti,bicause the cats are very much delighted herewith ; for the smell thereof is so pleasant vnto that they rub themselues vpon it,and wallow tumble in it,and also feede on the branches and

them, or

leaues very greedily." Gerard. "

Glecho'ma, Linneus.

G., glechona, Pennyroyal. G., nephros, the kidneys, from the kidneyThe British species are involucres. all

Nephko'dium. shaped

included

From

sub-genus Lastrea, which by having free veins.

in the

is distinguished

Nu'phab, Smith.

Arabic, nauphar. G., referring to Theophrastus.

Nympke'a,

or

nymphs, over

Obi'one, Gartner. name

Prof. Asa

unknown,

whence

(Enan'the,

naiads of ancient mythology, rivers,springs, and fountains.

Gray

the

water

who

presided

"

Origin of the unless from the river Obi, in Siberia,

the original species

Theophrastus.

G.,

says

:

"

came."

wine, and anth, flower ; alluding to the smell of the flowers. G. PheUan'drium, Pliny. From "Dr. Both always cen,

Google

148

writes the old

PLANTS.

OF

NAMES

Phelandrium

name

; which agrees with

etymology I have hazarded in Rees' Cyclopaedia, v. 27, from pheleo, to be treacherous, alluding to the poisonous nature of the plant." Smith, Eng. Fl. an

"

(Enothe'ka,

or

Theophrastus.

(Enoth'era,

thera, searching, catching,

and

having

roots

a

or

vinous scent when

G.,

ceno,

wine acquiring; "the dried : they were

also formerly eaten as incentives to wine drinking, as was olives are ; hence the name changed from onagra, We are the ass food, to Oenothera, the wine trap. not

sure

Onob'ktchis,

E. B. that the change was necessary." Onobry'chis, Dioscorides. G., ono, or "

and brych, bray ; it is said from the animal to get at it. Ono'xis, Theophrastus. Pliny.

Onopor'dum,

from

the

upon

asses

G., G.,

ono,

ono,

ass,

ass

braying

eats it.

and perd, crepitation ;

effects

carminative when

because the

ass;

ass,

(accordingto Pliny)

they eat of it.

G., has been supposed to be the acanthion of Dioscorides, from acanth, thorn or prickle* G., ophio, serpent, and gloss, Tragus. Ophioglos'sum, Acanih'ium, Dioscorides.

tongue;

the Adders

is to the shape

Tongue

of the

Fern.

fertilefrond, which

the origin of the English name. Oph'rys, Pliny. G., ophrys, the eyebrow.

it,among some machia imparts con, same, seems

The

allusion

is also

Pliny includes

" Lysiothers, to apply to the hair : a blonde tint to the hair, and hyperi-

otherwise called corison, makes it black. The The Ophrys of Pliny too, with ophrys," "c. by his description to be our Tway-blade

(Listeraovata). The genus

by Linneus.

name

Theis

was

remarks

applied

to

this

that the calyx

in the greater part of these plants resembles eyebrow by its arched form.

the

Google

NAMES

OF

G.

Or'chis, Theophrastus.

149

PLANTS.

for plants having

name

a

double

tuberous root. Mo'rio, Linneus. an

old

Orig'anum,

From

L.,

morus,

a

fool ; Fool's Orchis,

for the plant.

name

Theophrastus.

G., ori, hill, and gan,

joy;

the

delight of the mountains, of which the species are Matthiolus remarks that with the ancient ornaments. herbalists the history of the different species of

Origanum Orni'thogalum

is various and confused. Dioscorides. G., ornitho, or Ornithog'aldm,

bird, and gal, milk. ORNfTHOPUS, Gesner. G., ornitho, bird, and pons, foot; from the similarity of the seed-vessels to a bird's foot. Orobanch'e, Theophrastus. G., orob, in this case any kind of leguminous plant, and anche, strangle ; from their

being parasitical on the roots of such plants. Osmun'da, Lobel. " After the god Thor (Osmunder)." Th6is. "

Ox'alis, Pliny.

From

of Pliny is the Rumex Oxalis Acetosella.

AcetoseVla, Linneus.

(acidus, acid

or

acid. The Oxalis Acetosella of Linneus, not his

G., oxy, sharp,

From

sour);

or

L., acet, sharp, an

or

sour-tasted

old officinalname.

Oxycoc'cos.

See under Vaccinium. G., oxy, sharp, Oxyr'ia, E. Brown. the acid flavour. G., oxy, sharp, and Oxyt'ropis.

or

acid ;

tropis, a

on

account

keel;

a

of distinguishing

character of the geiius, which has a for the two narrow-pointed keel (carina)the name "

lower petals of a papilionaceous or butterfly-shaped flower, such as the pea, which together resemble the keel of a boat. G., named in honour, it is said, of the celebrated physician Paeon, who cured the wounds which the gods received during the Trojanwar.

P^eo'nia, Theophrastus.

,

Google

150

OP

NAMES

Pan'icum,

Linneus.

PLANTS.

L., panis, bread;

From

bread.

species being used to make

some

Crus-gaUi, Linneus.

L.,

officinalname. Papa'ver, Pliny. " So

cms,

the seeds of

leg, gaUi, of

a

cock ; old

because it is administered to induce sleep." Hooker with pap (papain Keltic) The etymology is dubious. and Arnott. named

"

Argemo'ne,

G.

Dioscorides.

name

of the plant, from formerly for the cure

of its use of cataract in the eye. See Agrimonia. Called by the Greeks mecon, Rha'as, Lobel. "

argema,

on

account

Rhoia

poppy,

(rhaea) [means a Pomegranate,

which Or perhaps from the capsules somewhat resemble. to have been rheo, I flow; which derivation seems rhoia8.

generally accepted, for Dodonceus and the other botanists of that time give Papaver liquidum as the more

might have been applied on account petals,or seeds, or the milky juice of its quickly -falling which flows from the stems ifthey are broken : though, L.

name,

as

pointed

which

out by Gerard,

such distinctions are

not

applicable to this kind of poppy than to others. L., paries, a wall; the species Parieta'ria, Pliny. From more

frequently growing on walls. Par'is, Matthiolus. L., equal, on account of the regularityof its leaves and flowers. It was formerly called Herba call it Herb Paris. Parnassus, though this

Paris herba, and we From Mount Parnas'sia, Linneus. Paris,

or

"

grass of Parnassus" is by no means peculiar to that locality. It was called Grass of Parnassus (Gramen Parnassium)by Dodonseus, and others of his time. Pastin'aca, Pliny.

L. for

a

parsnip,

or

carrot ; from pastus,

food.

Pedicula'ris, Gerard. it was

supposed

Pep'lis, Linneus.

From

L., pediculus, a louse

to produce

From

a

;

because

lousy disease in sheep.

G., peplion, anciently applied to

Google

names

the genus Portulaca,

151

Plants.

of

to this'one,

now

which is similar

in habit.

Por'tula, Dillenius. Petasi'tes,

L., portulaca, Purslane.

Dioscorides.

the head,

or

From

G., petasos,

an

umbrella; on size of its foliage. Petroseli'num, Dioscorides. From

a

account

covering to of the great

G., petros, rock, and

selinon,parsley ; as it grows in rocky places. Peuced'anum, Dioscorides. From G., pence, a pine tree and danos,

a

gift;

that exudes from

Ostruthium,

on

account

It is

by Koch.*

This

an

applied

to

of nomenclature, for the plant, which

system

name

old

was

name

the Linnean

on

resinous substance

of the species.

some

Dodonseus.

Masterwort,

a

of

formerly also called Astrantia and Imperatoria. " Dodonseus Some recent authorities call this says : was

"

Imperatoria,

plant

Ostrutium,

the

as

same

well

as

Astrantia, and

Struthion, but

as

some

it differs

Struthion is an old Greek greatly from Struthion." name of Theophrastus for some unrecognized plant , and is mentioned by Pliny, who calls it Eadicula, in Latin. plants,

More as

recently it has been

to Sneezewort

(Achillea Ptarmica), and to Scarlet Lychnis (LychnisChoice-

garden plant, the donic"), which Dodonseus our

tanus.

Phat/abis,

given to different

I cannot

Dioscorides.

calls Flos Constantinopoli-

trace the meaning

of Ostruthium.

G., phal, shining;

Canary-seed

being very glossy. Phle'um, Pliny. G.,phleos9 formerly applied to the Eeed-mace, to which this genus bears some distant resemblance. *

Wilhelm

Daniel

Joseph

Koch

Ponts, in 1771, and died at Erlangen

was

born

in 1849.

at Kusel,

near

Deux-

He

published several botanical works, the most important being a Synopsis of the German and Swiss Flora. He is celebrated for his extensive knowledge of European plants.

Google

152

NAMES

G.

Trinius.

Phragmi'tes,

these

enclosure; garden name

PLANTS.

OF

name,

reeds

meaning material for an being used for thatching,

fences, "fec. Arundo given by Linneus and

to the

numerous

the

was

rities other autho-

Reed.

common

L.,

Phyllod'oce.

Phragmites

name

sea

a

of

in

nymph

ancient

mythology.

G., physa,

From

Physosper'mum.

a

bladder, and sperma,

a

seed ; from the loose covering to the seed. G.,

Dioscorides.

Phyteu'ma,

"phyteuma

(the

as

same

excellence to some medicinal plant by the ancients, but which probably to the present." bore little or no resemblance

phyton),the plant;

given

par

"

and Arnott. Pi'cris, Dioscorides. G., picros, bitter; this genus.

Hooker

Pilula'ria.

are

as

of

many

L., pilula,a littlepill; which its fructification

resembles. Pimpinei/la, Fuchs.

Altered from

L., bipennula,

or

twice

pinnate ; in allusion to the divisions of the leaves. Saxifraga.From the resemblance of the lower leaves to some

species of

Saxifraga, which

Gesner.

Pinguic'ula,

From

see.

L., pinguis, fat;

on

account

of the texture of the leaves ; hence the English Butterwort, and the French Grassette. Pi'nus, Pliny. Planta'go,

L.

Pliny.

for the plant.

name

L.

applied to

name

genus, and also to the Water origin is unknown. Coron'opus,

Dioscorides.

pons, foot ;

been much

name

crow's

From

foot.

plants of this Plantain (Alisma). Its some

G.,

Smith

coron, "

says

:

"

crow,

and

There

has

controversy respecting the Coronopus

ancient authors,

some

of

nopus, taking it for Cochlearia Coro-

of Linneus, others for his Plantago Coronopus, others for Myosurus, or for Achillea Ptarmica, while

Google

OP

NAMES

153

PLANTS.

that of Pliny seems from all these, as

by his description very different well as from what Dioscorides

intended.

It

...

to

seems

that the

me

in

name

applied by the ancients to various plants roots were crowned with radiating depressed was

question

whose leaves."

Lanceola'ta.

L., lanceolate,or

tapering to each end ; in Lanceola, or Lanceolata, was

allusion to the leaves.

for this plant, as may the old officinalname in the works of Fuchs, Lonicer, "c. It was capital letter by Linneus,

with

a

him,

so

far

I know,

as

in that way.

commemoration

mentioned. Po'a, Theophrastus. Polemonium,

G.

and

Jacob's Ladder

or

the plant having

war,

Still it should

English

our

From

Dioscorides.

milk;

from

be

L.

its reputed

for Greek

name

caused

king

a

age, about 270 to Pliny from a

war

between

claimed its discovery ! G., poly, many, and

each of them From Dalechamps.

carpos, fruit;

Polyg'ala,

after

that is worth

after Polemon,

;

two kings, who

Polycar'pon,

one

any

name

of Pontus, who died at an advanced or years before Christ; according

polemos,

not spelt

G. for Grass.

Dioscorides.

Valerian,

is it a

nor

or

be found

is Allseed.

name

G. poly, much, property

and

gala,

of promoting

the

secretion of milk. Polygon'

gonat, knee,

or

joint;

on

G. poly, many,

account

of the

and

numerous

swellings, of the root, according to Fuchs ; perhaps on account of the many nodes, or joints,

knots, or

From

Dioscorides.

atum,

or

of the stem. Polyg'oxum, knee,

Dioscorides. or

corner,

the stem,

"

as

we

From

joint;from

G. poly, many, the

numerous

and gon,

joints of

say Knot-grass. p

Google

154

OF

NAMES

PLANTS.

L., twice-twisted

Bistor'ta, Matthiolus.

(bis-torta); alluding

to its roots.

(L. Fagus,

beech,

a

is the

pyrum

It

Dodonaeus.

Fagop'yrum,

was

Triticum,

and

wheat). Fago-

in G., phegos,

name

same

also called Fagotriticum

a

beech, and

of the resemblance of the See Fagus. three-cornered seeds to beech-mast. Convolv'ulus. See the genus earlier; so called from its on

pyros, wheat ;

account

twining habit. See under Elatine. L. persicvs, a peach Persica'ria, Pliny. From account of the resemblance of the leaves.

Hydropi'per.

Polypod'ium,

Theophrastus.

po'dium,

or

and podion,

many,

littlefoot ;

a

tree;

G. poly,

From on

on

account

of the

divisions of the rhizome. G., dryo, oak, and pteris,fern ; Dryop'teris, Dioscorides. Five of our Oak Fern. British ferns have been called Dryopteris by different authorities at different

times.

Fagus),and pteris, a From

Polypo'gon.

G. phego, a beech tree (see fern. Beech Fern.

From

Phegop'teris, Linneus.

G. poly, much,

the bearded appearance Polys'tichum. "

and pogon, beard ; from

of the panicle.

From

G. poly, many, and stichos,order; to ferns in the shield rous applied allusion to the nume-

over

Pop'ulus,

regular lines of sori,which the fronds." Moore.

are

seen

distributed

"

Pliny.

L.

is doubtful.

name

It has

for the Poplar ; the derivation been

suggested that it is an altered form of palpalus, from G. pallomai, to quiver, or shake ; which the leaves of the Aspen and other Poplars

remarkable for doing. Potamoge'ton, Dioscorides. G., potamo, river, and geiton, a neighbour, They are water plants. are

Google

NAMES

Potentil'la,

From

Brunfels.

155

PLANTS.

OF

L.

potent, powerful;

on

of the medicinal virtues attributed to some of the species. It is a comparatively recent name, and was applied by Matthiolus, Fuchs, and others of

account

Gerard

Potentilla Anserina.

that period, to

gives Potentilla major as

one

of the

put

down

also

of Meadow

names

Sweet. Anseri'na,

this

Tragus.

I have

but it

name,

was

in

Tragus

common

officinally for this plant, and

opposite in his time

use

continued

in

use

for

find it in thus you may afterwards; Materia Medica for as the officinalname

time

some

Linneus'

'

'

Potentilla.

Lonicerus

"

says

By

: "

what

name

the

tilla ancients called that which we now-a-days call PotenIt is Genserich of the Germans, does not appear. as Anserina, because geese meaning the same rejoice in it for food." The derivation is from L., anser, a

goose; in English it is sometimes called Goose-grass. for it was Another Argentina, from L., old name argentum, silver; Silver-weed, the give it in English.

Frag arias'trum.

From

Fragaria It

name

we

commonly

(whichsee),on

account

called by Linneus Fragaria sterilis, and has since been called Potentilla Fragaria, and P. fragarioides. The English names of

the

resemblance.

Barren

are

Strawberry,

Tormentil'la, Matthiolus. a

name,

recent

Septfoil.

I do not

Tormentilla: reference would

By

under

Dodonseus

the older being meet

in French seem

Strawberry-leaved

and

See Raphanistrum

Cinquefoil.

as

was

Kaphanus.

this is set down

Septifolium,

with any explanation of it is Tormentille. The

to be to its medicinal properties

astringent in bowel complaints, for which L., tormina, dysenteric pains. stillused.

as

an

or

it is

Google

156

NAMES

Pote'rium,

Linneus.

"

OF

PLANTS.

G., literally a drinking cup, but in

alluding to a beverage. According to Pliny it was taken in wine, and also as a decoction mixed It is a name with honey for different complaints. of Dioscorides, but was applied by him to quite a

this case

differentplant from the Salad Burnet. Poterium, in its present application, must be taken as a fresh invention.

Theis remarks

in the preparation

"

that

the English

it

use

refreshing beverage which they drink in hot weather. It is called cool-tankard.*9 Sanguisor'ba. See genus later. Prim'ula, on

of

a

Pri'mula, Matthiolus.

or

of its being

account

L. primus, first;

From

of the earliest spring

one

flowers. Prunel'la,

Brunfels.

from

Named

the quinsy, which

it

was

brdune,

the German to

supposed

hence

cure:

called Brunella by some old authorities as Dodonseus, Bivinus, and more recently by Tournefort and Bentham, while Fuchs, Bauhin and others also

used the softer sounding Prunella. Pru'nus, Pliny. L. for Plum The Tree. 1

G.

name

was

proune.

Cer'asus, Pliny.

brought

by

L.

for the

Lucullus

from

Tree,

Cherry

Cerasus,

which was in Pontus, to

Italy.

Pa'dus, Theophrastus. by

Linneus

to

Prunus the

Bird

is the

Padus Cherry.

name

Padus

given was

the

"Metroof the river Po, and Pliny tells us: dorus, of Scepsos, informs us that this river has obtained its name of Padus from the fact that about name

its

"

source

there

are

great numbers

which in the Gallic language I know of no othfcr connection a

of Pine

Trees,

called 'padi.'" between Padus and are

tree.

Google

NAMES

G., psamme, in the sand

Psam'ma.

Pter'is,

sand ; on

on

of the plant growing

account

the coasts.

Pto/ris, Theophrastus.

or

157

PLANTS.

OF

G.,

a

fern.

Pulica'ria.

See under Inula, p. 136. Pulmona'ria, Gesner. From L. pulmo, a lung; because the spotted leaves have somewhat the appearance of lungs. Hence, according to the doctrine of signatures, that taught which such marks on plants point out

their medicinal

the Pulmonaria

uses,

was

posed sup-

to be useful in lung diseases.

Py'rola,

Brunfels.

From

L. pyrus,

a

Pear-tree ; from

of the leaves to those of according to Lonicerus.

resemblance

Py'rus, Pliny.

L. for Pear-tree

A'ria, Theophrastus.

the

Pear-tree,

a

(pyrusor py rum).

Pyrus

Aria is given by Gerard

as

the Aria of Theophrastus. Ma'lus, Varro. L., an Apple-tree.

Quer'cus,Pliny. Ro'bur, Pliny.

Bad'iola,

L.,

an

L., a^kind of Oak.

Ead/ola.

or

Oak-tree.

Diminutive

of L. radius, because

the cells of the ripe capsule diverge like the rays of littlewheel. L., mille, a thousand,

Millegrafna, Gerard.

grana, grains, or seeds ;

Banun'culus,

Pliny.

Diminutive

we

a

able, innumer-

or

call it Allseed.

of L.,

rana,

a

frog;

a

littlefrog,most

of the species growing in those moist situations where young frogs are to be found, and they flower at about the same time as that when frogs are

young. Fica'ria, Brunfels.

From

L.

a fig; ficus,

on

account

of

Jlamma,

of

the form of its roots.

Flam'mula,

Dodonseus.

L.,

diminutive

a

Google

158

NAMES

flame ;

OF

littleflame.

a

Crowfoots.

the

by the application of property possessed by most

caused

the leaves to the skin, of

ness reference is to the red-

The

inflammation

or

PLANTS.

a

Some

reference to this property

are

Gerard

of

remarks quaint

amusing. do Many

and "

This

in

he says of Crowfoots in general : to tie a littleof the herbe stamped with salt vnto vse any of the fingers against the paine of the teeth, "

which

medicine

it causeth in the tooth, by

faileth; for

seldome

greater paine in the finger than

was

whereof, the greater paine taketh away is also given to a Flammula the lesser." The name species of Clematis.

the

meanes

tongue, from the shape of the leaf; " Lingua the supposition that it is the

Ling'ua, Pliny.

L.,

a

"

so

called

on

'

" There is a herb called ' lingua which of Pliny. (Pliny'sNat. grows in the vicinity of fountains" " Hist.) Fee identifiesit with Scolopendrium offici-

of Willdenow, the Lingua cervina of other botanists" (note in Bohn's Ed. of Pliny) or the to be more Hart's-tongue Fern, which seems probably narum

"

the plant alluded to by the author. Theophrastus. G. raphanis, L. raphanns, a Raph'anus, G. raphainein, to appear quickly, radish ; from

according to Fuchs, Raphanis'trum, "

The

of

Ray.

The

repetition of

'istrum'

or

a

account

or

nation. of its rapid germi-

derivation

same

generic

'astrum'

indicates that it is of that genus,

on

name,

as

the last.

with the addition

applied

to

a

species,

a

useless or contemptible member bears a false resemblance to the

species which comprise it." E. B. Rese'da, Pliny. From L. resedo, I calm ; from its supposed "

sedative qualities.

Google

NAMES

From

Lu'teola, Ray. Luteus hence

and Eham'nus,

OP

L. lutum,

yellow.

means

weld. ;

of luteus,

yellowish. G., rhamnos,

Frang'ula, Matthiolus.

From

given to the Alder

days "

stillcalled

"

Owler

I frango,

in

break

: a name

at the time of Gerard,

Another

nigra, "black

From

Linneus.

Buckthorn.

of Linneus.

Alnus

was

L.

Buckthorn

to the time

Ehinan'thus,

or

Luteolus is the diminutive

Theophrastus.

those

dyers' weed,

that which pertains to the plant lutum

means

and up

159

PLANTS.

in

name

Aller"

(Alder,

Lancashire). G. rhin,

nose,

and anthos, flower ; from the shape of the upper lip of the corolla, which is remarkable in some species.

Dodonaeus. Cris'ta-gal'li, ; because,

comb

L., crest of

according to Pliny,

a "

cock, or cock's it has numerous

leaves resembling a cock's comb." The English is Cock's-comb, and the allusion is to the name

shape of the calyx. See under Sedum. Ehodi'ola. From

Ehynchos'pora.

G. rhynchos,

a

beak, and

spora,

a

seed; Beak-rush.

Bi'bes, Fuchs.

Eibes

applied by the Arabian physicians to a species of Ehubarb (Rheum ribes), and from a comparison its present application arose of was

a

word

the taste of this plant with that of the fruit of

our

Gooseberry.

was

name

the

applied by Linneus

Gooseberry.

unripe fig. The for the second name

L., grossus, an

Grossula'ria, Dodonaeus.

as

The

usual

-most

name

for this

plant in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was Uva crispa. It does not appear to have been known to the ancients, which

being

"

may

be accounted

chiefly confined to cold

or

temperate

for by its climates,

neglected in Switzerland, and with difficultyraised in

Google

160

OP

NAMES

Smith,

Italy." "

as

sularia

a

Fl.

Eng.

recent

PLANTS.

Dodonaeus

name,

and

gives Gros-

says the

plant

was

usually called Uva crispa. in honour of J. J. Roemer, professor of Named Roeme'ria. Botany at Zurich, who died there in 1819. more

L.

Ro'sa, Pliny.

for the Rose.

name

derived from rhodd, which both in the Greek rose-coloured. From Ru'bia, Pliny.

and

It appears

to be

in differentforms is traced

Keltic, and

L. ruber, red;

signifiesred,

from

the

or

colouring

Rubia tinctorum supplies properties of the genus. from which is obtained the Madder- root of commerce, " Turkey red," and the beautiful fast colour called several other colours, according to the chemicals it is The colouring matter brought into contact with. (alizarin) may be separated, in the form of brilliantly

tinted needle-shaped Ru

L.

Pliny.

bus,

Ru'mex,

Pliny.

crystals. for a Bramble-bush.

name

The

origin of the

name

is doubtful ; it is

used by Pliny. Aceto'sa and Acetosel'la. See Oxalis.

Hydrolap'athum,

Gerard.

Ruppius,

a

Named German

Jenensis,' who

in honour

of Heinrich

Bernhard '

physician, and

author of

Flora

died in 1719.

Rus'cus, Virgil. L. for Butcher's Broom. was

;

Water-dock.

Hydro-lapathum, Rup'pia, Linneus.

G., lapathon, Sorrel, or Dock

Gerard

says it

called Bruscus in the shops.

Sagi'na, Linneus.

L., meaning

meat

that fattens. A

given by Linneus, but it does not to these

small

seem

plants, though

name

very appropriate

it has

been

stated that sheep are very fond of them, and that this food fattens them greatly. This seems doubtful.

Google

NAMES

Sagitta'ria, Lobel.

OF

161

PLANTS.

From

L. sagitta,an arrow ; on account of the shape of the leaves. Salicor'nia, Dodonseus. L. sal, salt, and cornu, From a horn ; from the horn-like stems of the plant and its saline nature, it being

of those sea-shore plants consist chiefly of soda. Before

the ashes of which

one

from

salt, the ashes of this and important article of an other sea-shore plants were commerce, supplying what is called Barilla. was

soda

Sa'lix, Pliny.

prepared

L. for

a

Willow-tree.

Arbu"'cula, Linneus. arbor,

or

L.,

arbus,

a

Smith

with

a a

tree,

small

why

capital letter, or

a

of it is

whether

it

('Species of Plants/ 2nd ecj.)

small letter,Willdenow

a

with

capital,

among his authorities the Flora '), Withering has a

capital,and

firstis Linneus

diminutive

know

I do not

tree.

generally spelt with Linneus should be. spells it with

a

(fLapland

small letter; the later authorities use the capital. I trace the name further back than Linneus, cannot

and I do not understand with a capital letter. Cap'rea

or

is not nor

Capre'a, Linneus. an

on

what principle it is spelt

L. caper,

From name,

so

far as I

a

goat. This

can

make out, is it spelt with a capital letter by Linneus, Willdenow, it should Smith, Withering, or Lindley. Why

old substantive

and Arnott, Bentham, in the English Botany,' and by Dr. Hooker

be by Babington, Hooker last editiop of

'

('Student's Man.'),I

"

cannot

say.

The

name

caprea

originated in the reputed fondness of goats for the catkins, as exemplified in the wooden seems

to have

cut of the venerable Tragus, their namesake."

"

(Smith,

Eng. Fl.) This cut represents a goat standing on its hind legs,with its fore feet on the trunk of a Sallow, Q

Google

162

NAMES

OP

PLANTS.

and its head

stretched up as high at the catkins, which it is eating.

as

possible to get

Hedera.

I do not understand the to the Kose of the application of this name

He'lix, Linneus reason

; see

Willow, which is

sions called from the rose-like expanat the end of its branches, caused by the through puncture of an insect, which are permanent so

the winter. Myrsini'tes, Linneus.

MyrtleG. myrsino-eides ; like. old substantive name, and, as in

From

This is not

an

of Salix arbuscula and S. caprea, there seems to have been spme carelessness in the use of the capital letter,for while the Linnean school spelt myrsinites, the

case

and

Bentham

Babington,

does

the

Hooker

same,

'English Botany'

Arnott,

and

and others give

us

sinites. Myr-

be accidental. Linneus has (Salix) myrsinites and (Euphorbia)Myrsinites, but in the last This must

instance it is the Myrtites of Pliny. Sal'sola, Csesalpinus. From L. sal, salt;

on

account

of alkali yielded by its ashes

the abundance

of

(see

Salicornia). Kali.

An Arabic

name

; the same

as

alkali (seep. 17, the

Arabic article; also Salsola and Salicornia). Sal'via, Pliny. L. for sage, from salvo,I heal; on account of its medicinal repute. Sambu'cus, Pliny. L. for the Elder.

know

is supposed ment to have been given because a musical instrucalled the sambuca was made of it,but I do not what authority there is for the fact. The This

name

stringed instrument, and whatever musical instrument was made of the Elder was probably a wind instrument, a shepherd's horn in fact, for Pliny tells us : " It is a belief among the sambuca

was

a

"

shepherds

that if they cut

a

horn,

or

trumpet,

from

Google

OF

NAMES

163

PLANTS.

the wood of this tree, it will give all the louder sound if cut in a spot where the shrub has been out of hearing of the crowing of the cock." Elder stems look particularly unsuitable to strain strings from, stillit is pretty generally affirmed that the wood of the sambuca, and it used to make probable, from what Pliny says, that it was for some musical instrument or instruments.

the Elder seems

used Perhaps

was

colloquially the word

extended

the classics. EVvlus, Virgil. L.

Sam'olus, Pliny.

for the dwarf Elder,

name

Druids

"The

had

a

more

the stringed instrument

than

meaning

sambuca

have

of

Danewort.

or

given the

name

of inhumid a certain plant which samolus grows localities. This they say must be gathered fasting, '

'

with

to

left hand,

the

to which

maladies

a

as

swine

(Pliny).It is uncertain originallygiven. From Sanguisor'ba, Fuchs. I take in,

or

absorb.

preservative against the and

cattle

to what

are

"

subject."

plant the

name

was

L. sanguis, blood, and sorbeo, is a singular good "Burnet

herbe for wounds,

and commended of a number : it bleeding, and therefore it was stancheth named Sanguisorba, as well inwardly taken as outwardly applied." "

Gerard.

Sanic'ula, Brunfels.

From

L.

sano,

I heal ; because it was

used as a remedy for wounds. From L. sapo, soap. Sapona*ria, Gesner. the great ."Of for they scouring qualitie that the leaues haue; yeelde out of themselues a certaine iuice when they are brused, which scowreth almost as well as sope." Gerard. "

Sarotham'nus.

From

G.

saroo,

I sweep,

shrub ; because it is used to make

and thamnos, besoms.

a

Google

164

NAMES

Saussu'rea.

Named

Saussure,

an

OP

PLANTS.

in honour

Benedict de of Horace naturalist of Geneva, where he

eminent

philosophical professor for 25 born 1740, and died 1799. was

Saxif'raga, Pliny.

L.

sax,

stone, and

He

years.

frag,break;

was

from its

medicinal properties, in calculus diseases; according to Th6is, by analogy, from the species

reputed

rooting into rocks and breaking them up. Ge'um, see the genus. The name was applied to this plant by Magnol, and by Linneus as a trivialname. Hir* cuius, Clusius.

L.,

littlegoat ;

a

given to this

name

" the father of forren simples plant by Clusius Gerard calls him in 1611. The French name CEil de bouc, or goat's eye. "

"

Scabio'sa, Brunfels. was

L. scabies,for which

From

"

as

is

the plant

a

reputed remedy. From Columbaria, Linneus.

L. columba,

a

dove.

The

in their divisions the foot of

stem-leaves resemble

a

pigeon. Theis. L., cut ofifat the lower part, in allusion Succi'sa,Fuchs. This is an old substantive name, to the root. which is frequently though incorrectly spelt with a small "

letter. The

called Succisa Fuchsii. Fuchs does not claim to be the firstuser of the name, for he says it is to be found in old manuscripts. It plant

was

once

is spelt with a capital letter by Linneus. for some G. name kind of Chervil, Scan'dix, Theophrastus. perhaps for the plant to which we now apply it. Pec'ten, Dodonseus. Venus' name

L.,

a

comb;

our

English

name

is

which is the translation of the old Pecten Veneris.

Comb,

Scheuchze'ria, Linneus.

Named

in honour

of the brothers Scheuchzer, celebrated Swiss botanists (seep. 69). Schce'nus, Theophrastus. G. for a rush ; pronounced skeenus.

Google

NAMES

Maris'

OP

165

PLANTS.

See under Cladium. Scii/la, Dioscorides. G. and L. for Sea Onion, cub.

Scnt'pus, Plautus.

or

Squill.

L. for Bulrush;

sirpus. pronounced in scirpo quaerere," to seek a knot in a "Nodum bulrush, i.e., to seek a difficultywhere there is none, was a L. proverb.

G. holos,entire,and schwntis,

Holoschce'nus, Dalechamps. rush.

Scleran'thus,

G.

Linneas.

scler, hard,

and anthos, flower; from the hard nature of the floralcovering.

G. scler,hard, and chloe, grass. Said to be named Scolopen'drium, Theophrastus.

a

Sclerochlo'a.

'

from the

lines of fructificationresembling the feet of a scoloto have seems pendra, or centipede ; but the name

given originally to Ceterach, and not to the Hart's-tongue. Both Matthiolus and Gerard speak Scolopendrium being incorrectly given of the name

been

by

some

to this fern, the

the

name

is therefore uncertain. L. Brunfels. From

Phylittis of Dioscorides and Lingua cervina of the shops, probably the Lingua Lingua). The reason for of Pliny (seeBanunculus

Scrophula'ria,

; the scrofula

species resembling scrofulous tumours, is reported to be a remedie against those Gerard. whereof it took his name." some

roots of "

and it diseases

"

From also under Teucrium. called by scorodon, G. for Garlic. This plant was

Scorodo'nia, Linneus ;

Plukenet, Bay,

see

"

and others,

Scrofularia scorodoniae

folio."

Scutella'ria. the

From

calyx, with

L. scutella,a littledish

its appendage,

or

or

cup, which

ear,

somewhat

resembles.

Se'dum,

Pliny.

From

L. sedeo, I sit;

on

account

of their

Google

166

NAMES

manner

PLANTS.

OF

of squatting

rocks, walls, or

on

roofs, with

scarcely any soil.

Rhod'iola, Ehodia hath

Rhodi'ola, Linneus.

or

taken the

Medeterranean tooke

his

smelleth

Eose

"

radix, Eose-root.

The

Some

Rhodia

name

was old name haue thought it

in the

of the Hand

called Ehodes : but doubtlesse it Rhodia radix, of the root, which Eose : in English Eose roote, and

sea,

name

like

a

Gerard.

woort.""

Eosa.

See

Rhodi,

of

a

Eose, ola, smelling.

Tele'phium, Dioscorides. Telephus,

G.

for the Orpine ; from

name

of Hercules, and king of Mysia. Diminutive Selaginei/la. old name of Selago, an Lycopodium. a

son

Sempervi'vum, Pliny. Senebie'ra.

Named

for

L., semper, always, and vivum, living. in honour of Jean Senebier, a physiologist

of Geneva, who died there in 1809. Coron'ojm, Theophrastus. See under Plantago. Senec'io, Pliny.

From

L.

senex,

of the hoary appearance Erigeron. Jacoba'a.

From

Serrat'ula, Pliny.

an

old

;

on

account

See

of the species.

of some

L. Jacobus, James

man

;

St James* -wort.

L. serratus, saw-shaped ; alluding to the margins of the leaves.

From

Ses'eli, Dioscorides.

Sesle'ria.

Seta'ria.

G. and L.

for Meadow

name

frage. Saxi-

Named

after Leonard Sesler, an Italian physician and botanist. From L. seta, a bristle; on account of the

involucre of bristles surrounding the spikelets. in honour Dillenius. Named Sherard'ia, of William Sherard, D.C.L., F.E.S., who was born 1658, at Bushby, in Leicestershire. He

Tournefort, and

studied Botany

travelled much

on

under

the continent.

Google

NAMES

He

OF

167

PLANTS.

thirteen years Consul at Smyrna, and died 1728, at Eltham, in Kent, a place remarkable for the celebrated garden of his brother James, the choice plants of which are pictured and described in the was

Elthamensis'

'Hortus

(Eltham Garden)

of Dil*

lenius.

See p. 60. Sibbai/dia, Linneus. Named an

Edinburgh

the

in honour

of Eobert

Sibbald,

professor, who published a book on History of Scotland in 1684, with a

Natural

figure of the only British species of this genus. died in 1720.

Sibthorp'ia, Linneus. thorp, the

He

Sibof Dr. Humphrey of Dillenius in the botanical

In honour

successor

chair at Oxford.

Sila'us, Pliny.

A

name

and

unknown,

used by Pliny, but its meaning is there is great uncertainty as to the

particular plant alluded to. Sile'ne, Theophrastus. Supposed

G. 8ialon9 the saliva, in allusion to the viscid moisture on stalks of many species: whence, too, the English " Catch-fly/' name

See the genus. From G. ot, Smith. Oti'tes,

to arise from

Arme'ria.

of the leaves.

As

a

ear,

on

trivialname

of the shape Otites was used by

account

several authorities before Smith, but under a different than Silene. Silene Otites is now the generic name

generally received scarcely

a

name

substantive

for the plant, but Otites is name,

though

spelt with

a

capital letter.

Sil'ybum, Dioscorides. was

G.

name

of a kind of Thistle which Pliny tellsus : " In Cilicia,

considered edible. Syria, and Phoenicia, the countries where it grows, it is not thought worth while to boil it,the cooking of it being so exceedingly troublesome, it is said." "

Google

168

OF.

NAMES

PLANTS.

after a Siciliannymph called Symethis. Sina'pis, Theophrastus. G. and L. sinapi, mustard. Si'son, Dioscorides. " Sizun, signifyingin Keltic a running

Sime'this. Named

of the plants formerly placed in this genus delighting in such situations/' Th6is. he Amo'mum, Pliny. A name of Pliny for a plant which brook;

some

"

describes, but it has plant is, though

than half

more

suggested. It is not Sisymbrium, Theophrastus.

been

not

our

decided a

dozen

what that have been

Sison Amomum.

G. swymbrion, Water

Mint,

a

also given to several other plants, probably,

name

of this genus. among the rest, to some I'rio,Dioscorides. G., a name used by Dioscorides. Sophi'a, Dodonseus. Gerard calls it G. for wisdom.

Sophia chirurgorum," or the wisdom of surgeons, in allusion to the high repute of the herb for healing "

wounds

and

remedying

officinalname. Sisyrinch'ium, Theophrastus.

some

G.

diseases. An

given to

name

absurd

some

bulbous-rooted plant. Si'um, Dioscorides. G. sion, the meaning is uncertain. " Gerard says of Apium sylvestre,or Wilde Parsley "

(ourMarsh

Hog's Fennel, Peucedanum

that palustre)

it is named Elioselinum and Sium," almost seeming to infer that Sium is a contraction of Selinum, or Parsley. Fuchs says that it means the "oftentimes

same

as

L.

concusms

seiOyI shake ; from medicinal which Smilagi'na.

(a shock

or

shaking),from G.

the plant having attributed to it

properties similar to those of Saxifraga,

see.

Diminutive

rilla. Smilax

antiquity, who into a plant.

was was

of Smilax, of Pliny, or Sarsapabeautiful a ^fabled "shepherdess of reported to have been changed

Google

NAMES

Smyr'nium,

OF

Dioscorides.

Gerard. black.

atrum,

From

G. Smyrna,

the

same

as

the scent of itsjuice. From L. olm, a pot-herb,

and

; from

myrrha, myrrh

Olusa'trum,

169

PLANTS.

Alexanders

formerly

was

much

pot-herb, and received its L. name sombre colour of its foliage; in French

from

a

as

used the

it is called

Persil noir, i.e. Black Parsley. Sola'num, Pliny. According to some solamen, comfort, reliefor qualities of

Dulcama'ra,

L. altered from solace ; from the sedative This is doubtful.

of the species.

some

Dodonseus

; and

L. dulcis, sweet,

also formerly Amara-dulcis. bitter, Bitter-sweet

amara,

as

we

call it; because its firsttaste is bitter,but afterwards the sensation changes to that of sweetness. L. solidare,to make Souda'go, Brunfels. From

sound ; it is a

that has been

name

Comfrey,

as

plants,

whole or given to different

Self-heal, and

others, besides

Golden-rod.

Virgavfrea, Matthiolus. or

rod, and

aurea,

of flowers. Sonch'us, Theophrastus.

L. virga,a stem, branch, golden ; from the yellow racemes

From

.

G. sonchos.

"According to Theo-

from of this genus of plants comes G. sods, safe, and echein9 to have ; from its yielding a but to which species this applies is salubrious juice,

phrastus the

not clear." "

name

E. B.

sparganon, and long leaves.

from its narrow

Sparti'na.

G.

Dioscorides.

Sparga'nium,

From

G.

Pliny mentions of Broom,

withes;

Esparto,

little band;

Broom.

spartion, of Dioscorides;

the

name

in connection

which he tells us and in another part

alludes, under

a

the

of which

same

name,

a

with

kind

for making of his work he also

was

used

to what

large quantities

are

now

we

at

call

present

Google

170

NAMES

imported

PLANTS.

OF

into this country

by

the

paper-makers.

This is the Stipa tenacissima of Linneus. Specula'ria. L. speculum, a mirror, usually of burnished metal ;

Sper'gula,

on

of the shape of the flowers. L. spargo, I scatter; From

account

Dodonseus.

Spergula arvensis is

seeds beiag widely dispersed. a

the

troublesome

weed of corn-fields. from resembling Spergula. Named

Spergula'bia.

Spire'a, Theophrastus.

Derivation uncertain.

Filipend'ula, Dodonseus. dula, hanging; Dropwort

hang,

because

leaves

From

"Kegina

knobby

L. ulmus,

but

as

the

a

an

of

the

Elm-tree ; the Elm.

an

of

name

common

that he

name

uses

for is

prati," i.e..Queen of the Meadow.

G. speir,a thing twisted

Spiran'thes.

and pen-

roots

like those

something gives Ulmaria

Meadow-sweet,

thread, fill,

by threads.

being

Dodonseus our

the

it were,

as

Ulma'ria, Dodonseus.

L.

From

or

wound

round, and

anthos, flower ; referring to the twisted inflorescence. G. stachys, a spike, or ear of corn ; Stach'ys, Dioscorides.

given from the general appearance of the flower spikes of these plants. From G. staticos,causing to stop ; Stat'ice, Dalechamps. the

name

from its astringent qualities to

having been employed check dysentery.

G.

It

well

as

Dioscorides.

IAmo'nium,

the Winter-green,

G. word

limonios

as

formerly applied to to Sea Lavender. The was

pertaining to

means

a

meadow,

or

any moist grassy place.

Stella'ria,

Brunfels.

From

L. Stella,a star ;

on

account

of the star-likeform of the flowers. Holos'tca. See Holosteum.

Stratio'tes,

Dioscorides.

G.

name

Stratiotes of Dioscorides is not

for our

a

soldier. The Water Soldier,

Google

NAMES

and the much

OF

does not appear to have been

name

before the time the

among

171

PLANTS.

of Gerard,

for

names

our

so

applied mentions it

who

Lonicerus

plant, while

gives it to the Water

Milfoil. Pliny gives an account of the Stratiotes of the Greeks, and "Caesalpinus identifies it with SaJvinia natans; but Fee thinks, naeus, with Sprengel, that it is the Pistia stratiotesof LinGreat Bohn's

Ed. of Pliny.

been, the account

name

as

Forskal.

da,

"

on

Note

"

the plant may

in

have

originally on and has been

given

probably

vulnerary

at present

Pondweed."

or

Whatever

was

a

of

applied leaves.

Sile

Duckweed

property,

of its sword-shaped

account

Suced is the Arabic

appellation of

one

of the species, all of which yield soda." Hooker (See also Salicornia and Salsola and Arnott. "

Kali). Subula'ria,

Ray.

From

L.

being awl-shaped. Symphytum, Dioscorides. to

grow

together;

G.

an

subula,

the leaves

awl;

from symphyo, I make its reputation for healing

name,

from

wounds.

Tam'arix, Pliny.

The

the following may

derivation

to

seems

be quoted

"

:

"

me

doubtful,but

This genus of plants

from a Hebrew is named word tamarik, abstertion, from the reputed qualitiesof some of the species for the blood, or from the fact of cleansing and purifying This is the the branches being used as brooms.

derivation given by the best authorities ; others say from the fact of its that the plant derives its name Tambro, growing on the banks of the Tamaris, now on

the borders of the Pyrenees."

pretend

to

estimate the

"

E. B.

comparative

I do not

value

of the

Google

172

NAMES

OF

PLANTS.

leave that

writings of very high authorities,and must to my

readers.

Probably

Ta'mus, Gesner. he

name

the

alludes to

taminia of Pliny, which

uva

been

having

as

erroneously applied to another plant, but in his chapter on Black He says : " For Bryony he does not use this name. black vine properly known as the * bryonia,' ' though by some persons it is called the cheironia/ there is

a

by

and

the

others

from

differs only

(Bryonia dioica, which,

as

or

'

'

the

one

White

It

'apronia.'

or

gynsecanthe

previously

mentioned"

Bryony) "in

already stated, is black.

The

its colour, shoots

of

resemble asparagus in appearance, preferred by Diocles for eating to real asparagus, diuretic, and for its property of reducing the a

this tree, which are as

"

spleen."" Pliny Nat. Hist. Bohn.

Tamus

communis

are

still eaten

The

shoots

in Tuscany

as

of a

substitute for asparagus, to which, however, they are inferior in quality. It is there known by the name

Note in Bohn's Ed. of tamaro." Tanace'tum, Pliny. Formerly called also G. Athanasia, immortality (a not, and thanatos, death. Tanacetum, "

is according to Linneus but it seems Tarax'acum.

a

altered form of Athanasia, rather far-fetched derivation. an

See under Leontodon.

Dens~leoni8, Dodonseus.

having the

L., tooth of

a

lion. The

French

meaning, is Dent de lion, of is a corruption. Dandelion The which our name allusion is to the large teeth of the leaves.

name,

L. for the Yew-tree, perhaps from G. toxon,

Tax'us, Pliny. a

bow ;

same

as

the wood

is

an

excellent material for these

but the etymology of the name is uncertain. Named Teesda'lia, E. Brown. in honour of Mr. Bobert Teesdale, a Yorkshire botanist, who died in 1804. weapons,

Google

NAMES

Teu'crium,

OF

Dioscorides.

Troy

173

PLANTS*

ancient king of is said to have firstemployed

Named

called Teucer, who

from

this plant medicinally. BoifrySy Dioscorides. G., a bunch

Chamce'drys,

G.

Dioscorides.

and drys, Germander.

Scor'dium, Dioscorides.

ground, to Dioscorides

by

derivation

same

former is the Garlic germander,

The

the

on

chama,

G. scorodon, Garlic. The

Scorodo'nia, Cordus.

of grapes.

Applied

Oak.

an

an

the Garlic sage, of Gerard. From Thalic'tbum, Dioscorides.

as

and

the last. the latter

G. thallo, I flourish, or

shoot out.

The'sium,

Theophrastus.

Athens,

b.c.

1235,

from Theseus,

Named

of the most

one

king of celebrated heroes a

instituted to of antiquity. Festivals and games were his memory, and those were stillcelebrated with their tarch, original solemnity in the age of Pausanias and Pluafter his death. Sprengel linosays that the Thesion of Pliny is the Thesium tion phyllum of modern Botany, but from Pliny's descrip-

about

there

1200

seems

G. theseion was competed

littleground for this opinion. some plant used to form the

for at

mentioned. Thlas'pi, Dioscorides. account

Thrin'cia.

years

the

From

G.

crown

(calledTheseia) just thlao, I

flatten;

on

probably of its compressed seed-vessels. G. thrincos, a battlement; from the From

resemblance

of the seed-crown of the marginal florets

to the battlements of

Thy'mus,

games

The

a

wall.

G. thymos, perhaps from ihyob, I fragrant, but the most usual derivation is from

Theophrastus.

make

thyo, I excite; from its reputed medicinal properties; " or from thymos, the heart, from its balsamic odour

Google

174

OF

NAMES

strengthening Arnott. Serpyl'lum, Pliny.

the

PLANTS.

animal

Hooker

spirits." "

L. for Wild

Thyme.

G.

name

and

her-

pyUos, derived from

herpo, I creep ; the L. serpo, I crawl, and repo" having the same meaning, are both from this root.

Tn/iA, Pliny.

L. for the Lime-tree.

TTTJ.ff/A. Named

in honour

of Michael

Italian botanist, born

He

1655.

Botany

at Pisa, and

logus'

(Catalogueof the

'

author

of Pisa

Angelo

Professor

was

of Pisani Cata-

Horti

Garden), with fifty

plates. He died at Pisa in 1740. Tofield'ia. Named by Hudson in honour a

Tilli, an

of Mr. Tofield,

Yorkshire botanist.

Tordyi/ium,

G. tordylion.

Dioscorides.

ToEn/is,Adanson. like many

Meaning of the name of Adanson s names,

Anthris'cus, Pliny.

been

Has

not known;

it has

probably,

no

supposed

meaning. to have meant

cultivated Chervil. Dioscorides.

Tragopo'gon, pogon,

a

Trichom'anes,

From

G.

trago, goat,

and

beard ; from the bearded fruit. Dioscorides.

hair; because it

was

lie wherin to infuse, is good

"The

G.

trichoma,

a

growth of to restore the hair.

supposed it hath beene

sodden, or laid the head, causing the

to

wash scurffe ajjd scales to fall off,and haire to growe in This name places that are pild and bare." Gerard. "

formerly given to the Bristle Fern, but to Lonicerus tells us that " Trichothe Maidenhairs. was

manes

not

is Polytrichum

of the

apothecaries, which to all species of Adiantum, is common as name is also a species of Adiantum." He Trichomanes hair Maidenparticularly to our common applies the name Spleenwort,

and

this

seems

to have

been

the

Google

OP

NAMES

Gerard

general custom.

and the female.

Trichomanes,

and the second

G. tricho,hair, and

has been given.

name

firstis Asplenium

The

to be the

seems

nema,

a

same.

filament.

for what

It is not known

Trienta'lis, Cordus.

plates, the male

gives two

Trichomanes

Trichone'ma.

175

PLANTS.

L. triens means

this

reason

the third part

of anything, and it has been suggested by Theis that the explanation may be found in the plant being four

inches high

"

more

less

or

"

the third part

or

of

a

foot ; this is at least ingenious. Trifo'lium, Pliny. L. for clover, tri,three, bxlAfolium, a leaf; % as we on say trefoil, account of the ternate leaves. Triglo'chin, Linneus.

G. tri, three, and

from the three points common

or

glochin, a point; angles of the capsules in the

species.

Trigonel'la,

G. tri,three, and

Linneus.

gon, angle,

on

of the triangular appearance of the flower. Trinius, in honour of Karl Bernhard Named von

account

Trin'ia. a

German

"c, who

botanist, author of * Species Graminum,' died at St. Petersburg in 1844.

the glumellas *Trise'tum.

od, tooth ; because

G. tri,three, and

Triod'ia, E. Brown.

three-toothed at the summit.

are

L. tri, three, and

stiffhair;

seta; a bristle or

referring to the three awns. Trit'icum, Pliny. L. for wheat, from tritus,rubbed ; wheat being rubbed from the ear. Troi/lius,

Gesner.

Sw. troll, Da. being, Witches

Gowan,

"Troll-flower, the globe-flower, from trold, Fris. trol, a a

name

and

of its acrid poisonous From Tu'lipa, Gesner. an

malignant

corresponding

given to this plant qualities." Prior.

to on

supernatural

Scotch account

"

eastern

iiame

for

a

turban,

which has been variously written Tulipa, Tulipan, and Tolibum, from some supposed similarityin the flower.

Google

176

OF

NAMES

Tueri'tis, Lobel.

From

PLANTS.

L.

turris, a

tower;

leaves

the

becoming

gradually smaller upwards, so that the form. a pyramidal plant assumes Tussila'go, Pliny. From L. tmsis, a cough ; for the cure of which the plant is stillconsidered useful. Pliny. A name JPa//ara, which has been used in several forms

for Coltsfoot,

faranum,

as

Farfugium,

Farfarum,

Farfarella, "c.

Pliny says:

"

''The

Far-

Cha-

meeluce is known amongst us as the Farfarum, or Farfugium : it grows on the banks of rivers,and has a leaf like that of the Poplar, only larger. The root

of it is burnt upon cypress charcoal, and by the aid* of a funnel the smoke is inhaled in cases of inveterate Coltsfoot is stillsmoked, either by itselfor with tobacco, but Fee judiciously

cough." in

conjunction

remarks

that to inhale the smoke

described would be enough not exist before. Ty'pha,

From

Theophrastus.

in the

to create

G.

a

typhos,

here

manner

cough if it did

a

pool;

such

being the habitat of these plants. U'lex, Pliny.

A

plant which used by Pliny for some has not been certainly identified,but which may have

been

Gorse.

our

he says:

name

"

In

"Trenches

a "

chapter known

on

as

the finding of gold

'agog"'

"

have to

be dug for the passage of the water; and these, at regular intervals, have a layer of Ulex placed at the in bottom. This Ulex is a plant like Eosemary prickly, and well adapted for arrestingany pieces of gold that may be carried along." Ul'mus, Pliny. L. for an Elm-tree. appearance,

Ur'tica, Pliny.

rough

From

and

L.

uro,

stinging property. From Utricula'ria, Linneus.

I burn;

in allusion to its

L. utriculus,a littlebladder ;

Google

NAMES

on

OF

177

PLANTS.

of the little bladders

account

float the

that

plants.

Vaccin'ium,

altered from L. baccinia; plant with abundance of baccce,berries.

Pliny.

denoting

a

Probably

Myrtil'lus. From

L. myrtus,

myrtle ; littlemyrtle, account of the form of the leaves. Oxycoc'eos, Cordus. G. oxy, sharp, or acid, and coccos, a

on

a

berry.

Vi'tiS'Idce'a, Pliny.

Ida,

L., Vine of Mount in Troas.

mountain Valekia'na. Said to be from account

from

L. valeo, I

Whatever

celebrated

am

powerful ; on effects: others have said

of its medicinal Valerius, the name

Romans.

a

of several derivation may

the

celebrated have been

to be the middle ages seem .of Phu, equivalent was responsible for it. The GL name Faugh ! an expression of disgust, and to the to our

the

apothecaries

though

it is certainly an cats like it. Other names

but the

name

human

of the shops was From Columna.

Valerianel'la,

it is

Valerian, of which name Auri'cula. L., a littleear. Verbas

cum, cum,

Pliny.

from

barba,

L.

Lychni'tis,Linneus. "

Africa,

From

Thapsus near

numerous,

Valeriana domestica. some a

resemblance diminutive.

a

beard;

of its foliage. L. blatta, From

insect, which its leaves

were

to be altered from

Supposed

shaggy nature Blatta'ria, Pliny.

Thap'sus.

ill-smelling herb,

sense

were

has been

Barbas-

in allusion to the

a

supposed

Lychnis,

to

moth,

or

other

to collect.

which see. derived from Thapsus, "

in

formerly which place it is said to have barbatus was Tapsus the old officinal

abounded." for Mullein. name

s

Google

178

OF

NAMES

Verbe'na,

Pliny.

PLANTS.

"

Speaking of "

Pliny says

These

:

two

Sagmen"

and doubt

no

names

"Verbena"

originally thing a green turf torn up from signifiedthe same the citadel,with the earth attached to it,and hence, despatched to the enemy for the when envoys were "

purpose

in other words, with the

of clarigation, or, clearly demanding

objectof that had

been

always known

of these officers was

carried off, one

the verbenarius,"

as

or

"

The

verbena.

It has been having

restitution of property

the

bearer of the is dubious.

etymology of the name said to be derived from Keltic

same

signification

ferfaen,

Saxifraga, which

as

The

(L.) signified generally word verbena sacred boughs, or branches of trees that were used in religious ceremonials ; hence it has been suggested see.

that it is botane,

Veroni'ca

or

a

G. words, hiera

of the two

corruption

or

sacred plant. Veron'ica, Fuchs.

A

of the middle is very uncertain. Loniname

ages, the meaning of which king of France, cerus tells us it is called " after some Brunschwigius Others say that it is as asserts." called after the Saint of that name, and several more derivations, rather ingenious than probable, have

been suggested from the Greek, Latin, Persian, and Arabic. G., hiera, sacred, eicon, picture, seems the most likely. Beccabung'a,

Dodonaeus.

Bachbunge

name

bunch). matted

Vibur'num,

The

Changed

from

(bach, a brook,

plant growing

the and

German bunge,

a

in brooks, in closely

bunches.

Varro.

the Viburnum

The

wayfaringtree

of Virgil.

The

is supposed

derivation of the

to be name

is uncertain. Lanta'na, Dodoneeus.

Italian name

for the wayfaring tree.

Google

OF

NAMES

179

PLANTS. #

Op'ulus.

A Latinised

The

the middle ages.

English

used by Gerard, the Ople-tree, though

name

now

gone out Dictionary on

use,

of

be found

may

in Johnson's

Theis the authority of Ainsworth. Opulus was altered from Populus, the

that

says

used for the Guelder Rose in French name is obier, and an

name

leaves being similar.

Vic'ia, Varro. of the

Fuchs

quotes Varro in giving the derivation

from

name

I bind, vi{n)cio,

or

encircle,

twine

about ; in allusion to the tendrils of Vetches. to Theis it is derived from Keltic gwig.

Crac'ca,

Dodoneeus

;

according

to

According

the

whom

plants by this name were also called Arachus, from to be an altered the G. name arachon ; Cracca seems form of the word. known

Or'obus, Theophrastus. Villar'sia.

Named

(in1786)of

a

G.

for

kind of pulse. in honour of Dominique Villars,author Flora of Dauphine, and other botanical name

a

works.

Vin'ca.

Pliny gives this name at full length our vinca, and it is supposed to mean The

Wola,

derivation is the

Pliny.

same

as

as

VincaperPeriwinkle.

that of Vicia.

L. for the Violet, and it was

the Wallflower

and

Theophrastus. Nicander,*

other

"It

is

also used for from G. Ion, of

plants: called Ion,

because

according to of Ionia first

certain nymphs flower presented this of Jove as an offering. Or, according to others, because the earth brought forth this flower for the food of Io when she was changed into *

Nicander b. c.

cannot

be

a

cow."

was

a

"

Lonicerus.

Greek

grammarian,

137. His writings

highly

were

commended,

agriculture he ventured

to compose

poet, and

physician

phon, of Colo-

held in estimation, but his judgment since a

without

book

on

any

knowledge

that intricate

of

subject. "

Lempriere,

Google

180

OP

NAMES

Vis'cum,

PLANTS.

L. for Mistletoe, and also for bird-lime from it; from G. ixos, having the same

Pliny.

prepared

It is said to have been originallyderived meaning. from Keltic gwid, the shrub; on account of the in which it was held by Keltic nations. reverence in honour

Named

Wahlenbebg'ia.

of Goran Wahlenberg, published in 1812 a 'Flora

of Upsal, who

M.D.,

Lapponica/ and

other *

edition of Linneus' in honour Named Wolf'fia. an

a

or

botanical works, Flora Suecica.'

including

of J. F. Wolff, who published in 1801. Wolffia is a separation work on Lemna split from the genus Lemna.

Woods'ia.

Named '

author of

a

in compliment to Joseph Woods, Esq., ' Monograph of the British Hoses,* The

Tourists Flora/ "c, who Xan'thium,

From

Dioscorides.

died in 1864.

G. xanthos, yellow,

infusion of this plant the colour of the hair.

because

an

improve

An

Struma'rium.

a

spelt with

name

old

was

or

fair;

supposed to

plant. It is not Linneus, but by the

for the

capital letter by

application of his rules, and his general practice, is called it should be. " The lesser Burre Docke in of the Grecians, Xanihion, in Latine Xanthium: shops, Lappa

Strumaria"

"

Gerard.

and Strumus

tumour,

inuersa, and of diuers, Struma is L. for a scrofulous

minor, Lappa

was

species of Banunculus trace

cannot name

the

chelli, a

Named

used

given by Pliny to

for this complaint.

a

I

for the application of the to Xanthium.

reason

Strumarium

Zannichel'ua.

a name

in honour

Venetian

of John

apothecary

and

Jerome

Zanni-

botanist.

He

Google

NAMES

OF

181

PLANTS.

history of the

plants growing in the neighbourhood of Venice, and died in 1729. Zoste'ra, Linneus. From G. zoster, a girdle, or ribbon; which the leaves somewhat resemble. a

published

ADDITIONAL. I add the following names, which have been inadvertently With Galinsoga and the exception of Draba, omitted. Pulicaria, they which

are

have been

adopted on

recent standard works

Applied

Ape'ra.

to

by Adanson, The

Brunei/la.

of genera already mentioned, in one or other of the four most

synonyms

a

the British Flora.

section of Agrostis.

A

name

given

and probably without any meaning. as Prunella, which same see.

L., it is uncertain to what plant this name originally given. The account of Pliny describes

Cyt'isus, Pliny. was

valuable fodder plant, but from the varying statements of different ancient authors, it has been

it

as

a

that two

supposed

Cytisus,

one

the other

of which

is the Broom, From

been

mixed

have

may

It

Laburnum.

plant.

Dabeo'cia.

have

was

together

up

been at any

Lucerne, a

rate

as

and minous legu-

only British species of Cytisus otherwise called Sarothamnus.

The

St. Dabeoc,

an

Irish saint; the plant

occurs (otherwise called Menziesia polifolia)

as

British

in Ireland only.

Dioscorides

Dra'ba.

applies the

name

Drabe,

or

Arabis to

The usual explanation is G. drabe, kind of Cress. acrid, from the taste, which, if there is such a word a

having that meaning,

seems

plausible enough.

Arabis

Google

182

OP

NAMES

PLANTS.

is said to be derived from Arabia, but Gerard had a curious fancy that it was corrupted from Drabe: in "in Greeke drabe or Arabia, by a small errour "

chaunging d into a.1* The Drabe of Dioscorides was not a British plant, and the meaning of the name doubtful. seems mythological shepherd, who, it is said, required of Jupiter to grant him to be always young, the and to sleep as much as he would : whence came

Endym'ion.

A

" to express saying to sleep the sleep of Endymion," The name, botanically, is a synonym a long sleep. Whether the sleeping propensity of of Agraphis.

Endymion

had

any

connection with habit of this flower, I do not know.

G.

Eroph'ila.

the

nodding

spring, and phila, loving. "Usually combined with Draba, but as distinct as any genus in the Order.,," Student's Flora.

Eufra'gia,

ero,

synonymous

Euphrasia,

with

which

see.

In

is applied to the plant called also Bartsia viscosa. Bartsia was formerly considered by some to be a kind of Eyebright, and' Gerard calls

this

case

the

name

it Eyebright Cow-wheat.

Fagop'yrum. Galinso'ga.

See Polygonum Named

Fagopyrum.

in honour

of Don M. M. Galinsoga, a Spanish botanist. It is a Peruvian Composite, which is admitted into the British Flora as a colonist by Hooker

Halos'cias.

It grows chieflyabout Kew. and Syme. From G. halos, of the sea; a synonym

Ligusticum. Pulica'ria.

From

It grows L. pulex,

on a

rocks by the sea. flea; either from

of

its being

supposed to drive away fleas,or from the resemblance of the seeds to those insects.

Google

"n.

ADJECTIVE

NAMES;

WITH

TJiose

THEIR

*

marked

MEANINGS.

Greek,

are

the rest

Latin.

are

A.

like the Acanthus,

*acanthoi'des; acau

lis ; without

acicula'ris;

or

Bear's

Breech.

stem. or

pointed,

From

needle-shaped.

acictdus,

a

littleneedle. aculea'tus ; thorny, acumina'tus

or

Sedum

acre,

or

; acute

pointed.

aestivalis ; belonging

adj.;

flower.

to the leaf.

as

acutifo'lius ; pointed

biting Stonecrop.

to the

as

acutiflo'rus ; pointed

cestaSy

summer,

"sti'vus;

i.e., pointed.

; acuminate,

a'cris; acrid.

acu'tus

prickly.

to

From

summer.

summer,

astivus,

summer,

sub.

adj.

'

affi'nis; allied.

agra'rius ; pertaining aggrega'tus *agrosti'dea;

gathered

;

to agri,

see

*aizoi'des ; like the House-leek.

al'bus;

to L.

white.

al'bidus;

whitish.

fields.

together.

like Agrostis,

equivalent

or

p. 100.

G. ai,

Sempervivum,

ever,

which

zoon, see

living, is

p. 166.

184

NAMES

PLANTS.

OP

*aloi'des; aloe-like, alpes'tris; alpine, growing

on

lofty mountains,

alpi'nus; alpine, ; alsine-leaved. Alsine alsinifo'lius Chickweed.

the old

was

name

for

; alternate-flowered, i.e.arranged at different alterniflo'rus heights on the same stem, not opposite, "

; alternate-leaved, see last, alternifolius ama'rus;

bitter,

ambig'uus;

obscure,

bluish,

amethys'tea; would be amphib'ius;

more

or

amethyst-coloured,

amethystina

correct,

amphibious,

amplexicaul, i.e. (theleaves) embracing the stem ; amplexo, I embrace, and caulis,a stem, ampulla'cea ; bottle-shaped, from ampulla, a vessel swollen ;

amplexicaure

in the middle and having *amygdaloi'des; almond-like,

a

narrow

neck.

angula'ris; angular. angustifo'lius;

narrow

leaved, angustus,

narrow,

angustis'simus ; narrowest, anno'tinus ; an'nuus;

a

year old.

annual.

*anthropoph'ora;

man

from bearing (the man-orchis),

the

resemblance of the flower. *apet'ala; without petals, apif'era; bee-bearing (the bee-orchis).From apis, bee, and fero, I bear; from the resemblance of the flower, aquat'icus ; aquatic, i.e. growing in

or

near

aqua, water,

aquat'ilis: pertaining to water,

aquilina; pertaining to an eagle. Pteris aquilina, Bracken, presents in the section of its root a figure which Linneu3 likened to the royal eagles of his native flag.

Google

NAMES

*

OF

arachnites ; spider-like; arachne, Orchis aranif'era ;

185

PLANTS.

a

spider; the late Spider

(Ophrysarachnites).

aranea,

a

spider,spider-hearing; Spider Orchis,

(Ophrysaranifera). arhor'eus ; arbor,

a

tree, tree-like.

arc'ticus; arctic, from

G.

the

arctos,

Great

Bear,

or

northern constellation ; the North Pole. arcua'tus ; in the form of a how (arcus).

arena'rius ; pertaining to sand

(arena). argen'teus ; silvery (argentum, silver). aromat'icus ; aromatic ;

articula'tus;

aroma,

spice.

jointed; articulus,a joint.

arundina'cea ; arundo-like. Arundo, a reed. a arven'sis; inhabiting ploughed fields(arvus, as

per, as'pera, as'perum

;

field).

rough.

asper'sus; sprinkled. atra'ta ; clothed with black. au'reus

; golden ;

aurum,

gold.

auranti'acum ; orange-coloured. name given to the Orange

Citrus aurantiacus is the of the golden for trivialname

on

account

colour of its fruit; in this place a one (Hieracium). of the Hawkweeds

auric'omus ; auri, of gold, and Goldylocks. auri'tus; provided with

ears

coma,

hair ;

or,

we

as

say,

an (auris, ear).

austra'lis; southern. autumna'lis ; belonging to the autumn.

resembling the Oat (Avena). diminutive of avicula're; pertaining to littlebirds (aviculus, is applied to that species of avis, a bird). The name avena'ceum

;

Withering, which we call Knotweed. " The seeds are useful for quoting Linneus, says : in which those of the next species every purpose

Polygonum

"

(Buckwheat)are

employed.

Great numbers

of small T

Google

186

OP

NAMES

PLANTS.

birds feed upon them ; cows, goats, sheep, horses and swine eat it. The stubbles in Sweden are purpled with this plant." a'vium ; of birds ; Bird-cherry birds, over

(Prunusavium); food for

axillaris; axillary,i.e. arising from the axil of

a

leaf.

B.

bacca'tus; bearing berries.

barba'tus; bearded. bi'color; two-coloured.

flowering in the second year of its growth and then dying. biflo'rus; two-flowered. bien'nis ; biennial,

or

bifo'lia;two-leaved. biner'vis; two-nerved. borealis; northern. *brizoides ; like Briza,

or

Quaking-grass.

*bromoi'des; like Bromus.

Brome-grass,

or

Oat-grass.

bulbif'era; bearing bulbs.

bulbo'sus; bulbous.

C. cseruleus; blue. caerules'cens; bluish. ; bluish gray. caB'sius csespito'sus; from caspes, literallya sod cut out, or turf. Used in botany to tufted,or csespitose. signify calca'reum : pertaining to lime.

campes'tris ; pertaining to canes'cens;

a

field(campus).

grayish.

cani'na; pertaining to a dog; as we "c, signifyinginferioror rose,

say Dog-violet, Dogcommon.

Google

NAMES

capilla'ris;capillary

or

OP

187

PLANTS.

hair-like. A

applied to

name

a

its leaves are small species of Carex by Linneus; fixed to hair-like very slender, and its fruits are pedicels.

capita'tum; headed.

kind of cotton sedge, having an almost round flower-head; caput, a head. Applied to Rampant capreola'ta; from caper, a goat.

Applied

to

a

Fumitory. carina'ta ; carinated, i.e. keeled, referringto the fruit. carpinifolius ; hornbeam-leaved. caryophylla'cea ; clove-scented. A castan'eus ; like a chestnut.

applied by Smith to an alpine rush, probably from its colour. Flax. cathar'ticus; purging, as Buckthorn and Mountain

looking towards the ground. *cheiranthoi'de3; like the Cheiranthus, or Wallflower. cer'nuus

;

bending,

name

or

chlor, green, antha, flower; the Butterflyorchis, though its flowers are scarcely green. Applied by Smith to cicuta'rium ; from cicuta, hemlock.

*chloran'tha ;

Stork's-bill,referring to

the plant called Hemlock

the shape of the leaves. : cilium, an cilia'ris

; cilia'ta

same

eyelid, with eyelashes ; fringed.

the last.

as

Applied to circina'tus; from circinus,a pair of compasses. a form of Water-crowfoot, the outline of the leaves of which

are

circular.

ciner'ea; ash-coloured. cinnamon. cinnamo'mea; Rose.

Name

clandesti'na; hidden, concealed. " sedge, which is remarkable fertile spikelets, which

are

large membranous stems

are

by the leaves/* "

given to

Name

a

Rose,

given to

mon Cinna-

a

little

for the few flowers of its concealed

sheaths,

Hooker

by

the

as

the short

comparatively

and Arnott

Google

188

OP

NAMES

PLANTS.

from

clava, a branch or club. branching Lycopodium, or Club-moss,

clava'tum;

Applied

to

a

a tendril ; provided with tendrils, clavicula'ta; clavicvla,

coeno'sus;

muddy,

colli'nus; pertaining to

a

hill,

columbi'nus ; pertaining to

como'sus;

resembling

dove,

a

common,

communis; commuta'tus;

or

changed, hairy, ; compressed,

compres'sus

conglomera'tus ; gathered into

a

ball,

con'icus; cone-shaped. *conop'sea;

from conops,

coralli'na; red coral.

a

gnat,

I suppose

in reference to the colour

of the seeds, corda'ta; heart-shaped, cornicula'tus ; bearing littlehorns, corylifolius; hazel-leaved (Corylus). corymbo'sus;

corymbose,

i.e. the kind

of inflorescence

represented in the Pear, where a number of flowers form an even head, though the flower-stalks are of different lengths, rising from

different parts of the

stem,

cris'pus ; crisped, or curled, crista'tus; crested. *crithmoi/des ; like Crithmum,

or

Samphire,

croca'tus ; saffron-coloured,

shortened, cuspida'tus; from

cur'tus;

manner

of

a

lance, i.e. pointed in the lance, broad at the base and narrowing cuspis,

a

to the summit.

D.

*dasyphyl'lus; thick-leaved.

Google

NAMES

OF

*daucoi'des; like the Daucus, decol'orans ; becoming

189

PLANTS.

or

carrot.

deprived of colour.

*deltoi'dea; delta-like,or triangular.

demer'sus ; immersed

in water.

denta'tus ; dentate, i.e. toothed. denticula'tus; denticulate, i.e. finely toothed.

den'sus ; dense, set close. depaupera'tus ; impoverished, starved. digita'ta; digitate,i.e. like the fingers in arrangement. dilata'tus; spread out. *dioi'ca; literally two plants,

or

such

habitations(di oica). Dioecious "

as

plant, and the female dissec'tus; cut asunder.

have a

on

male flowers differentone.

the

on

one

dis'tans; standing apart. *dis'ticha; from dis, double, and stichos,a row or line diur'na ; (flowering in)the daytime. Thus Lychnis diurna is contrasted with L. vespertina, which flowers in the

evening. divi'sus; divided.

divuTsus ; torn asunder. domes'ticus ; pertaining to a house du'bius ; doubtful, or obscure. dumeto'rum

;

(domus),cultivated.

(growing) among bushes (dumeti).

E.

ebractea'tum ; leaves.

ebracteate, i.e. without

*echinoi/des; like ela'tior; higher,

an

echinus,

or

bracts

or

floral

hedgehog,

more

elevated, elatum is not a ela'tum ; similar to the last. Hypericum British plant, though it finds a place in some of our

Floras.

Google

190

NAMES

OF

PLANTS.

elonga'ta; elongate,lengthened, extended. ensifo'lia; from ensis, a sword, sword-leaved. erec'tus;

erect.

ericeto'rum ; of, or pertaining to, heaths. *eriophorus; wool-bearing.

excel'sior; higher, comparative of excelsus. applied to the Ash (Fraxinus

This

is

name

one of excelsior),

our

finestforest trees ; it is given by Bauhin, and probably

refers to the height of the tree.

exig'uus ; small, exim'ius ;

mean.

uncommon,

rare,

extraordinary.

exten'sus ; stretched out, extended.

falca'tus; falcate,i.e. sickle-shaped, farino'sus ; mealy, like the Bird's-eye Primrose, fastigia'tus; becoming pointed. It is a name instance, to the Lombardy

form of the tree, fat'uus ; foolish, silly,or wild, as fire,or Will

o'

given, for

Poplar, and refers to the

we

say Ignis fatuus, wild

the Wisp,

ferrugin'ea ; the colour of iron rust, a leaf), ficifolium; fig-leaved(Jici, of a fig; folium, filifor'mis ; filiform,i.e. thread-shaped

(JUi-formis).

fis'sus; cleft,

fistulo'sus;fistulose,i.e. hollow a

or

pipe-like. From

fistula,

hollow reed,

fla'vus; yellow, flaves'cens; yellowish. flexuo'sus ; flexuose, i.e. bent in alternate directions,

fluitans; floating,on

water,

fluviat'ilis ; pertaining to rivers, foe'tidus; stinking.

Google

OP

NAMES

foetidis'simus; most stinking. fonta'na ; (growing) about fountains, fragif'erum

191

PLANTS.

or

springs. Strawberry Clover

strawberry-bearing. The in fruit is much like strawberries, ;

frag'ilis ; fragile,brittle. frutico'sus; fruticose,i.e. shrubby ; frutex, a shrub, fruticulo'sus; a littleshrubby, suffruticose. fuTvus; tawny, fu'cus; red, derived from which

was

used

as

the

name

of

red dye and

a

a

Lichen

as

(fucus)

rouge for the

cheeks, fus'co-a'ter; dark black.

G. ; provided with a small skull-cap. galericula'ta same meaning as Scutellaria,which see.

gemmip'ara;

Much

the

producing leaf-buds. knotted. ; jointed,

geniculars *geranoi'des ; geranium-like. gib'ba ; gibbous, i.e. having

a

swelling at

part of the

some

surface.

gigan'tea; gigantic. gla'bra; glabrous, i.e. smooth, without hairs.

glandulo'sus ; having a remarkable supply of glands. *glau'ca; glaucous, i.e. bluish gray, used to express bloom which

covers

the leaves of many

the

plants.

globo'sus ; globose, i.e. spherical, or globular. 'era

globule-bearing. glomera'tus ; formed into a ball.

globulif

;

glutino'sus ; gluey, sticky. *glycyphyllus;

sweet-leaved.

gracilis; graceful, slender. gracilen'tem; of graceful habit.

Google

192

NAMES

OP

PLANTS.

; large-flowered. grandiflo'ra ; large-leaved. grandifo'lia

gramin'eus: grassy. granula'tus; granulated, having granules. In granulata the reference is to the roots.

Saxifraga

graVeolens; heavy-smelling, gutta'tus; spotted. From gutta, a drop.

H.

hasta'tus; from hasta, a spear, hastate, i.e. spear-headed, hedera'ceus; ivy-like. hedersefoTius ; ivy-leaved. herba'ceus ; herbaceous.

Salix herbacea, the herb -like Willow ; from its small size. *heterophyllus ; differently-leaved,as a species of Potamogeton (Pondweed). *hexan'dra ; hexandrous, i.e. six-stamened. hirci'na; goat's. hirsu'tus; hirsute, i.e. covered with long stiffhairs, hir'tus; rough, hairy. his'pida ; hispid, i.e. covered with long, very harsh hairs. *holoseri'cea; entirelysilken. Name given to a Willow, with reference to the flower,

hordeifor'mis; barley-shaped, humifu'sa; ground-sprawling, hu'milis; lowly.

hyTxridus; hybrid. hyema'lis ; belonging to hyems, winter. *hyperbo'rea ; arctic,literallybeyond Boreas, north. The a supposed people in the extreme *hypnoi'des ; like hypnum, or moss.

that is the extreme

*hypoglot/tis; hypo, under, and

the north, Hyperboreans were or

north.

glotta, tongue.

A

name

Google

NAMES

OF

given by Linneus

to

a

193

PLANTS.

kind of Milk-vetch.

I cannot

trace his meaning,

hyssopifolium ; hyssop-leaved.

f

imbrica'tus; imbricate, i.e. arranged the slates of a house-roof.

one

another, like

over

impa'tiens; impatient.

inca'nus ; gray, hoary. incarna'tum ; this name

species of Trefoil,but its meaning is not very apparent : it might mean fleshy, or not fleshy, or reddish coloured, or producing is given to

flesh,being incarnatum

a

valuable fodder plant. Trifolium is called in English " Crimson Clover,"

but the flowers

a

crimson ; indeed one incarnatum is "Trifolium album

are

of its synonyms

not always

It is not spicatum." inci'sum ; cut into. incur'va; curved, bent, infes'ta; troublesome.

or

an

indigenous British plant.

bowed.

infla'ta; inflated (asthe calyx of Bladder-Campion). inna'ta ; innate, inborn. I do not trace the exact application ; the

name

is given to

an

orchid called Corallo-

rhiza, of which the spur is adnate,

or

growing to the

ovary.

ino'dora ; not scented. interme'dius ; intermediate.

"

interrup'ta; interrupted. inunda'tus ; inundated,

growing in involu'ta; literally,turned inwards, intricate,obscure. of Rose.

as

Name

a or

marsh. involved, hidden,

given by Smith

to

a

kind

irrig'ua; wet, soaked. u

Google

194

PLANTS.

OP

NAMES

jun'ceum; juncus-like.

lacinia'ta; laciniated, i.e. irregularly cut up

into

narrow

segments. lacus'tris; pertaining to lakes. lseviga'ta; smooth,

free

"

erroneously lavis lae'vis ; see the last. *lamprocar'pus

;

from "

From

roughness.

levis,

(White).

bright-fruited.

lana'tus; woolly. lanceola'tus ; lanceolate, i.e. lance-shaped.

lapathifo'lium ; Dock-leaved.

*lasiophyllum

;

shaggy-leaved. *lathyroi/des; Lathyrus-like. latifo'lius ; broad-leaved. lax'a ; slack, loose, not rigid.

(Ledum, Labrador

Ledum-leaved

ledifolium;

in

our

Tea, cultivated

gardens).

lendi'gerum ; nit-bearing, Nit-grass. nit and a lentil. lepori'na ; pertaining to

a

hare

Lens

both

means

a

{lepus) ; Hare's-foot Carex.

little tongue) lingulate-leaved a (lingula, (Hawkweed).

lingula'tum; "

limo'sa; muddy.

linarisefo'lia Toad-flax). ; linaria-leaved (Linaria, linic'ola; from

Linum,

Flax.

of Rye-grass, from some linophyl'lum ; flax-leaved.

A

name

given to

a

species

resemblance.

littora'lis ; pertaining to the shore.

Google

NAMES

loba'tum;

OF

195

PLANTS.

lobed.

lolia'cea; lolium-like ; Lolium, Darnel.

longifo'lia;long-leaved. lu'cens; shining. lu'cidum ; shining, bright.

lupuli'na; pertaining to

a

It

clearly understand. to

a

species of Medick be

may

like the

Humulus,

meaning I do not applied by Linneus

The

wolf. was

(BlackMedick). The meaning

Lupulus.

See

Lupulus,

under

p. 134.

lu'teo-al'bum ; yellow-white. lu'teus; yellow.

M.

*macrorrhi'zus ; great-rooted. macula'tus;

spotted.

great.

mag'nus;

belonging ; (maialis) majalis

to May.

May

is the month

dedicated to Maia, of Greek mythology, who was daughter of Atlas, and the mother of Mercury.

the The

according to fancy. spelling with i ovj is very much Some spell Apuleius, Apulejus ; Leucoium, Leucojum; John, Iohn

"

pronounced

(Johan)Yohan Ja

ja (German

in the German,

by the way,

the corresponding Arabic is spelt in England Yah fashion)

; and

name

ya.

ma'jor;greater. ma'jus;greater. margarita'cea ; pearly, margarita, mari'nus;

max'imus;

pearlv

marine.

marit'imus ; belonging to the mas'cula;

a

sea.

male.

greatest.

me'dius; middle,

Google

196

NAMES

,

OP

PLANTS.

*micran'tha; small-flowered. milita'ris; military, the Military Orchis, resemblance in the flower to

some

a

on

account

of

helmet.

min'imus; smallest. minor; less. mi'nus;

small.

mi'te ; mild, pleasing, gentle,agreeable.

mollis; soft. monta'na

;

pertaining to mountains. musky.

moscha'tum; mucrona'tus a

an

; from muero,

botanical term,

a a

i.e.

sharp point, mucronate,

as

stiffpoint, abruptly terminating

organ.

multicaulis ; many-stemmed. muralis ; mural, i.e. pertaining to walls. a fish armed with sharp prickles, murica'ta ; from murex, i.e. covered with firm short points or muricate, excresences. a (from mm, muri'num; to Hordeum Applied

mouse), murinus, mouse-like. in (murinum) Way-Bennet,

reference to its spike, or it might be referred to a mums, wall; for the plant grows both by waysides and

on

walls.

belonging to walls. 'era a fly,fly-bearing, the Fly Orchis. ; from mmca, muscif nation moss; moss-like. The termimuscoi'des; from muscus, ; of

muro'rum

or

is Latin. oides is Greek, but muscus such hybrid names. strongly condemns

Smith

N. na'na;

na'tans;

dwarf,

swimming,

nemora'lis; pertaining to

a

grove.

Google

NAMES

nemoro'sa

pertaining to

;

197

PLANTS.

OP

grove, but not

a

so

good

name

a

the last,for the strict meaning is (a country)full of groves. I use the word grove in preference to wood distinction between a as nemorosa sylvatica, and as

though nem'orum;

we

call Anemone

Wood

nemorosa,

Anemone.

of groves.

ni'ger,ni'gra,ni'grum ; black. nigrescens; blackish. nigritellus; literally black applied to

a

species of Eush

but

black country,

or

earth,

called the Black-headed

Jointed Rush. ni'tens; shining. ni'tidus; shining, or luxuriant. Applied, for example, nivalis; pertaining to snow. beautiful Alpine Gentian.

to

a

no'bilis; noble, excellent, superior. noctiflo'ra; night-flowering.

nodiflo'rus ; flowering at the nodes. term, is that part of

bud

a

The

stem

node,

as

from which

nical bota-

a a

leaf-

knot, and thus stems may be s"id to be divided into varying lengths by nodes, knots, or joints. proceeds.

The

word

nodus

means

nudicaulis ; naked-stemmed. Well applied to plants which nudiflo'rus; naked-flowered. flower at times when the leaves have disappeared, or Crocus, and our have not yet grown, as autumnal

garden Yellow Jasmine. nu'tans;

nodding. *nymphfleoi/des; Nymphsea-like.

Nymphasa,

Water-lily.

0.

oblon'gus; oblong. obtusiflo'rus; blunt-flowered. Juncus

Thus

there

are

contrasted

obtusiflorus and J. acutiflorus.

Google

198

OF

NAMES

PLANTS.

obtusifolius; blunt-leaved. *ochroleu'cum

; literallypale

certain idea of:

no

coloured Clover.

white, which is a colour I have it is applied to the sulphur-

Say cream-coloured.

*octopet'ala; eight-petalled. odora'tus;

(sweet-) smelling.

or sold in shops. ; officinal, officinalis

olera'ceus ; garden-stuff,pot-herb, culinary vegetable.

ol'idum; ill-smelling. ophioglossifo'lius; ophioglossum-leaved, like the Adder's-tongue (fern).

or

having leaves

oppositifolium ; opposite-leaved. orientals; eastern. ova'ta;

ovate, oval, or egg-shaped.

ovi'na ; pertaining to

a

From

ovum,

an

egg. Sheeps' Fescue-grass. sheep (ovis\

palles'cens ; rather pale. pal'lidus; pale. palu'stris; pertaining to

paludo'sus; marshy. panic'ea ; like Panicum,

a

or

marsh.

Panic-grass.

panicula'ta; paniculate, i.e.bearing panicles. A panicle in is that manner Botany of inflorescence, or bearing flowers, of which we have striking examples in Oats and

Quaking Grass

application

branched

to

; but

principally used in Grasses, it is used also for any

raceme.

though

(Seeracemosus.)

paradox'a; paradoxical; applied to puzzles the botanists.

a

dubious Carex

that

parvifolia; small-leaved. par'vulus; tiny.

Google

NAMES

199

PLANTS.

OF

pat'ulus ; standing open. pauciflo'rus; few-flowered. pectina'tus; pectinate, i.e. divided in the pecten,

or

manner

of

a

comb.

peduncula'tus ; pedunculate, i. e. provided with peduncles. A pedicel is a flower-stalk carrying a single flower, the plant is called pediand where such is the case cellate. A

peduncle

usually

which

is the general flowering axis

bears

several

flowers, attached

to

pedicels.

pen'dula; hanging. *pentan'dra; pentandrous,

i.e. having five stamens.

*peploi'des ; peplus-like.

See Euphorbia

Peplus.

peren'nis; perennial.

perfolia'tus; perfoliate, where there are united at the base, so that the stem

opposite

leaves

appears

to pass'

through the leaf. This is illustrated in Chlora, and in one of the Claytonias, which is rapidly spreading in our

country,

both

of them

having the trivial name

perfoliata.

perforatum ; perforate; applied to a species of St. John's(Hypericum). If you hold a leaf of it up wort against a good light, you observe what look like holes are

perforations. These are really glands well illustratedin the Myrtle family. or

*petrffi'a; (growingin)rocky

they

(places).

a peach ; peach-leaved (persicum, persicifo'lia

phse'um;

:

tree).

purple.

phoeni'ceum;

purple-red.

phylicifolia; phylica-leaved. Buckthorn

Phylica,

a

plant

of

the

family, grown in gardens.

pilo'sus; pilose, i.e.hairy.

pilulif'era:pilule-bearing. Alluding to the fructification. Ex. Urtica pilulifera; Carex pilulifera,"c.

Google

200

NAMES

OF

PLANTS.

pimpinelloi'des; pimpinel-like. Hybrid

mus-

see

name;

coides.

piperi'ta; (piper, pepper) peppery. Pepper-mint. of Mentha

Alluding to

a

species

"

planicuTmis ; flat-stemmed, like Plantago,

plantagin'eus ;

Plantain

or

(as

to

the

leaves). *platyphyl'la ; broad-leaved, plica'tus; plicate, i.e. folded like fold,

poet'icus; poetical,one

of many

a

fan.

From

senseless names:

plico, to

Narcissus

cissus. Narpoeticus, "poet's" (or more correctly poetical) it has littleto recommend it, the Though name

was

given by Linneus.

polifolia; polished -leaf. *polyrhi'za; many-rooted. *polysper/mum

; many-seeded,

porrifolius ; leek-leaved

(porrtm,leek),

portulacoi'des ; purslane-like, or

prse'cox; precocious,

early ripe,

praelong'us; very long, praten'sis ; pertaining to

a

meadow

(pratum).

*prenanthoi'des ; prenanthes-like. As a botanical term, lying procum'bens ; procumbent.

on

the ground,

prolifer; proliferous, i.e. that produces abnormal buds. Ex. Dianthus prolifer,childing or proliferous pink, pubes'cens ; pubescent, i.e. covered with short and soft hairs,

pulkella ; pretty. puTcher, pul'chra, pul'chrum ; beautiful,

pulchella, pronounced

resembling, a flea. Fleagiven by Linneus in reference to the

pulica'ris; pertaining to, carex,

a

name

or

seed.

Google

NAMES

OF

201

PLANTS.

pulverulen'tus ; pulverulent, i.e.

covered

with

dust,

or

(pulvis).

powder

puncta'tus ; punctated, dotted. Ex. Carex punctata, dotted

fruited Sedge, pun'gens;

pungent,

purpu'reo-caeru'leum ; purplish-blue, purpu'reus;

purple,

pusil'lus; very small, insignificant.

Q. quadrang'ulum

four-cornered.

;

R. ; from

racemo'sus

racemose,

racemus,

a

i.e. bearing

bunch

or

cluster of grapes, cence ; the kind of inflores-

racemes

exemplified in the currant, where the main flowering axis throws off a succession of flowers. radicans, of which the rad'icans; rooting, as Trichomanes "

creeping rhizome is continually throwing out roots, waterwhich fix the plant firmly to the stones about falls. radica'ta; rooted, especiallywhen roots are remarkably long. Ex. HypochsBris radicata ; long-rooted Cat's-ear. ramo'sus

; ramose,

i.e. branched.

A G. termination to ranunculoi'des ; Ranunculus-like. L. name ; see muscoides. Rampion. rapunculoi'des ; Rapunculus-like ; (Rapunculus, See Campanula

a

Rapunculus).

rariflo'ra;few-flowered. reclina'ta; reclined ; spreading

on

the ground.

reflex'um ; bent back. remo'tus

;

distant,as

are

the spikelets of Carex remota,

"c.

re'pens; creeping. x

Google

202

NAMES

PLANTS.

OF

rep'tans; creeping. reticulata, from reticulum,

finely netted ;

little net;

a

reticulated,

be observed in the veining of dicotyledonous (or two

as

may

leaf of a plant if held to the light, any

rhamnifo'lius ; Rhamnus-

or

seed-leaved).

buckthorn-leaved,

rig'idum ; rigid, stiff. Ex. Aspidium rigida. from ripa, the bank of ripa'ria, banks of streams,

rivula'ris,rivulus, brooks, ro'seus

;

or

a

a

rigidum,

stream

small brook;

;

or

Lastrea

pertaining to the

pertaining to

small

rose-coloured,

rosmarinifolia ; rosemary-leaved,

rotundifolius ; round-leaved, rubella; reddish, ru'ber, ru'bra, ru'brum ; red.

given by Linneus rubigino'sa ; the colour of rust. A name to a species of Rose, from the rusty appearance of the leaves,

ruderale, from

rudus9 rubbish ; pertaining to old rubbish of buildings, as plaster, broken stones, "c.

rufes'cens; reddish, ru'fus; red. rupes'tris,from rupes,

sacchara'tus ; sugary.

a

rock ; pertaining to rocks.

(Saccharon,sugar, of Dioscorides

and Pliny.) ; arrow-leaved; sagitta,an arrow, sagittifo'lia ; Salix-leaved. (Salix;willow.) salicifo'lia

to a species of Lactuca salig'na; willow-like, given leaves. having narrow lettuce),

(or

Google

NAMES

OP

203

PLANTS.

sanguinalis ; causing effusion of blood, sangttis. blood-coloured, applied to different plants sanguineus; and different parts of them ; Rumex sanguineus, in reference to the leaves ; Cornus sanguinea, the twigs ; Ribes sanguineum, the flowers. sati'vus; cultivated, from

sero,

satum,

to

sow,

plant,

or

propagate. ; pertaining to rocks. saxat'ilis sca'ber, sea bra, sca'brum; scabrous, i.e. rough, covered

with very stiffshort hairs. scelera'tus; wicked ; applied to the celery-leaved crowfoot

(Ranunculus)on

account

its juices.I have

of the extreme

acridity of

celery-leaved to be taken

known

for the literal meaning of sceleratus, on account of the similarityin sound ; an odd, though not unnatural an as mistake, which may at least serve aid to the memory.

scopa'rius; from

hence

scopce, thin twigs

"

also used for besoms; for making besoms. We

speaking of broom -tree,

and

scoparius the

mean as

the

though

we

name

was

means

fit

thing in

same

said besom-

tree.

scutella'ta;salver-shaped; (Veronica)scutellata,alluding, I suppose, to the capsule of two flattened orbicular

lobes.

secali'nus; secale-like; not our seakale, but the se-ca-le of Rye. It was Pliny, which means a name given by Smith to a species of Carex, which is also called hordeiformis,

or

barley-shaped.

secun'da ; flowers turned of Wintergreen

in

one

direction, as in

This (Pyrola).

a

species

apparently curious

use

word, which we should naturally take to mean only second, is explained by its derivation sequunda followingeither in rank, or

of

a

order).

Google

f

204

NAMES

OF

PLANTS.

sedoi'des; Sedum-like. or segetes. seg'etum ; pertaining to corn-fields, Selago. ; Selago-like. See Lycopodium selaginoi'des

sem'idecan'drum ; half ten-stamened. sempervi'rens ; ever-green. se'pium; of hedges, as Convolvulus

sepium, growing in

hedges,

septangula're; seven-cornered, The word refers to the seven septentriona'le; northern. (septem)stars in the constellationof Charles' Wain, the Great Bear, situate in the northern part of the heavens, or

sero'tina; late in season. ; Serpyllum-leaved. serpyllifolia seta'cea, from seta,

a

See Thymus

Serpyllum.

bristle; bristle-like,

sexangula're ; six-cornered, sim'plex; simple, sinua'ta,from sinus,a fold, or

hollow ; sinuate, i.e. with wavy margins of the leaves, sol'idus; solid; not hollow, solstice, ; belonging to the summer solstitia'lis

somnif'erum;

sleep-bearing,

as

for instance the Poppy

bear), (Somnus,sleep ; fero, yielding opium. "sphaeroceph'alum; round-headed; sphaira, a ball; cephale, a

head,

spica'ta; spicate,i.e. bearing flowers in spikes. A spike is that kind of inflorescencewhich consists of numerous flowers sessileon the axis of growth, as for instance, Plantain. Spica was an old substantive the common for Spikenard (called Spica indica) name and also for Lavender,

spinosis'sima; most thorny; well applied to the little Burnet Kose, with itsinnumerable prickles, spino'sus ; thorny,

or

prickly.

Google

NAMES

OF

205

PLANTS.

spu'rius ; not genuine. squal'idus ; squalid, inelegant, ugly. i.e. covered with processes spreading at right angles, or in a greater degree. Juncus

squarro'sus ; squarrose,

squarrosus.

Viola stagnina,

stagni'na; pertaining to stagnant water. inhabits bogs and fens.

; stany, Saxifraga stellaris, stella'ris Stella,a star. stfclla'tum; arranged like a star.

stellig'erum ; star-bearing. like

stellula'ta; arranged somewhat ster'ilis;barren. as

stipula'ris; remarkable

to the

a

star.

stipules.

Stipules

are

those appendages at the base of the leaf-stalkswhich like little leaves. In many are plants they are they are small, in others large, wanting; in some while in

they supply the place of leaves in Lathyrus Aphaca, which has no true

some

cases

altogether, as leaves, but large stipules, the leaves being represented by tendrils only. stria'tum; streaked. stric'tus; growing erect, conspicuously.

strigo'sus; strigose, i.e. covered adpressed hairs. suberec'tus; not

with

rough,

quite erect, but nearly;

strong,

sub, under,

or

slightly erect. subero'sa ; suberous, i.e. of the cork ;

submer'sum

subterra'neum on

fruit, a

a

corky texture

(from suber,

oak). submerged. ; subterranean

; applied to

a

foil, species of Tre-

peculiarity in the ripening of its be found in all description of which may

account

of

a

hand-books. subula'ta,from subula,

an

awl ; subulate, i.e. awl-shaped.

Google

206

OF

NAMES

PLANTS.

succi'sa. See Scabiosa Succisa. ; succisa-leaved. succissefo'lia

suffoca'tum ; suffocated, applied to

a

small Trefoil.

given to supi'num ; supine, or lying on the back ; a name the dwarf Cudweed (Gnaphalium)by Linneus. sylvat'icus; pertaining to a wood, silva. Silva is accounted sylves'tris; living in woods.

sylva, though botanically sylva is the " Silva," a usual form ; yet we have Evelyn's

correct more

more

than

discourse

on

Forest trees.

*sys'tyla ; styles united ; two Greek words

given to

name

a

kind of Eose

:

the

sy(n),together ; and stylos, a

are

column.

T.

tanacetifolia ; tanacetum,

or

tansy-leaved.

taraxacifolia; taraxacum,

or

dandelion-leaved.

tecto'rum;

of roofs. temulen'tum ; drunken, with reference to the effects.

tenella; rather slender. tenuiflo'rus; slender-flowered.

tenuifo'lius; slender-leaved. ten'uis; slender.

tenuis'simum ; most *tephrosan'thus,

head

and flower, or

slender.

the tephra, ashes (sprinkled over clothes in token of grief); and anthos, flower; a name ash-besprinkled well from

given to the

Monkey

Orchis, from

ash-colour of its flowers. teretius'cula; rather terete, i.e. rounded;

the prevailing

applied to

a

kind of Carex, of which the straw is roundish, most of the sedges having three-cornered stems. terres'tre ; pertaining to the land.

Google

NAMES

*tetrag'onum;

OF

four-kneed,

20?

PLANTS.

or

*tetran'drum;

cornered. i.e.four-stamened. tetrandrous,

*tetrasper'ma;

four-seeded,

thapsifor'me ; thapsus-like. thyrsiflo'ra;

Thapsus.

See Verbascum

thyrsus-flowered, i.e.

having

the

kind

of It is

inflorescence called in botany by that nan^e. represented in the flower-bunches of the Lilac, where the flower-stalks in the middle of a dense panicle

(see paniculatus)are

longer

those

than

at

the

of thyrsus in Latin is meaning the stem of a plant, and it was used to signify a staff entwined with Ivy and Vine-shoots carried about at the feasts of Bacchus,

extremities.

tincto'ria; used

as

The

dye-stuff.

useful for tormina, gripes or colic; applied the fruit of which to the wild Service-tree (Sorbus),

torminalis;

formerly for complaints of the bowels, and generally supposed by Gerard and others to be the Sorbus torminalis of Pliny, was

used

tomento'sus;

cottony down;

*trachyod/on; which

i.e. covered

tomentose,

tomentum

throat-toothed; the

name

means

an

entangled for stuffing cushions. with

ahorse-tail

(Equisetum),to

is given, being remarkable

for the

teeth of its sheaths,

trem'ula ; shaking, quaking, tremulous. *trian'drum; triandrous, i.e. three-stamened. *trichoi'des ; hair-like,

tricolor ; three-coloured, tricor'ne; three-horned.

*tridactylites;three-fingered, alluding to the divisions of the leaves of the littleSaxifrage to which the name is given,

tridenta'tus; three-toothed, tri'fidus;thrice-cut.

Google

208

NAMES

PLANTS.

OF

A glume is the covering of the

triglu'mis; three-glumed.

reproductive organs of the spikelets of grasses. *trigy'num; three-pistiled.

triner'vis; three-nerved. triparti'tus; thrice-divided.

*triphyllus; three-leaved. triquet'rus; three-cornered.

trisul'cus; three-cleft(orfurrowed).

trivialis; trivial,common. tubero'sus; tuberous. U. uligino'sus ; growing in marshy places, uligines. of inflorescence umbella'tus ; umbellate, i.e. the kind illustratedby the Carrot, Angelica, Sweet Cicely, "c, where several stalked-flowers proceed from one point, so as to resemble an umbella, littleshade, parasol, or

umbrella. umbro'sus ; growing in shady places. undula'tus ; undulate, wavy. uniflo'ra; one-flowered.

See triglumis. uniglu'inis; single-glumed. urba'num ; literallybelonging to the city or town ; but by having several other meanings, as polished, metonymy was cultivated,urbane, "c. Its application to Geum some

ur'bicum.

fancy of Linneus', that I do not

See

last. In

applied to the

this

upright

which grows chieflyon A name of Linneus'. u'rens

;

case

the

Goosefoot

stand. quite under-

trivial name

is

(Chenopodium),

dung-hills and among

rubbish.

burning, stinging.

usitatis'simum ; most common, to the flax of commerce

or

ordinary; well applied

(Linum).

Google

OF

NAMES

ustula'tus; scorched.

The

pretty

called, because the flowers white

209

PLANTS.

are

below, presenting the

Orchis ustulata is so firstdark above and appearance

of having

been scorched. V. va'gans; wandering.

vagina'tus ; sheathed, vagina,

a

sheath.

variega'tus ; variegated. verna'lis ; pertaining to spring, ver. ver'nus

;

spring,

adj.

versicolor; of varied colour, or changing colour, case of Myosotis versicolor.

as

in the

in verticils, or ; verticillate,i.e. arranged verticilla'tus thus, vertex, a whirlwhorls, from verto, I turn; pool. vesica'rius; like a vesicus, or bladder ; thus Carex has its fruit broadly ovate, inflated. "

vesicaria

vesperti'na ; belonging to the evening ; flowering then.

with long, soft hairs, and

villo'sus; villous, i.e. covered

having

a

woolly appearance.

vimina'lis; suitable for making

baskets,

as

the osier.

habitat very coma monly vinea'le; pertaining to vineyards; Allium vineale, given for species of Allium. literally vineyard-leek, we call in garlic,for we have no vineyards, but they occupy

a

Crow-

English on

the continent

good deal of ground.

; violet-coloured. viola'ceus

vi'rens ; green and flourishing.

virga'tu3 ; virgate, i.e.

long

and

straight like

a

wand

(virga). virtdis; green.

viro'sus ; full of poison.

visca'rius; viscous, sticky, like bird-lime. Y

Google

210

NAMES

visco'sus ; the vulga'ris;

same

as

OF

PLANTS.

the last,

common.

or generally known, vulga'tus ; commonly vulpi'nus; fox-coloured, vulpes, a fox.

Z. ; trivial zostersefo'lius; zostera-leaved (zostera, grass-wrack) for a kind of Pond-weed name (Potamogeton).

Google

APPENDIX.

looking

On be

too

the first part

over

names

whose

are

Though

plant-nomenclature,

briefly treated

Johnson, for

for

not

and

have

been

I allude

original, which

to

upon

work

first 'English

most

of

popular

each

Herbal'

Floras,"

the

service in giving Parkinson

knowledge

us

book

a

on

forest

since his time.

in England

:

they

may

instruct

timber.

us

about

We

may

he

"

duced introwrote

perhaps

done

other

work,

of these

five

botany

of popular

field-botany,

flower-gardens,

country.

Evelyn

any say

good

gardens,

and

has

the fountain-head

physic-gardens,

fruit-gardens, and

We

our

on

Lastly,

the

"Local such

of

fruits;

than

the

writing

done

has

which

in this country

that they form

botanists

botany,

or

trees,

name.

commenced

into England.

for their culture

either before

and

Turner

originated

of the plants

vegetables

culinary

garden-rhubarb us

which

basis

a

the

of

the earliest writer in England

was

for flowers,

of

compilation

able remark-

Thus,

besides

Johnson

Gerard,

as

served

and

.Physic-gardens, in England, potato

very

service to

was

worthy

do

to

been

of whom has

continually

much

Turner,

to

improve.

and

Herbals.

are

therefore

introduced of the

books have

especially

Evelyn,

botanists

of considerable

something

cultivation

more

may

and

the

Gerard

for

they

Parkinson,

others

wrote

whose

to

seems

English

old

and

have

of, they

in England.

Botany

some

of

known,

well

quoted.

with

taken

slight notice

there

of this work

medical-

kitchen-gardens,

still gather

frpm

them

Google

212

APPENDIX.

much valuable and interesting information, which cannot be had from any other source; and if we what remember had been scanty accounts published of British

previously

plants, and

plants that

we

country,

were

but

cannot

commonly

admire

their

cultivated in this

great

knowledge

of them, gained by direct observation, as well as their industry and learning. I therefore add a few notes on these old writers, and also a few others of matters that I had to my knowledge, either overlooked or that have recently come in the hope that they may not prove without interest.

I

indebted for several of these notes to a very much tion interesting " Sketch of the progress of botanical investigain Middlesex, with biographical notices," appended to M.B., the 'Flora of Middlesex/ by H. Trimen, and am

W.

T. Dyer,

B.A.;

also for

and

some

fresh records

to articles in the and Parkinson Horticulture' about these old Herbalists.

Gerard

Grete

'The

of

'Journal

of

Herbal.'

"

Several editions were indeed published, but without improvements; We have that of 1526 is the best known. seen

copies dated 1526,

is said to

have

*

Mandrake

has

so

appeared

Middlesex.')I have of 1561, which

1529,

a no

late

(withoutfigures).One as

1561."

('Flora of

tolerably complete copy of the edition figures excepting two fanciful ones, "

the male/ and

'

Mandrake

William

I add

1539

the female.'

Turner.

few notes

about William Turner, who is known Father of British Botany." the Living in the disturbed reigns of Henry VIII., Edward a

"

as

VI., Mary, a

and Elizabeth, and being a clergyman who took lively interest in the religious controversies of the time,

Turner

alternately lived in England, with high preferments,

Google

213

APPENDIX. i

the continent, where he had to take refuge from persecution. He was elected a Fellow of Pembroke Hall in 1530, and

on

and

held the

fellowship in 1538.

same

About

this time he became

Latimer's disciple,embracing with enthusiasm the principles and about 1540 he left Cambridge, of the Keformation;

England

travelled about

and

In consequence,

preaching.

' he probably, of refusal to subscribe to the Six Articles/* imprisoned for some was time; and, on his release in 1542, he was obliged to leave England, to which he did not return

until after the death of Henry

devoted much

VIII.

his absence he intimate with the

During

time to Botany, and became

great naturalist Gesner, and other eminent took the degree of M.D. at Ferrara. his return

On

to

England

in 1547,

favour, for the

men.

Turner

He

also

to

seems

king made him a Prebend the Duke of of York and Canon of Windsor; him his Somerset, Lord Protector, appointed physician ; and

have

been

in high

new

the University of Oxford granted him the degree of M.D. on In 1550 he was his appointment. made Dean of Wells. On the He was also a member of the House of Commons. death of the king and

the accession of Mary,

had

Turner

again (1553)to take refuge abroad, and did not return to England until after her death. Queen Elizabeth restored preferments, and in 1563 presented in Somersetshire. The him to the rectory of Wedmore, to have been latter years of his life appear spent at all his church

to him

Wells and in London, where he had a house He died on July 7th, 1568, and was Fryers/ 9th, in the south-aisle of St. Olave's, Hart

A

Friars. *

one

'

The

decreed

stone,

statute of

the

kind,

vows

buried

on

of transubstantiation,

of chastity, private

Offenders

were

masses,

the

is let into the

Six Articles,'published in 1539 by Henry

acknowledgment

auricular confession.

in the crossed

Street, Crutched

by his widow,

erected

'

communion

VIII., in

celibacy of the clergy, and

punishable

as

heretics.

Google

214

APPENDIX.

of the east-wall, on which the Latin inscription is stilleasily legible. He left two daughters and a son.

corner

Turner's

general, of which

theological, medical, botanical, and listis given in the ' Flora of Middlesex,'

are

works a

One

already mentioned.

titles of his controversial works : * The hantyng Foxe, which more the Romyshe than fynding out

curious and

to illustratethe

will serve

example

"

of

hath

bene

hyd

the bisshoppes among of Englonde, after that the Kynges Hyghnes had commanded hym to be dryven owt of hys Realine.' Basyll, 1543. 12mo. seuen

yeares

Published

of Willm.

the pseudonym dedicated to King Henry VIII. under

Turner's Herbaria

first botanical work, '

(new pamphlet

Wraghton,

and

called 'Libellus de

Re

Botany),was

printed in London in 1538. It was a quarto tract of twenty pages, in which are noticed the localities of several plants in his novus

native county of Northumberland

on

; and these

are

the earliest

In 1548 he pubprinted records of the kind in England. lished 'The Names Herbes in Greke, Latin, Englishe,

of

Duche, and Frenche, wyth the commune ries and Apotecaries use/ London.

from whom

His

names

that Herba-

The

preface is dated Sion House, the residence of the Lord Protector, to the book is dedicated. '

Herbal,' by which Turner is best known, appeared The firstpart, dedicated to the Duke of at differenttimes.

Somerset,

was

published

in 1551:

it is called 'A

New

Herball, wherein are conteyned the names of Herbes in Greke, Latin, Englysh, Duch, French, and in the Potecaries and Herbaries Latin; with the properties, degrees, and ; gathered and made by Wylliam naturall places of the same Turner, Phisicion vnto the Duke of Somersettes Grace.' It

folio book, containing ninety-four leaves in all. ' The Fuilliam Turners Herball, wherein are seconde parte

is

a

of

"c,

conteyned/

was

published at Cologne in 1562;

and the

Google

215

APPENDIX.

third part at the

place in 1566.

same

collected together into

one

alterations"

were

Elizabeth.

In this work

are

volume, with

in 1568,

published

Herbal

Pulteney:*

is thus mentioned

Ascham

a

by

to which

priest, and vicar of Burnishton, he was VI. preferred by Edward

liberal education,

expected,

species

Ascham.

of Anthony Ascham,

in Yorkshire, a

additions and dedicated to Queen

"

"Anthony

after

"

some

of threfchundred

upwards

Anthony

The

three parts

natives of England.

as

given

The

would

have

,

it might have been him from such delusion,

which,

secured

gave himself up to the study of astrology, on which subject he published several tracts. He wrote also * On the LeapYear ; and the following : 'A Lyttel Herbal of the properties newly amended of Herbs; and corrected, with certain -

'

additions at the end' of the boke; declaryng what herbs have influence of certain starres and constellations, whereby may be chosen the best and most lucky times and days of their ministration, which is daily appointed

in the Almanack.

and gathered in the year M.D.L., xii.Feb., by Anthonye

Made

Ascham,

Physician.

Lond. Eeinbert

"""

:"o

1550.

12V

Dodoexs:

in his edition of Gerard's Herbal, following account of the work of Dodonseus :

Johnson,

gives the

"

"

Dodonqm,

Rembertm

in Brabant, He

about first set forth turned

was *

'

a

this time, began an

with

Historical and Biographical its Origin

from

System.'

Richard

By

to

some

Sketches

born

to

history in Dutch,

into French,

in England,

Physician,

which

by Clusius

additions. of the Progress

F.R.S.

Mechlin,

write of Plants.

the Introduction

Pulteney, M.D.,

at

An.

1560.

of Botany

of the Linnsean

1790.

Google

216

APPENDIX.

And

this

Mr.

Henry

into English by of French Lyte, and set forth with figures, Ann, Dom. divers times since printed, but without figures.

1578 ; and

In

the

translated out

was

yeare

Dodonseus

1552

set

forth in Latine

his

historia,'and, within a while after, his ' Florum et deleteriorum historia.9 And purgantium afterwards he put them all together, his former and those his later

'Frugum

Works,

and

into 30

books, and set them This edition figures,in fol. Ann. 1583.

diuided

,

forth with 1305

them

foundaalso translated into English, which became the tion I shall shew hereafter. It as of this present Worke,

was

since been

hath

few

some

new

printed

in Latine,

figures; and

with the addition of of late in Dutch, Ann. 1618, figures,and most of those in

with the addition of the same the Exoticks of Clusius, and great store of other additions." Bum's "'A

briefe Epitome

of Plants

out

Little of the

of the most

Dodeon. new

Herball, "

exquisite,'

"c.

History

or

The

author

of this curious littlework, of which there is a copy in the Bamme, I suppose, British Museum, was, the William alluded to by Gerard in his chapter on the Thorn-apple: " The iuice of Thorne apples boiled with hogges grease to the forme of an vnguent or salve, cureth all inflammations "

whosoeuer, all maner of burnings or scaldings,as wel of fire, by boiling lead, gunpowder, as that which comes water, lightning, and that in a very short time, as myselfe haue found by my daily practise, to my great credite and profite. The

firstexperience

L'obel,

a

marchants

came

wife

from Colchester, where there, being

most

mistresse

greeuously

in any or cure with lightning, and not'finding ease other thing, by this founde helpe when all hope was past, by the report of master William Ramme, publike notarie of the

burned

saide town

was

perfectly cured."

Google

217

appendix.

John These from

additional notes about interesting articlein the

an

February The

Gerard. Gerard '

Journal

chiefly taken of Horticulture,'

are

18th, 1875.

date of Gerard's birth cannot

certainty. There

is no

be

ascertained with entry of his baptism in the Nantwich

registers from 1539 to 1545, the only early entries, and all It has, to the year 1572. subsequent ones, are lost down therefore, been

inscription round Herball,' which in English is

derived from

the Latin

his portrait prefixed to his ' " Portrait of John Gerard, of Cheshire, citizen and surgeon He was born of London, in the 53 year of his age, 1598." "

at Nantwich, and went

to school in the

same

neighbourhood, He says of Cardamine Herbal.' as appears from his prain Cheshire tensis that it is "called at that Namptwich '

where I had my beginning, Ladie smockes," and of Eubus idseus, "I haue found it among the bushes of a cawsey I went neere to vnto a village called Wisterson, where schoole,two miles from the Nantwitch in Cheshire." Gerard's first publication was his ' Catalogue of Trees, ,

Shrubs, and Plants, both Indigenous and Exotic, growing in the garden of John Gerard, citizen and surgeon of London/ It is dedicated to Lord Burleigh, and occupies eighteen small

The plants pages in double columns. alphabetically, from Abies to Zizyphus, and

quarto

arranged 1039 in number.

Gerard

was

There

is

are are

second edition of this work. the firstcultivator of the potato in England; a

in both editions of appears and, in the portrait which his 'Herball/ he is represented with a sprig of the He was plant in his hand. chairman of the company of

Barber- Surgeons, which two even among the early Greeks

Chirurgeons

were

occupations and Eomans.

were

conjoined, The

Barber-

incorporated here in 1436, and their Hall z

Google

218

APPENDIX.

side of Monkwell

the west

on

was

Ward.

These

two

1546,

passed

which

occupations

were

Street, in Farringdon separated by

forbade barbers performing

a

statute,

any

other

surgical operation than drawing teeth; so that, though the company stillexisted, its occupation was gone. It is certain followed the profession of barber, but of that Gerard never "

surgeon and herbarist." After the long period gardener to Lord years"during which he was he

seems

was

employed

"

over

twenty

Burleigh, it

I. and his queen; for the following : " Anne, queen

by James

among the public records are of five shillings,by way of fine of England, "c, for the sum paid by John Gerard, of London, surgeon and herbarist to "

the king, and for other considerations ; but especially of his approved

singular and

art, skill,and ministrie in planting,

nursing, and preserving of plants, pear-trees, flowers, and fruits of all kinds, do grant and let to him one garden plot containing about two acres, to be held by him ("c.) ....

the feast of St. Michael next ensuing, for the term of the queen's life,and for twenty-one years, paying annually a rent of fourpence, to be paid quarterly, and yielding for our

from

of the year a convenient quantity of herbes, flowers and fruits, growing in the said garden, by the art and industry of the said John Gerard, if they be lawfully demanded of him." own

at the

use

But

little

more

proper

seasons

is known

about

Gerard.

That

he

is shown by a remark in his of England the " Firre, or Deale-tree," of which he says : found likewise in Pruse, Pomerania, Liefeland,

travelled out chapter " They

on are

"

especially in Norway ; where I haue seene goodliest trees in the worlde of this kinde, growing vpon Russia, and

the the

without any earth about about them, or any other thing, sauing a littlemosse heere into the rootes, which thrust themselues the and there rockie and

craggie mountaines,

almost

chinkes and cranies of the rockes, and therefore

are

easily

Google

219

APPENDIX.

cast downe

mentions

with any extreme gale of winde." He frequently differentEnglish counties which he seems to have

visited; but it is somewhat curious that we should know so littleof such a well-known man ; and it is no slight credit ' to his Herbal* that it alone should have preserved Gerard's "

household

name

to

down

incorrectly by Johnson,

us

as

a

know

We

nothing of his private life,whether he was married or single,whether he was wealthy, or in fairly good circumstances, pr poor, Even the time of his death was except by set word."

conjecture.

since.

and

has been '

The

repeated ever culture,' Journal of Horti-

writer of the article in the which has been already mentioned,

says:

"

"All

As who have written about him state that he died in 1607. he lived and died in Holborn, it would have been easy to

consult the registers of St. Andrew's Church, in that parish ; but no one did until within a few days of my writing ever this I turned over the parchment leaves of those well-kept "

"

" Mr. John Gerrard, registers,and in them found this entry : freeman of the Barber-Chirurgeons, buried the xviii.February, "

That would have been 1612, had the year then, in January. commenced

1611." now,

Gerard

as

evidently a parishioner of consideration, for he is the only one in that and other years with the prefix of " Mr." All others have, at the most, merely their christian was

recorded, whilst too many " A poor man," or useless record, as

and

surnames

"

have such a totally A maid from John

Smith's, buried this day." Thomas

Johnson,

as

a

Johnson.*

botanist, is especially remarkable

for introducing

the useful plan of carefully examining the Floras of small districts,and next for his new and much enlarged * Historie of Plants.' He published a edition of Gerard's *

See

"

Flora of Middlesex.1

Google

220

APPENDIX.

expedition in a narrative, dated July 13th, 1629, of an company of ten to investigate the plants of Kent, which has been described as " A pleasantly written account of one for

of the herborising excursions, which

years it had

some

to make the practice of the company at intervals. This is the first printed account of a botanical excursion An appendix of three pages gives us the in England." Heath, on August to Hampstead results of a similar journey

been

In

1st, 1629.

Johnson

Hampstead

on

growing

1632

a

published

Heath

and

the

list of plants

neighbourhood, occupied by a

pages, six of which are " This catalogue may be considered as catalogue of names. the first'Flora* of a small districtprinted in England." Johnson's edition of Gerard's 'Herbal' is dated, in his consisting of

letter to Octob. was

seven

reader, "From He tells us 22, 1633. the

"forced

to perform

my

house

on

Snow-hill, that he

in his Appendix

this task within the

compasse

of a yeare," which, considering the extent of the work and the abilitywith which it is performed, shows him to have been an expeditious writer,and one who well understood his Notwithstanding subject.

the many

excellencies of Gerard's

popularity, a new and improved edition in the tvas greatlywanted, by reason errors of the numerous Johnson remarks of Gerard : " His chiefe original work. is,that he out of a propense good will to the commendation

bo^ancTitsgreat

"

aduancement

publique

therein

performe which

was

more

of this knowledge, endeauoured to than he could well accomplish; of sufficient learning, as he himselfe saith of himselfe in the

partly through

want

(besidesthat which chapter of Water Docke) may be gathered by the translating The sentence of diuers places out of the Aduersaria." to which Johnson alludes is creditable to Gerard, as showing his modesty, other instances of which are not wanting (see ....

account

of the Goose-tree, p.

46). It is as follows : "

"

Other

Google

221

APPENDIX.

distinctionsand differences,with the temperature and euery other circumstaunce, I leaue vnto the learned phisitions of London

our

this

colledge

matter),as

a

(who

are

very well able to search into

thing far aboue

reach, being the whole framing my

no

graduate, but a countrie scholler, as this historie doth well declare : but I hope my

of

good meaning best, not doubting

will be well taken, considering I do my but some of greater learning will perfect that which I haue begun according to my small skill,especially the ice being broken

him,

vnto

and

the

rough

woode

hewed

to

his

handes." The

additions'made by Johnson to Gerard's 'Herbal' are so numerous that it is almost entitled to be considered a new book ; and to treat it all as Gerard's work, as is done by Smith

(in Eng. Flo.),who

this edition, is not correct.

quotes

The

"Gerard"

always from

additions of plants amount

to 800, and of figures 700 ; and the additional matter

to and

the

corrections of the original are of great extent and importance. Another merit of this work of Johnson's is that he clearly points out where and to what extent he has

altered the original. He

adds

an

appendix

of forty pages

and thirty chapters with this proem : "An Appendix or Addition of certaine Plants omitted in the former History. " The Preface. "

"

Hauing

Master

run

through

the history of plants gathered by

both by the and much inlarged the same, addition of many figures and histories of plants not formerly contained in it, and by the amending and increasing the

Gerard,

history of sundry of those which before were therein treated of; I finde that I haue forgotten diuers which I intended to haue added in their fittingplaces: the occasion hereof hath been, my

many

businesses, the troublesomnesse,

and aboue

all,the great expectation and haste of the Worke,

whereby

Google

222

I

APPENDIX.

forced to perform this task within the compasse of a yeare. Now being constant to my first resolution, I here was

haue,

as a

made

leaue, and my time would giue me briefe collection and addition

method) of such doubt

there

are

offered themselues to

as

sundry

others which

are

serue,

memorie

(though without me

; and without

as

fittingto be

added as those ; and I should not haue bin wanting if time had permitted me to haue entred into further consideration In the meane time take in good part those that I of them. haue here presented to your view." "seems Johnson to have been as good a soldier as a botanist, for he distinguished himself greatly in the war, and

became

Rawdon.

lieutenant-colonel to Sir Marmaduke

In 1642, the University of Oxford made him a Bachelor of He did Physic, and in the next year he proceeded to M.D. not,

however,

live long

physician, for

on

to

September

practice his profession 14th, 1644, during

a

a

as

skirmish

with the rebels under Colonel Eichard Norton, at the siege of Basing House, he received a shot in the shoulder, * whereby contracting a feaver, he died a fortnight after.' He was * regretted,being, we are informed, no less eminent in the garrison for his valour and conduct as a soldier,than famous for his excellency as an through the kingdom herbalist snd physician.'

much

"

John John Parkinson

was

Parkinson.*

born in 1567, for the inscription

his portrait,published in 1629, states that he

was

on

then in

his sixty-second year. The place of his birth is not known, but is supposed to have been somewhere in Nottinghamshire. The

greater part of his lifewas spent in London, where he followed his profession of apothecary and herbalist, a profession which does not appear to have been very *

See

'

Journal of Horticulture,' June 24th, 1875*

Google

223

APPENDIX.

lucrative,and therefore Nevertheless Parkinson

much honoured. spent a long life,evidently with He satisfactionto himself and benefit to his countrymen. was assiduous in the collection and cultivation of new was (perhaps)

plants, and tellsus that he had "travell,"

or,

as

we

not

spent nearly forty years in

spell it, "travail," to acquire

now

a

knowledge

of plants; and, not satisfied with his own researches, he contributed to the expenses of one botanist to enable him to search some for new parts of Europe displeased with him, for he, " going," plants, but was justly Parkinson as says, "into Spaine, almost wholly on my littleelse for my money charge, brought me seeds of #than Chiceling Peas." Yet he gave seeds to others ; so that " I beate the bushe, and another catcheth and eateth the bird." Then,

also,

now

as

at all times, there

and

patrons of botany, merchants, and others who ; and Parkinson

mentions

his collection : " Mr. Nicholas Lete,

some

were

well-to-do

were

of ance assistof those who helped

"

a

worthy

merchant,

and

a

lover of

all faire flowers." "

Mr. John

de Franqueville imparted

to

me

many

good

things." "

Mr. John

Gordier

(Goodyer),a great lover and curious

of plants, who hath found in our country many plants not imagined to grow in our land. I wish there were many more of his minde, that not hindering their affairesat searcher

spaire times would

be industrious to search out and know bringeth forth where their occasions are

what the ground to be." (SeeGoodyera.)

made a fine collection of flowers, fruits,and herbs. Thus he says of roses : " I have of roses to furnish this garden thirty sorts at the least, every one notably differentfrom the other both in form, colour, and

Altogether, Parkinson

"

smell;"

while of tulips he had

one

hundred

varieties; and

Google

224

so

APPENDIX.

He

throughout.

on

he makes

introduced

our

garden

rhubarb, "I haue a

of in these words: kinde of round leafed Dock growing in my Garden, which from beyond Sea by a worthy Gentleman, was sent me which

mention

Mr. Dr. Matth. Lister,

this title,Raponticum it

ever

was

seen

or

"

of the King's Physitians, with

one

verum,

known

and firstgrew with me, elsewhere in England,

before

w^ by like vnto the true Rubarbe, or

proof I haue found to be so the Eha of Pontus, both for forme and colour, that I daresay it is the very true Rubarbe, our climate only making it lesse

strong in working, lesse heauy, and lesse bitterin taste." ' Paradisus.' "

#

His

two

one on gardening, and works have already been mentioned general botany titleof the firstwork in fullis "

"

the

on

other

(p.50).

The

"

IN

'PARADISI

SOLE,

Paradisus Terrestris:* or,

A Garden

of all sorts of pleasant flowers which our English ayre will permitt to be noursed vp : with a Kitchen garden of herbes, rootes, and fruites,for meate or of all manner

vsed with vs, and an Orchard of all sorte of fruit bearing Trees and shrubbes fitfor our Land, together with sause

the right orderinge, planting, and

their

vses

and

vertues.

of London,

Apothecary

presenting of them, and Collected by John Parkinson,

1629/

It

was

dedicated

to

the

Maria). (Henrietta

queen

A second edition of the ' Paradisus* appeared years after the death of its author.

in 1656, six

* Parkinson's other work was Botanientitled, Theatrum the Theater of Plants, or an Herball of a large cum: at length what the work extent.' The title-pagestates more

"

contains *

:

"

Collected by the many

yeares travaile,industry,

The translation is ' Park-in-sun's Terrestrial Paradise.'

Google

225

APPENDIX.

experience in this

and

of London, the Kings

by subject

John

Parkinson, Apothecary

the King's Herbarist.

and

Published

Majestyes especiall priviledge." 1640.

by

This work

dedicated to the king.

was

died in 1650, and the register of burials of St. "1650, Aug. 6, Martin-in-the-Fields contains this entry: Parkinson

"

Parkinson

John

his portrait

we

sepultus." Guided by the inscription on thus learn that his death occurred in his

eighty-third year. '

Paradisus* that it is not only the firstwork we have of its kind, but that it shows so much and is written in so pleasant acquaintance with the subject, a a very excellent gardening style, that it still remains We

may

say of Parkinson's

book. John

John

Evelyn

in Surrey, the seat of Evelyn, Esq., October 31st, 1620. He

born

was

his father, Richard was

descended from

Evelyn.

a

at Wotton,

very ancient and honourable

settled at Wotton His firstinstruction was

family, which

Shropshire

in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. received in the free-school

from which he was removed in 1637, and was then placed at Baliol College, Oxford, where he remained three to the years studying diligently. After this he removed at Lewes,

Middle In 1644

Temple,

London,

he left England

he remained

some

to acquire to travel

some on

knowledge

of law.

the continent, where

years, returning about 1651.

In 1647

he

to Sir Richard recommended Browne, the king's minister there, he became acquainted he shortly afterwards with his only daughter Mary, whom he became possessed of Sayes-Court, married, and by whom was

in Paris, and,

near

Deptford.

Here

being

he took up his residence, and lived

very retired life,the violence and

being very repugnant

a

confusion of the times

to his studious and

gentle temper. 2A

Google

226

APPENDIX.

suggested it to his friend Boyle, to establish a retreat, where the lovers "of virtue and science might shelter themselves from the accidents of the it

had

He

In

times.

even

in mind,

1699

he

succeeded to the family estates, and he passed the remainder where of

to Wotton, removed his life. "

and

lived through the troubled times of Charles L, Cromwell, Charles II.,James II., and William ; and without surrendering any principle, or condescending to any flattery, he

Evelyn

preserved from persecution by the respect universally accorded to his character. He lived in intimacy with men was

of all persuasions; and few foreigners, distinguished for learning or arts, left England without visitinghim."* Evelyn died in the eighty-sixth year of his age, 27th February,

1705"6,

and

buried at Wotton.

was

"

by his desire, bears this inscription :

His tomb,

Living In

an

age of learned from

"

revolutions, he had thence this truth, which he desired might be thus communicated to posterity : That all is vanity which is not honest ; extraordinary events

and

and that there is no Evelyn's

writings

which, subjects, specify. The or,

a

as

most

were

very

numerous

and

on

many

concerning this work, I do not important and best known is his ' Silva ; not

of Forest-trees, and the propagation of in his Majesty's dominions.' This work was written,

Discourse

Timber

Society,

at the request of the Royal

is stated to

but in real piety."

solid wisdom

that

"

the title-page, of certain

on

Illustrious Assembly

Officers and Commissioners 15th October, 1662, It has

Society.

"

and

since

by

upon

occasion,"

as

it

Queriespropounded

the Hon.

the Principal

of the Navy." It was delivered, published by order of the Royal

"undergone

several

editions:

a

second in 1069; a third in 1679, with great additions and improvements ; a fourth in 1705, stillconsiderably augmented ; *

"

Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography.'

Google

227

APPENDIX*

fifthin 1729, with all the lesser pieces of our Author relating to Agriculture and Gardening annexed, as they in the fourth. But last editions are were these two a

and

incorrect."*

extremely

Since

three

then

editions, with

copious notes, have been published by Dr. Hunter, the last in 1801.

of York ;

'

Evelyn's

Silva' is worthy of all the encomiums that have been bestowed on it,and there can be no doubt that it has done

to

much

In

trees.

sacred

his Epistle

judiciousculture

a

promote

Dedicatory

Majesty,Charles

to

"

The

forest

of

King's

the second," the author says

most "

:

"

I

many acquaint your Majesty how millions of timber-trees, besides infinite others, have been propagated tion, and planted throughout your vast dominions, at the instiga-

need

not

by the sole direction of this work ; because your it publickly for gracious Majestyhas been pleased to own my encouragement, who, in all that I here pretend to say, and

deliver only those precepts which your Majestyhas put into practice ; as having like another Cyrus, by your own royal example,

all your predecessors in the plantations beyond, I dare assert it,all the monarchs of

exceeded

you have made,

of it."

this nation since the conquest

P. 69. Buffonia that Smith

was

tenuifolia.

the application of the P. 72. Viola lutea. :

unfrequent

as

wrong

It is pretty well established to the intention of Linneus in "

name.

A blue variety of this plant is not c it is figured in the new edition of Sowerby's "

Botany,' by Dr. Syme. P. 77. English

Botany.

There

"

this work

is correctly called

for it was

chiefly remarkable

"

Sowerby's"

Evelyn's

l

be littledoubt that 'English Botany/

for the excellence of its plates,

with which it originated ; and Smith *

can

Suva,' by A. Hunter,

was

employed

M.D., F.R.S.L.

to write

and E., 3rd ed.

Google

228

APPENDIX.

guinea for each article. Yet he was very sore about the book being called Sowerby's Botany,' and thereby gave an illustration of the petulance of his temper. (See 'Journal of Botany,' 1872, p. 374.)

the descriptions at

a

'

P. 80. Lindley's

Herbarium.

"

This

valuable collection

excepting the Orchidaceae, which are Two of Lindley's most important works should be at Kew. i Folia noticed, viz. Genera and Species of Orchids/ and Orchidacea.'

is

now

at Cambridge,

'

P. 81.

"

Brown/ in Ray

The

'

Miscellaneous

2 vols.,with

a

Botanical Works

vol. of plates, was

of Robert issued by the

Society in 1866.

Google

INDEX.

106

Abu-al-Teifuri dschis

148

Accentuation

111

Acinos

98

100

Actinocarpus

148

Adder's-tongue

99, 174

Adiantum

107

Adiantum-nigrum Adoxa

99

iEgopodium

2

iEsculapius 100 jEthusa

100

Ahmed

Aparine

130

Ibrahim

18

100

Alchemilla 19

Alchindi

169

Alexanders

the Great 101

Alfred Alisma

160

Alizarin

101 153, 157

102

Alpini 42 Alsinastrum

Alsinel02

102

29

16

names

Arabis

104, 182

to 82

119

Avena

108

Avens

123 25 23

Azalea

108

Ballota

108

Banks,

Sir Joseph

Barbarea

161

Arbutus

104

Arctium

105,

Barbaras Barilla 130

4

161

Barnakle-tree

105

105

46

Barren

Strawberry

Bartsia

108

150

Bauhin,

Caspar

Argentina

155

Bauhin,

John

Argon

ail

tic expedition

157

Aristolochia 105 Aristotle 4 105, 122, 107 Armeria 105 Armoracia

:

76, 82

108

Argemone

Aria

102

Government

104

Arabic

Arenaria

101

Alopecurus

135

Arctostaphylos

Alliaria 101 Allosorus

19

128, 177

Avicenna

inventions

Arbuscula

107 107

Averroes

Aquifolium

Arab 101

144

107

Avellana

10

Aquilegia

AiralOO

51

Expedition

104

Apuleius

Astrology

Australia,

138

Apium

100

107

Auricula

181

Aphaca

100

Agrostemma

Ben

104

Apera

100

Agraphis

Agrimonia Agrostis

103

Apargia

107

Astrantia

Atropa

104

Anthyllis

106, 175

107

Atriplex

104, 174

Anthoxanthum 99

106

Athyrium

103

Anthemis

106

Athamauticum

104

Anthriscus

99

Adonis

Asperula

Astragalus

31

103

Antennaria Antirrhinum

106

Asplenium

103

38,215

106

Asperugo

Aster

of Cleves 155 Anserina

117

Adanson

135

Anne

99

Anthony

129

Aspidium

103

Angelica

Actsea99

Alnus

103

Anemone

106

Ascham, Asparagus

Androssemum

99

Acorus

Asarum

Ash

102

Andromeda

Aconitum

Allseed

101

102

Anchusa

149, ICO

AcetoseUa

Allium

102

Anagallis

106

Arum

168

Anacharis 98

106

Arthrolobium

Ampeloprasum

92

98

Aceras

Ajuga

102

Amomum

105

Artemisia

131

Amarella

Ammophila

28

Acanthium Acer

169

Amarantus

Dschor-

105

Arrenatherum

Amara-dulcis

20

Faradsch

Abul

105

Arnoseris

102

Alyssum

24

Absinthium

102

Althaea

9?

Abbreviations Abenguefit

159

Bear-berry

105

Beech

178

128

Beech-fern

Beet

5, 49 49

Beak-rush Beccabunga

155

154

108

Google

$30

INDEX.

Belladonna 108 Bellisl08 Berberis 108 Beta 108 Betonica 108 Betula 100 Betulus 113 Bidens 109 Bindweed 119 Birch 109 Birdlime-wort 141 Bistorta 154 Bitter-sweet 169 Black Aller 159 Black Bryony 172 Blattaria 177 Blechnura 109 Blitum 102 Blue-bottle 114 Blysmus 109 Boerhaave 57 Bonus Henricus 116 Borago 109 Borkbausia 110 Botany and Medicine 79 110 Botrycbium Botrys 173 Box 110 Brachypodium 110 Bramble 160 Brassica 110 Briza 110 110 Bromus 130, 169 Broom Brown, Robert 81, 228 Brunella 156, 181 Brunfels 34, 36 Bruscus 160 Bryonia 110 159 Buckthorn Buffon 8, 63 Buffonia 69, 227 113 Bulbocastanum 110 Bunium 110 Bupleurum 112 Bursa-pastoris Butomus 110 Butterwort 152 Buzus 110 ,

Cassalpinus 40 Caille-lait130 Cakile 110 Calamagrostis 110 Calamintba 111 Calamus 99 Calceolus 121 Calcitrapa 114

Calf s-snout 104 Callitriche 111 Calluna 111 Caltha 111 Calystegia 111 Camelina 112 Camerarius 41 Campanula 112 Cannabis 112 Capillus-Veneris 09 Caprea 161 Capsella 112 Caraway 113 Cardamine 112 Cardiaca 138 Carduus 112 Carex 113 Carlina 113 Carota 122 Carpinus 113 Carui 113 Carum 113 Caryophyllata 123 Caryophyllus 122 Castanea 114 Catabrosa 114 Catch fly 142, 167 CatoS Caucalis 114 Celery 104 Centaurea 114 Centaureum 126 Cen tran thus 114 Centum morbia 142 115 Centunculus 115 Cephalanthera Cerastium 115 Cerasus 156 115 Ceratophyllum Cerefolium 104 Ceterach 115, 165 Chteropbyllum 115 Chamaedrys 173 Chamflepytis 101 Chamagrostis 115 143 Chamomilla Charles II. 56 Cheese-rennet 130 Cheiranthus 115 Cheiri 115 116 Chelidonium 116 Chenopodinm Cherleria 116 Cherry tree 156 Chervil 164, 174 Chlora 116 117 Chrysanthemum 117 Chrysosplenium

Cicendia 117 Cichorium 117 Cicuta 117 Circaea 117 Cladium 118 Claytonia 118 Clematis 118 111 Clinopodium Clusius 48 Cnicus 118 Cochlearia 118 Cock's-comb 159 119 Colchicum Colt's-foot176 164 Columbaria Columella 6 Columna 41 119 Comarum 119 Conium Consolida 122 Convallaria 119 Convolvulus 119, 154 Conyza 136 Cool tankard 156 Corallorhiza 119 Cordus 34, 36 Coriandrum 119 Cornus 119 152, 166 Coronopus Corrigiola 119 Corydalis 119 Corylus 119 Cotoneaster 119 Cotnla 103 Cotyledon 119 Cracca 179 Crambe 119 Crane's-bill 131 Crataegus 120 Crepis 120 Crista-galli 159 120 Crithmum Crocus 120 Crosswort 130 Crowfoots 158 Cruciata 130 Crus-galli 150 120 Cryptogramma Cucubalus 120 Culpeper 51 Cuscuta 120 Cuvier 8 Cyanus 114 120 Cyclamen Cymbalaria 139 Cynanchica 106 100 Cynapium 120 Cynodon

Google

INDEX.

Cynoglossum 121 Cynosurus 121 Cyperissias 127 Cyperus 121 Cypripedium 121 Cystopteris 121 Cytisus 181

Dabeocia 181 Dactylis 121 Dactylon 120 Dalecbamp 38 Damasonium 99 Dandelion 172 Danewort 163 Daphne 121 Darnel 140 Datura 121 Daucus 122 Delphinium 122 Dens-leonis 172 Deslongchamps 140 Dianthus 1*2 Digitalis 123 Digitaria 123 Digraphis 123 Dillenius 59 Dioscorides 4 Diotis 123 Diplotaxis 123 Dipsacus 123 Eastern botany 1 Ebn AbuOseibia 15, 26, 27 Ebn Abu Zaher 18 Ebn Al Beitar 26 Ebn Roschd 25 Ebn Sina 23 24 Ebn Wand Ebulus 163 124 Echinochloa 124 Echinophora 124 Echium Elatine 124 Elder 162 Eleocharis 124 Elodea 124 Eltham garden 60, 167 125 Elymus 125 Empetrum 182 Endymion English Botany, Sowerby's 77, 227 English Physician, the 51 120 Epilinum 125 Epilobium 125 Epimedium Epipactis 125

125 Epipogium Epithymum 120 Equisetum 125 Eranthis 125 Erica 125 Erigeron 125 Eriocaulon 126 126 Eriophorum 126 Erodium Erophila 182 126 Eryngium 126 Erysimum Erythrsea 126 Esparto 169 Esula 127 Euonymus 126 Eupatorium 100, 126 Euphorbia 126 Euphragia 182 Euphrasia 127 Evelyn 56, 225 Eyebright 128 Fagopyrum 154, 182 Fagus 128 Farfara 176 Fedia 128 Festuca 128 Ficaria 157 Filago 128 Filipendula 170 Filix-fcemina 107 Filix-mas 106 Film ferns 135 Fitz Herbert, Judge 37 Flammula 157 Flinders, Captain 82 Flora, ^irst local 50, 220 Flos Constantinopoli-

151 Flos-cuculi 141 Foeniculum 128 Fool's Orchis 149 Fool's Parsley 100 Forskal 121 Fox-glove 123 Fragaria 128 Fragariastrum 155 Frangula 159 128 Frankenia Fraxinus 129 Fritillaria 129 Frog-bit 135 Fuchs 36 129 Fumaria Fumus-terrae 129 tanus

Gage, Sir Thos. 129

231

Gagea 129 Galanthus 129 Gale 145 Galen 11 Galeobdolon 129 Galeopsis 129 Galinsoga 182 Galium 130 Gall-bush 145 Garlic 101 Garlic Germander 173 Garlic Sage 173 Gastridium 130 Genista 130 Genserich 155 Gentiana 130 Georgics 5 Geranium 131 Gerard 42, 217 173 Germander Gesner 34, 36 131 Geum Githago 100 Gladiolus 131 Glaucium 131 Glaux 131 Glyceria 131 Gmelin 96, 125 Gnaphalium 131 Goatweed 99 Golden Ass, the 11 Golden 169 -rod Good Henry 116 Goodyer 131, 223 Goodyera 131 Gooseberry 159 Goose-foot 116 Goose-grass 155 Goose tree 46 Gorse 130, 176 Goutweed 99 Grass of Parnassus 150 Grassette 152 Gray 32, 43 Greek, pronunciation of 94 Greek Valerian 153 Greeks, early 2 Green weed, Dyers' 130 Gregorius Abul Pharadsh 15 Gregorius Bar Hebraus 28 Grete Herbal 32, 212 Gronovius 118, 140 Grossularia 159 Gymnadenia 131 Gymnogramma 131

Google

232

HabenarialSl Haller58 Haloscias 182 Hard fern 109 Hare's-tail grass 137 Harun 19 Hazel 119 Hedera 132 Helenium 136 Heleocbaris 132 Helianthemam 132 Helioscopia 127 Helix 132, 162 132 Helleborus 132 Helminthia Helosciadium* 132 112 Hemp 126 Hemp Agrimony 132 Heracleam Herb Bennet 123 Herb Gerard 99 Herb Paris 150 9 Herculaneum 133 Herminiam Herniaria 133 Hesperis 133 133 Hieraciam 133 Hierocbloe Hippocrates 2 133 Hippocrepis 133 Hippophae Hippuris 134 Hircalus 164 History of the world 8 Holcus 134 9 Holland, Philemon Holly fern 106 136, 165 Holoschoenus Holostea 170 134 Holostenm G. A. 134 Honckeny, 134 Honckenya 19 Honein 134 Hop 113 Hornbeam Hotton, Pierre 134 Hottonia 134 134 Hamulus Hatchins, Miss 134 134 Hatchinsia 134 Hyacinth 135 Hydrocharis 135 Hydrocotyle 160 Hydrolapatham 124, 154 Hydropiper Hymenophyllom 135 135 Hyoscyamns Hypochaeris 135

INDEX.

Hypopitys

145

Iberis 135 Hex 135 Ulecebrum 135 Impaiiens 136 Intybas 117 Inula 136 Iriol68 Iris 136 Isatis 136 Isnard, Antoine Isnardia 136 Isoetes 136 Isolepis 136

Latin writers 5 Lanreola 121 Lavater, the Brothers 138 Lavatera 138 Leers, J. D. 138 Leersia 138 Lelamer 30 Lemna 138 Leontodon 138 138 Leonoras

d' 136

Jacea 114 Jacobsea 166 Jacobite Christians 22 Jacob's ladder 153 St James' wort 166 Jasione 136 Johannitdas 19 Johnson, Thomas 50,219 Josephns 1 Jnncus 137 Juniperns 137 Kali 162 Kindi, al- 19 Kitchen gardens orchards 31 Enapp, J. L. 137 Enappia 137 Enaut, Christian 137 Enaatia 137 Knot-grass 153 Eobres, M. de 137 Eobresia 137 Eoch, W. D. J. 151 Eoeler, G. L. 137 Eoeleria 137 Eoniga 137 Lactuca 137 129 Ladanum Lady-fern 107 Lady's slipper 121 Lagnrns 137 Tdmrinm 137 Lanceolata 153 Lantana 178 Lappa 105 Lapsana 137 Lastrea 137 Lathraeal38 Lathyrisl27 Lathyrns 138

and

Leopard's bane 123 139 Lepidium Leptnrns 139 117 Leacanthemom Leucojam 139 139 Ligasiicum Ligastrum, 139 Liliam 139 139 limnanthemum 170 Limoniom Limosella 139 Linacre 30 Liuaria 139 Iindley, John 66, 77, 80, 228 ling 111 Lingua 158, 165 Linnaea 140 64 Linnean canons Linneus 60 Linosyris 140 Iinum 140 Liparis 140 Lister, Martin 140 Listera 140 Litbospermum 140 Iittorella 140 140 Lloyd, Edward

Uoydia 140 Lobel40 Lobelia 140 Loiseleurea 140 Lolium 140 140 Lomaria Lonchitis 106 Lonicer 38 140 Lonicera Loo"e-strife 142 Lotus 141 Lucullus 156 Ludwig, C. G. 141 Ludwigia 141 Lumpers 88 110 Lunaria Lupulus 134 Luteola 159 Lychnis 141 Lychnitis 177

Google

283

INDEX.

Lycopodium 142, 166 Lycopsis 142 Lycopus 142 Lysimachia 142 Lyte, Henry 40 Lythrum 142 Macer 6 Macer's Herbal 30 Madder 160 Maecenas 5 Magnol 54 142 Maianthenum Maiden-hair fern 99 Maiden-hair spleenwort 106 143 Malachium Malaxis 143 Male fern 106 Malik, al- 26 Malus 157 Malva 143 Mamum, al- 18 Mansur, al- 21 Mansur Ben Abul Fadhl Ben Ali 26 Marianus 113 Mariscus 118, 165 143 Marrubium Marsh mallow 102 151 Masterwort Matricaria 14)3 Matthiola 143 Matthiolus 4, 37 May flower 141 170 Meadow-sweet 143 Meconopsis 143 Medicago Medicine and Botany 79 143 Melampyrum Meleagris 129 Melica 143 Melilotus 143 Melissa 144 144 Melissophyllum Melittis 144 144 Mentha 144 Menyanthes Menzies, A. 144 Menziesia 144 Mercurialis 144 Mertens, F. C. 144 Mertensia 144 Mespilus 144 Mesne the elder 19 Mesue the younger 22 Meum 144 121 Mezereum

Milium 145 Millefolium 98 Millegrana 157 145 Mimulus 9 Misenum Mistletoe 180 Moench, Conrad 145 Moenchia 145 Mohammedan authors 20 Molina, J. J. 145 Molinia 145 Mollugo 130 Moneses 145 142 Money-wort 133 Monorchis 145 Monotropa Monti, Guiseppe 145 Montia 145 Morio 149 Morsus-ranse 135 Motasim, al- 19 Motewekkil, al- 19, 20 fern 106 Mountain 145 Mulgedium Mullein 177 Muscari 145 Myosotis 145 145 Myosurus Myrica 145 146 Myriophyllum Myrrhis 146 Myrsinites 162 Myrtillus 177

110 Napus Narcissus 146 146 Nardus 146 Narthecium 146 Nasturtium Nathali, al- 23 Natural system 73 Navel-wort 119, 139 Neotinea 146 Nepeta 111, 147 147 Nephrodium Nicander 179 Nicol 15 Nidus-avis 140 Nissole, M. G. 138 Nissolia 138 Noli-me-tangere 136 23 Nuh Ben Mansur 142 Nummularia 147 Nuphar 147 Nymphaea "

Oak fern 154 Obier 179 Obione 147 Odontites 108 (Eil de bone 164 (Enanthe 147 (Enothera 148 169 Olusatrum Onobrychi8 148 Ononis 148 148 Onopordum 148 Naias 146 Ophioglossum Ophrys 148 Names : barbarous 67, 68 Ople tree 179 cific Opulus 179 specharacter, from 71 Orchis 149 70 Oreopteris 106 classes, of 149 Origanum colour of flowers, from 149 72 Ornithogalum 149 from 71 Ornithopus countries, 149 fanciful 69 Orobanche four quarters of the Orobus 179 104 Orontium globe, from the 71 long 73 Osiris 10 149 of Osmunda people, from names 151 73 Ostruthium Otitesl67 places, from 71 Our Lady 121 sarcastic 69 6 Ovid or generic substantive 64 Owler 159 Oxalis 149 subtantive, old used as 120 89 Oxyacantha specific Oxycoccos 149, 177 trivial71 67 Oxyria 149 unmeaning Napellus 98 Oxytropis 149 "

"B

284

Padus 156 Paeon 149 Paeonia 149 Panax coloni 44 Panic grass 125 150 Panicum Paralias 127 Pardalianches 123 Parietaria 150 Paris 150 Parkinson, John 50, 222 "arnassia 150 143 Parthenium Papaver 150 Pastinaca 150 Paulus 12 Pear tree 157 Pecten 164 Pedicularis 150 139 Pennywort Peplis 127, 150 Peplus 127 Pera-pastoris 112 Periclyraenum 140 Periwinkle 179 Persicaria 154 Persilnoir 169 Petasites 151 151 Petroselinum 151 Peucedanum Phalaris 151 Phegopteris 154 147 Phellandrium 151 Phleum 152 Phragmites Phyllodoce 152 Physic gardens 31 152 Physospermum 152 Phyteuma Picris 152 Pilosella 133 Pilularia 152 Pimpinella 152 Pinguicula 152 Pinus 152 Plantago 101, 152 Plautus 5 Pliny 7 Plumier 55 Plum tree 156 131 Pneumonanthe Poa 153 Pocock 15 Podagraria 99 153 Polemon 153 Polemonium Polycarpon 153 Polygala 153

INDEX.

153 Polygonatum 153 Polygonum 154 Polypodium 154 Polypogon 154 Polystichum 9 Pompeii Poor man's weather glass 103 Populus 154 154 Potamogeton Potentilla 155 Poterium 156 Priest, Dr. 43 Primula 156* Pronunciation of names 91 Prosper Alpinus 42 Prunella 156 Prunus 156 157 Psamma Pseud-acorus 136 Pseudo-cyperus 113 Pseudo-narcissus 146 Pseudo-platanus 98 Ptarmica 98 Pteris 157 Pudentilla 10 144 Pulegium Pulicaria 182 Pulmonaria 157 Pulsatilla 103 Pyrola 157 Pyrus 157

Quercus 157 Radiola 157 Rampion 112 Barn's Little Dodeon 216 Ranunculus 157 Rapa 110 158 Raphanistrum 158 Raphanus 112 Rapunculus Ray, John 52 Razi, al- 20 Regina prati 170 Reiske 15 Reseda 158 Rhaeas 150 Rhamnus 159 159 Rhinanthus Rhodia radix 166 159 Rhynchospora Ribes 159 Rivinus 55

Sage 162 Sagina 160 Sagittaria 161 Salad burnet 156 Salicaria 142 Salicornia 161 Salix 161 Salsola 162 Salvia 162 162 Samhucus 163 Samolus Sanctuary 126 Sanguisorba 156, 163 Sanicula 163 Saponaria 163 Sarsaparilla 168 Saussure, H. ". de 164 Saussurea 164 Scabiosa 114, 164 Scale fern 115 Scandix 164 Scheuchzer, the Brothers 69, 164 Scheuchzeria 164 101 Schcenoprasum Schoenus 164 Scilla 165 Scirpus 165 Scleranthus 165 Sclerochloa 165 165 Scolopendrium 173 Scordium Scorodonia 165, 173 Scorodoprasum 101 Scrophularia 165 Sea lavender 170 Sea onion 165 165 Sedum 40, Selaginella 166 Selago 142 166 Sempervivum Senebier, J. 166 Senebiera 166 Senecio 166 Septfoil 155 Septifolium 155 Serapion the elder 22 the younger 24 ,, Serpyllum 174 Serratula 166 Seseli 166 Sesler, L. 166 Sesleria 166 Setaria 166 Shakespeare 38 Shepherd's purse 112 Sherards, the 60, 166, 167 Sherardia 166

Google

295

INDEX.

Sibbald, B. 16? Sibbaldia 167 Sibthorp, Dr. H. 167 Sibthorpia 167 Silaus 167 Silene 167 Silva, Evelyn's 56, 226 Silver weed 155 Silybum 167 Simethis 168 Simples 25 Sinapis 168 Sison 168 168 Sisymbrium Sisyrincbinm 168 Sium 168 Smilacina 168 Smilax 168 Smith, Sir J. E. 68, 69,

Succisa 164 171 Symphytum

Turrital04 Turritis 176 Tussilago 176 Typha 176

171 Tamarix 172 Tamus 172 Tanacetum Ulex 176 138, 172 Ulmarial70 Taraxacum 176 Ulmus Tatula 122 104 Unedo Taxus 172 Uniformity, act of 03 Teesdale, B. 172 Urtica 176 Teesdalia 172 166 Utricularia 176 Telephium Uva-crispa 159 Telmateia 125 Temperature of plants 33 Uva-ursi 105 Terminations of L. adjectives 90 Tetrahit 130 Yaccinium 177 173 Valerian, Greek 153 Teucrium Valerian, Spur 114 Thalictrum 173 177 Valeriana 177 Thapsus 75, 227 169 Smyrnium Valerianella 177 Thelypteris 106 3 Varieties 87 Sneezewort 98 Theophrastus 169 Thesium 173 Varro 5 Solanum Venus' comb 164 Soldanella 111 Thlaspi 173 177 122 Verbascum Solidago 169 Thorn-apple Verbena 178 1 Solomon Thrift 105 Sonchus 169 Veronica 178 Thrincia 173 168 Throat-wort 112 Vesuvius 9 Sophia chirurgorum 178 Sow bread 139 173 Viburnum Thymus tany Tilial74 Sowerby's Vicia 179 English Bo77, 227 Villarsia 179 Tillflea174 169 Sparganium TilU, M. A. 174 Vinca 179 Viola 72, 179, 227 Spartina 169 Toad-flax 139 Specularia 170 Tofield 174 Viper's Bugloss 124 Virgil 5 Spergula 170 Tofieldia 174 174 Virgin Mary 121 Spergularia 170 Tordylium Viscaria 141 Sphondylinm 133 Torilis 174 180 Tormentilla 155 Viscum Spicant 109 Tournefort 55 Vitalba 118 Spica-venti 100 112 Spiraea 170 Trachelium Vitis-idaea177 Tragapogon Spiranthes 170 174 Tragus 39 Splitters 88 Wahlenberg, G. 180 Trichomanes 107, 174 Wahlenbergia Spoon-wort 118 180 175 Spurges 127 Wallflower 115 Trichonema Trientalis 175 106 Squinancy-wort Wall rue 107 136 Trifolium 175 Water dock 160 Squirting cucumber Water milfoil 171 Stachys 170 Triglochin 175 Trigonella 175 Statice 170 Water soldier 170 Trinia 175 Wayfaring tree 178 Stellaria 170 122 Wheat Stramomium Trinius, K. B. von 175 175 Triodia 175 Stratiotes 170 Wild thyme 174 Willow herb 142 Strawberry 128 Tripolium 107 Strawberry tree 104 Trisetum 175 Willow tree 161 Strigil8 Winter green 170 Triticum 175 180 Trollius 175 Wolff, J. F. 180 Strumarium Wolffia 180 Struthion 151 Trollflower 175 Tulipa 175 Suaeda 171 Wood dog, for biting of Turner, William 37, 212 Subularia 171 a 34

Google

236

INDEX.

Woods, J. 180 Woodsia 180 Woundwort, clown's 44 Wiirstenfeld 15

E.

NEWMAN,

Xanthfcun Yah Yah

PRINTER,

180

ya Ben Maseweih ya Ebn Serapion

32,

BOTOLPH

19 22

LANE,

Yew tree 172 Zannichelli, J. J. 180 Zannichellia 180 Zostera 181

EASTCHEAP,

Digitized by

B.C.

G00gle