438 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



Balsamifer-a-um. Producing balsam. Lat. balsamum, balsam, + fero, to 



bear. 

 Balsamum-ea. The classical name of the several trees yielding a balsam; 



also in allusion to the balsamic oleo-resins obtained from the trees. 

 Baptisia. False indigo. From Gr. /fan-r^w, to dye. 

 Barbarea. Winter cress. Anciently called the Herb of St. Barbara. 

 Barosma. Buchu. From Gr. /fa/ji-?, heavy, + oa^ } odor ; in reference to 



its strong smell. 

 Belladonna. Ital. bell a, beautiful, -f donna, lady. It is said that Italian 



ladies used the berries as a cosmetic and to dilate the pupil of the 



eye, thus giving themselves a striking appearance. 

 Benedictus-a-um. Blessed, consecrated. Past participle of Lat. benedico, 



to bless. 



Benzoin. Wild allspice. Fever bush. Named from its odor, which resem- 

 bles that of benzoinum. 

 Benzoinum. A resinous substance from Styra.y Benzoin, a tree of Sumatra, 



Java. French bcnjoin, from Arabic luban-jawi, incense of Java. 

 Berberis. Barberry. Name derived from bcrberys, the Arabic name of 



the fruit. 



Beta. Beet. The ancient Latin name. 

 Betonica. Betony. The ancient Latin name (betonica, vettonica) of wood 



betony. 



Betula. Birch. The ancient Latin name. 

 Betulinus-a-um. Pertaining to birch ; alluding to the fact that the leaves 



resemble birch leaves. 



Bidens. Bur marigold. From Lat. bidcns, two-toothed. 

 Biennis-e. Of two years' duration. Lat. bis, twice, + annns, year. 

 Biflorus-a-um. Bearing two flowers, biflorate. 

 Bignonia. Named for the Abbe Jean Paul Bignon, court-librarian at Paris 



and friend of Tournefort. 

 Bistorta. Adderswort. From bis, twice, + tortus (past participle of tor- 



queo}, twisted. 

 Boehmeria. False nettle. Named after G. R. Boehmer, German botanist 



and professor at Wittenberg in the eighteenth century. 

 Botrychium. Moonwort. From Gr. /3drpif, a bunch of grapes; from the 



appearance of the fructification. 

 Brachycerus-a-um. Having short horns. From Gr. Ppaxi'c, short, -f- 



fcfyrtf, a horn. 



Brasiliensis-e. Belonging to Brazil. 



Brassica. Mustard. Turnip. The ancient Latin name for cabbage. 

 Brauneria. Purple cone-flower. Named for Jacob Brauner, German 



botanist of the eighteenth century. 

 Bryonia. Bryony. The ancient Greek name. From /3/ww, to swell, grow 



luxuriantly. 

 Bursa. Capsella. Bursa is a late Latin word meaning purse. 



