170 The Scottish Natiwahst. 



Dandelion, French, dent-de-lion, literally, lion's teeth, from its 



jagged leaves, 

 Geranium, lit., crane's bill ; from the form of the fruits, yipavos being 



a crane in Greek. 



Hen and Chickens, a monstrosity of the common daisy, due to ex- 

 cess of vigour in the growth of the central head, with smaller 

 heads grouped round it. 



Mares tail (Hippuris vulgaris), from the appearance of the leafy- 

 stems. 



Mimulus, or Monkey-flower, from the appearance of the gaping 

 corolla. 



Mouse-tail (Myosurus), from the fact of the lengthening of the 

 part bearing the carpels after flowering, so as to look like a 

 mouse's tail. 



Snap-dragon, and Snakeshcad lily, from likeness of flower to- 

 reptile's head. The former is called in Scotland " Mappie's 

 mou," from its likeness to a rabbit's open mouth. 



Tod's tail (Scotch name for the common Club-moss), from its. 

 spore-bearing being like a fox's (Sc. tod's) brush. 



Among miscellaneous objects and circumstances which have 

 originated plant-names, may be mentioned : 



Cannon-ball tree (Couroupita guianensis), from its large heavy 

 woody fruit, about the size of a 36-pound shot. 



Eglantine, like a needle, from its prickly character. 



Fern, perhaps connected with Sanscrit par?ia, a feather. 



Fezvs, the Roxburgh name for house-leeks, from French fouet^ 

 meaning whip. 



Fritillary, from fritillus, Latin for dice-box. 



Garlic, like a spear (A.S., garleac^ from gar, spear). 



Hydrangea, Greek 'vlp-atyyetov, water-vessel, from the cup-like form 



of the seed-vessel, 

 Orris, for Iris, rainbow. 



Passion-flower (genus Passiflora), is named from a fancied resem- 

 blance between parts of the flower and the emblems of our 

 Lord's crucifixion. The five anthers symbolise the five 

 wounds ; the three styles, the three nails ; the column on 

 which the ovary is elevated, the pillar of the Cross ; and the 

 fleshy threads within the flower, the crown of thorns. 



Phiox, like a flame (Greek <px^). 



Pine-apple, according to Archbishop Trench, was first named 

 anana, its native name, which has now been nearly put out 

 of use by the name " pine-apple," from the likeness of the 

 new fruit to a pine-cone. Hence the blunder in French and 

 German dictionaries, which give the meaning of pine-apple as 

 " cone of the pine," itself. The French Journal des Debais 



