schively] PLANTS MENTIONED IN SHAKESPEARE 



381 



different are mint, sage, lavender, thyme! These plants are 

 provided with glandular hairs, whose function is to elaborate 

 certain essential oils and yet there is a remarkable variety in 



the products. 



We turn for a moment to another 

 group — the Umbelliferae. Here are 

 fennel, anise, parsley, caraway. 



Some of these are useful for culinary 

 purposes; some have medicinal pro- 

 perties. 



Rosemary. This plant is a native 

 of Southern Europe and grows 

 along the sea-shore. It is of ever- 

 green habit. It derives its name 

 from Latin ros maris, since it flour- 

 ishes where the sea-spray falls on 

 it. It bears a rather pale bluish flower — the whole plant 

 is very fragrant. A small portion of the plant will retain 

 its fragrance for a long time, after it is gathered. It is sacred 

 to friendship. More says: a sprig of it "speaks a dumb lang- 

 uage." It was commonly used at weddings and also funerals. 

 Many medicinal virtues were ascribed to it. Not the least being 

 its power as a decoction to help the brain — mainly by strengthen- 

 ing the memory. It was said to be of value in treating heart 

 disease, also a specific against cramps. 



'Rosemary and rue, these keep. 

 Seeming and savour all the winter long ; 

 Grace and remembrance to you both." 



The Winter's Tale — IV — 4 — 74. 



Rosemary 



'There's rosemary, that's for remembrance 



Hamlet — / V — 5 — 175. 



'Stick your rosemary on this fair corse 

 Romeo and Juliet 



IV-5-79- I ^ 



Thyme 



Thyme — a sweet scented herb growing 

 wild in great profusion is referred to in the familiar words : 



"I know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows." 



Lavender — not a native plant — but well known to many of the 

 English gardeners. The name is derived from an old Latin word — 



