80 The Scottish Naturalist. 



R. alpinus — Monk's rhubarb. Gaelic : I us na purgaid, the 

 purgative weed. A naturalised plant. The roots were formerly 

 used medicinally, and the leaves as a pot-herb. Welsh : arian. 

 llys. The same name is given for rue. 



R. acetosa — Common sorrel. Gaelic : sam/i, sorrel. Irish : 

 samhadh bo, cow - sorrel (for samh see Oxalis). Puinneag 

 (M'Donald). Irish: puineoga. Name given possibly for its 

 efficacy in healing sores and bruises (a pugilist, puinneanach). 

 Sealbhagj not from sealbh, possession, more likely from searbh, 

 sour, bitter, from its acid taste. 



" Do shealbhag ghlan 's do luachair 

 A borcadh suas ma d' choir."— M'Donald. 



Thy pure sorrel and thy rushes 

 Springing up beside thee. 



Sea/gag (Irish , sealgan), are other forms of the same name. 

 Copog shraide, the roadside or lane dock. Sobh (Shaw), the herb 

 sorrel. 



R. acetosella — Sheep's sorrel. Gaelic and Irish : ruanaidh, 

 the reddish-coloured. It is often bright red in autumn. Pluirin 

 seangan (O'Reilly), the small -flowered plant (pluran, a small 

 flower ; seangan, slender). Samhadh caora (O'Reilly), sheep's 

 sorrel. 



Oxyria reniformis — Mountain - sorrel. Gaelic and Irish : 

 sealbhaig nan fiadh, the deer's sorrel. 



Aristolochiace^e. 



Aristolochia clematitis — Birth-wort. Culurin (see Cyclamen). 



Asarum europseum — Common asarum. Gaelic : asair 

 (M'Donald), from the generic name, said to be derived from 

 Greek — a, privative, and aecpa, bandage. The leaves are emetic, 

 cathartic, and diuretic. The plant was formerly employed to 

 correct the effects of excessive drinking, hence the French, 

 cabaret. 



Empetrace^e. 



Empetrum nigrum — Crow-berry. Gaelic and Irish : lus na 

 fionnag (Jionnag, a crow). Sometimes written fiannag, fiadhag 

 (dearc fithich, raven's berry ; caor fio?inaig, crow-berry), the ber- 

 ries which the Highland children are very fond of eating, though 

 rather bitter. Taken in large quantities, they cause headache. 

 Grouse are fond of them. Boiled with alum they are used to 

 produce a dark-purple dye. Lus na stalog (O'Reilly), the star- 

 ling's plant. 



