60 DERIVATIONS OF THE LATIN NAMES OF PLANTS. 



odour; and that wearing them on the head may occasion "a violent megrim.' 

 Of the bad qualities of these plants we sometimes avail ourselves to get rid of 

 vermin. The juice is also used to poison flesh, for the destruction of Wolves, 

 Foxes, and other ravenous beasts. It is remarkable that the blue-flowered kinds 

 are much more virulent than those with yellow or white flowers. Physiologists 

 suppose the pernicious effects to be produced by irritating the nervous coats of 

 the stomach and intestines, so as to occasion violent convulsions through the 

 whole body. To relieve the stomach of its contents an infusion of tobacco> 

 followed by oily and mucilaginous medicines, has been recommended. Monks- 

 hood should not be planted where children have access, lest the}*- should put the 

 leaves or flowers in their mouths, or rub them about their eyes ; for a serious 

 disorder may be thus occasioned ; and the farina of the flowers blown into the 

 eyes will cause dangerous inflammation. Some interesting particulars of the 

 effects of this plant on those who have eaten it are detailed in Baxter's Flower- 

 ing Plants. * 



Acorus. — A*>f ov, from a, without, and xo^n, the pupil of the eye, because it was 

 considered good for disorders of the eyes. 



Acorus calamus, Myrtle Flag, Sweet-scented Flag, Sedge or Rush. — The 

 flowers are rare, the dried root powdered is used by the country people in Norfolk, 

 for curing the ague. On the Mayor's day in June, the cathedral of Norwich and 

 some of the streets have from time immemorial been strewed or decorated 

 with this plant, which, when trodden upon, smells somewhat like Myrtle ; but 

 having become less plentiful, its place is now supplied by Iris pseudacorus, or 

 the larger kinds of Sedge (Car ex). It is our only native truly aromatic plant. 

 The roots have a strong aromatic smell, and a warm, pungent, bitterish taste, 

 the flavour is greatly improved by drying, and when powdered they have cured 

 agues when the Peruvian bark has failed. They are commonly imported from 

 the Levant, but those of our own growth are fully as good. The Turks candy 

 the root as a prophylactic, and believe it to be a preservative against contagion. 

 Neither Horses, Cows, Goats, Sheep, nor Swine will eat it. The whole plant 

 has been used for tanning leather, and the French snuff a la violette is supposed to 

 be scented by this root. 



Actcea. — AxT«<a, from ax-nj, the shore. Shrub-elder, the leaves somewhat 

 resembling those of the Elder. So called because it grows upon rocks and banks 

 near the shore ; or from ay«, to break, from its being easily broken. 



Actcea spicata, Spiked Bane-berty, Black Bane-berry, Herb Cristopher. — This 

 plant is a powerful repellant. The root is useful in some nervous cases, but 

 must be administered with caution. The berries are very poisonous ; their juice, 

 with alum, yields a black dye. Is is said that Toads, allured by the fetid smell 

 of this plant, resort to it ; but it grows in such damp and shady situations as 



