SOME LOCAL COMMON NAMES OF PLANTS. 



By C. F. Saunders. 



DURING excursions afield this season, the following common 

 names, which I do not find mentioned in the books, were 

 noted as in use : 



SOMERSET COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. 



Buck Plantain, Narrow Plantain for Plantago lanccolata L. The 



shape of the leaves suggests the second name. 

 Mouse-ear, Rattlesnake Master for Veronica offici7talts 'L., tlieior- 



mer name doubtless suggested by the form of the leaf, and the 



latter derived from the use of the plant as a remedy for snake 



bites. 

 Bumblebee-weed for BriDiclla vulgaris L., probably becaiise of this 



bee's fondness for visiting the flowers. 

 Brake-root for Pteris aquilina L. Anyone attempting to farm 



ground where this plant is abundant would have his attention 



forcibly directed to the root, and so be likely to reinforce the 



common name of brake accordingly. 

 Rock Fern for Polypodium vulgarc L. Very abundant on the sum- 

 mits and sides of rocks and boulders. 

 Crowfoot for Geraniiun maciilatiun L., doubtless from the form of 



the leaf. 

 Black Sloe for Pyrus arbutifolia, var. mclanocarpa Hook., because 



of the black fruit. 

 Groundhog Salad, Deer Tongue for Saxifraga erosa Pursh. Used 



as a salad by the country people. The shape of the leaves 



might suggest the second name. 

 Sweet Myrrh for Osmorrhisa longistylis DC. Obviously because of 



the pleasant fragrance of the plant when crushed. 

 Toothache Berries for fruit of CaulopJiylluin thalictroides Michx. 



The berries used to be strung and hung about the neck, as a 



remedy for that ache which philosophers couldmever yet endure 



patiently. 

 SouRGRASs for species of Carex; doubtless because cattle's distaste 



for it suggests sourness in the plant. 



pike county, PENNSYLVANIA. 



Swamp-beech for Carpinus Caroliniana Walt. Resembles the beech, 



and occurs often in svvampy grounds. 

 Deer Laurel for Rhododendron maximuin L. The deer are said to 



eat the green leaves in winter, in default of other food. 



