234 THE PLANT WOELD 



the sting of the scorpion with instantaneous effect. " If the herbe be 

 thrown over this venomous reptile he becomes powerless and unable to 

 move or sting." 



A preparation from one of the European species of Delphinium, 

 known as stavesacre, contains no less than four alkaloids, one of which 

 is closely allied to aconite in properties ; this is also used by druggists 

 as a parasiticide under the name delphine. 



The name honeysuckle is frequently applied to the columbine, and 

 it was also known as woodbine. Dodoens, writing of the woodbine, 

 designates it as "honisuckle," and remarks, "At the end of the branches 

 of Woodbine grow floures in tuft like nosegaies, of a pleasant colour and 

 sweet savour, betwixt white and yellow or ^dle. purple, long and hollow, 

 almost like the little bags of Columbine." It is thus probable that the 

 true honeysuckles became confused with the columbines by country 

 folk, since both produce the little bags of honey. 



The persistence of misapplied names is often remarkable. Thus, 

 Caltha palustris is universally known as cowslips or marsh marigold, 

 although the original marsh marigold is the celandine. Of the seed 

 capsule of the latter, it was said, "When the floure being gone, or 

 fallen, we shall see three or foure small husks, like to the husks of 

 columbine, wherein is contained small yellow seeds." The name celan- 

 dine was applied to these flowers, because they appeared in spring at 

 the coming of the swallow. 



The true cowslip is the English primrose or St. Petie Mullens, 

 known in Latin as Herba St. Petri. The American cowslip received its 

 generic name, Caltha, from the fancied resemblance of the golden flower- 

 cup to a goblet. Cows and horses are known to feed upon the herbage 

 of Caltha. The cowslips of the ancients, or the celandines, were con- 

 fused with the figworts. I think that we are accordingly justified in 

 retaining the popular name American cowslip or horseslip for our spe- 

 cies of Caltha. 



The water dragons of the Arum family were also held in great 

 reverence by the ancients as herbs powerful against the bites of ser- 

 pents, and bore Latin names, such as Serpentaria and Calabrinus, in 

 English, dragon worts. " It was thought of some, that if cheese be laid 

 amongst dragon leaves, it would preserve the same from perishing. 

 Dioscorides writeth that it is thought of some that those which currie 

 about the leaves or roots of Great Dragonworts, cannot be hurt nor 

 stong of vipers and serpents." 



The study of the names of species of Orchis, Iris and Lilium would 

 in itself constitute a volume, if carried out in detail. The English 

 Orchis Morio, known commonly as satyrion royal, and noble satyrion 

 by the ancient Grecians, became in Latin Testiculus Morionis. and was 



