152 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



a cure for rabies. "Hood-wrirt" is another reference to the 

 calyx and "hkie skull-cai)" and "hkie pimpernel" refer to the 

 color of the flowers thout^h the pimjiernel is a verv different 

 plant. Sciiti'llariii (jalcricnlata i> tlie "marsh skull-cap" and 

 "hofnled willow-hcrl)". ll may he added that its forhi does 

 ni 'I in the k-ast resemble either the willow or the willow-herb. 

 In rich woods in early summer, one ma\- find the broad 

 leaves of C(>lliiiS(>iiia Canadensis surmounted bv its panicle of 

 yellowish lemon-scented, flowers. The knottv root, or rather 

 rootstock. is a marvel of h.irdness and gives the plant such 

 names as "knot-root", "knot-grass", "knob-weed", and "stone- 

 root". "Horse-balm" and "ox-balm" allude to its superior 

 size and "citronella" to its scented flowers. The name of 

 "richweed" and "rich leaf" probably refer to its place of 

 growth. 



Early in spring one often finds the earth in waste places 

 covered will; a tangle of roundish leaves through which peep 

 great numbers of cheerful though small, blue flowers. This 

 is Glcchonia Jiederacca a lowlv relative of the catnip and com- 

 monly called "ground-ivy" as the specific name suggests. It 

 is abundant on both sides of the Atlantic and has a host of com- 

 mon names most of which are of obvious significance as "gill- 

 over-the-ground". "gill-g< •-by-the-ground", "gill-run-over", 

 "creeping Charley", "creeping Jenny", "wild snake-root" and 

 "robin-runaway." The terms "aledioof", "tun-hoof", "hay- 

 hoof" and "hove" may have been derived, as often suggested, 

 from the Anglo-Saxon hiifa. a crown, because garlands for 

 country inns were made of it, but there is also a possibility 

 that the name was originally "hai-hove" meaning "hedge-ivy" 

 since still other names for it are "hedge-maids" and "hay- 

 maids". "Ale-hoof" may also be a corruption of ale heave 

 and refer to the use of this plant in making the ale "heave" or 



