66 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



P. paliistris might entitle it to be called "beefsteak plant". 

 "Cow's wort" may be another name to indicate that cows be- 

 come lousy when feeding where this plant grows. 



The true "rattle" is regarded as being Rliiiiaiithiis crisfa- 

 galli. It is also known as "yellow rattle", "rattle-box", "rattle 

 bags", and "penny rattle" being so called because the seeds 

 rattle in the inflated pods at maturity. "Penny-grass" and 

 "money-grass" appear to be other variations of "penny rattle". 

 "Yellow cock's-comb" of course alludes to the flowers and 

 "cow-wheat" may be another name connecting this plant with 

 the species of Pedicularis though it may be added that this 

 latter name is the only common name of Melampyrum lineare. 

 The reason for applying this name to the latter plant is difficult 

 to fathom. The species is an insignificant weed in dr3ash 

 w^oods and probably never comes to the attention of the cows. 



Anyone who has seen Castilleja in bloom will at once re- 

 cognize the significance of such names as "scarlet painted-cup", 

 "Indian pink", "Indian paint-brush", "red Indians", "bloody 

 warrior", "nose-bleed.", and "prairie fire". Tiie word Indian 

 appearing in several of the names seems to be for the sole 

 reason that the flowering bracts are bright colored and there- 

 fore assumed to be pleasing to the Indian's taste. "Wicka- 

 wee" sounds very much as if it might be the Indian name for 

 the plant. It might be said in passing that the flowers of this 

 genus are dull colored. The brilliance of the flower heads is 

 due entirely to the bracts. 



The rather insignificant weeds included under the sonor- 

 ous name of Gratiola were once thought, as the name indicates, 

 to be especially favored medicinal plants, hence the name "herb 

 of grace" applied to the species once known as Gratiola mon- 

 niera but now called Bacopa nionniera. Other names alluding 

 to its supposed niedicinal virtues are "water hyssop" and 



