THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 67 



"hedge liyssop". (jrafiola rirginica is the "clamniv liedge 

 hyssop" ;iti(l 'Voklcn pert", the hitter name nf im ohvious ap- 

 pHcatioii. 



Faidonia tomcntosa, formerly P. iniperialis, is usually 

 called "empress tree", hut "princess tree" would he somewhat 

 nearer the facts since the species was named for the daughter 

 of a Russian king. The name of "blue catalpa" is expressive, 

 th()ui,di the catalpa belongs to another family. Our plant is 

 sometimes called "neckweed" because reported to be useful in 

 curing scrofula. In the Southern States the tree is generally 

 known as "cotton-wood" in allusion to its extremely brittle 

 branches. "Napoleon", reported from X'irginia, is an attempt 

 of the illiterate to use the generic name. 



As often befalls plants that are either very conspicuous or 

 (|uite inconspicuous a number of species in the Srophulariaceae 

 have but a single common name, if, indeed, they have any at 

 all. Thus we find Sclncalbca Americana universally called 

 "chaff-seed" and llsanthcs dithia called "false pimpernel". 

 Liinosclla aqaatica, from its habit of growing in the mud, is 

 known s "mudwort" or "niudweed". Buchncra Auicricana is 

 called "blue hearts" for no ol)\ious characteristic. Collinsia 

 vcrna is appropriately named "innocence" and "blue-eyed 

 Mary", from the bi-colored violet-like flowers, Mimitlus ring- 

 ens is everywhere known as "monkey-flower" though it re- 

 <|uires a great stretch of the Imagination to see in the flower 

 any likeness to the face of a monkey. An allied plant of our 

 gardens is called "musk flower" or "musk plant" from its odor. 

 Euphrasia arctica and E. Americana are both known as "eye- 

 l)right" doubtless from the shape of die flow^ers and Odontites 

 rubra, a European weed rather uncommon on this side of the 

 ocean is known as "red eye-bright". 



