102 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



a genus whose name is reputed to be that of some ancient 

 species of cress known to Dioscorides, but Wood says the 

 name comes from Greek words signifying "heart" and "to 

 strengthen" in allusion to its stomachic properties. Here, in- 

 deed, the way to the heart appears to be through the stomach ! 

 St. Barbara is reputed to have discovered the medicinal ver- 

 tues of the plants dedicated to her under the name of Bar- 

 barea. It may be that a certain amount of sanctity is requir- 

 ed to perceive such healing virtues, for ordinary mortals con- 

 fess that tlie plants have none, except that like many 

 others they may be used as antiscorbutics. Brysimum is 

 said by Gray to be from the Greek meaning "to draw blisters," 

 but Wood, again, says the name means "to cure," in this being 

 apparently willing to go a bit further than his contemporary 

 in endorsing the virtues of the plants. 



More important than any of the preceding in popular 

 estimation are the plants in the genus Alyssnm which are re- 

 regarded as useful in the cure of hydrophobia. The generic 

 name comes from a Greek plant once used against hydro- 

 phobia, according to Gray, but Wood says it comes from a 

 privative and the Greek word for rage and tliat it was used 

 to allay anger by the ancients. Since the plant will not cure 

 hydrophobia it is fair to assume that Wood's derivation is 

 the correct one though this may arouse anger in some quar- 

 ters instead of allaying it. The name of Draha, given to the 

 little whitlow grass, is said to mean acrid or biting and was 

 originally applied by Dioscorides to some species of cress 

 now unknown. 



An unusual number of genera in this group have been 

 named in honor of botanists and patrons of science. There 

 is first the American moss student, Leo Lesqueraux, after 

 which Lcsqucrclla is named and also Dr. M. C. Leavenworth 



