8 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



of doves, billing and cooing. Honeysuckle, by all accounts, 

 is wrongly applied to this plant, and yet it is about as common- 

 Iv used as columbine. The conspicuous, nectar-bearing spurs 

 make honeysuckle irresistable. Rock bells is a very appro- 

 priation name for A. Canadensis, since it loves to grow on 

 rocks, while meeting-houses is an extension of the idea of bells 

 in a belfrey. Cluckies seems meaningless until we learn that 

 in Pennsylvania, at least, a setting hen is known as an "old 

 cluck." Our doves have here turned to chickens! Jack-in- 

 trousers, however, is unintelligil)le to the writer. The Euro- 

 pean Aquilegia vulgaris is known as blue-bells. Another name 

 cock's foot refers to the shape of the leaves, but snapdragon, 

 capon's tail, and ladies shoes seem mere fanciful applications. 

 If they have any relation to the plant in question, we fail to 

 see it. 



Our single species of Traiitvetteria is known as false 

 Inigbane from its general resemblance to Cimicifuga. Among 

 other plants with a limited number of common names are the 

 species of Delphinium, universally called larkspurs fmni the 

 spurred sepal ; Myosnrus minima, known as mousetail from 

 the fruiting axis like a mouse's tail ; and Ilelleborus Z'indis 

 called green hellebore, a translation of the scientific name. 

 This latter species is sometimes called Christmas rose, but this 

 title properly belongs to //. niger of Europe. Winter aconite 

 is a translation of Branthis Jiyemalis. This plant, blooming 

 early in the year, has also received the name of Christmas 

 flower. Wolf's bane and Hellebore refer to its reputed 

 poisonous properties. Practically all of the names of Branthis 

 are more justly the property of the triie aconite {Aconitum 

 napellus) of luirope. This plant is also regarded as the true 

 wolf's bane. Monk's hood is an additional name in allusion 

 to the shape of the flowers. Adonis autumnalis is called 

 pheasant's eye and red morocco, the latter in reference to the 

 dark-red petals. Chamomile is from a fancied resemblance 

 of this plant to the true chamomile {Anthcmis nohilis) of 



