THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 9 



Europe. The slender yellow roots of Coptis trifolia has given 

 it the name of gold-thread and yellow-root, while mouthroot 

 and canker-root indicate the use of the plant for the cure of 

 sore mouths. 



The species of Thalictrum are not overburdened with 

 names in the vernacular. Meadow rue given to most of the 

 species, is without doubt applied from the resemblance of the 

 plants to the real rue. Poor man's rhubarb is probably a vari- 

 ant due to ignorance. Feathered columbine suggests the 

 numerous stamens and carpels as well as the columbine-like 

 leaves. Silver-weed, quicksilver-weed, and shining grass al- 

 ludes to the silvery appearance of the leaves when plunged 

 under water. Musquash-weed is unmeaning unless it refers to 

 the place in which some species grow^ In the same category 

 is rattlesnake bite. Celandine is clearly a misnomer. 



Clematis Virginina bears off the honors for a multiplicity 

 of common names among the species of Clematis. The most 

 appropriate is virgin's bower, often supposed to indicate a 

 dedication to the Mrgin Mary, but in reality named virgin's 

 bower by Gerarde several centuries ago because its clustering 

 stems are likely to form bowers fit for maidens. Traveler's 

 joy is an English name deserving of a wider use, while love- 

 vine, if it have any significance at all probably alludes to the 

 plants clinging to other plants after the manner of the dodder 

 to which the name more properly belongs. Wild hops seems 

 due to mistaking this for the true hop. Woodbine, often 

 used for the plant, is more often applied to a species of Ampe- 

 lopsis. Devil's hair and devil's thread have reference to the 

 feathery fruits, though why the devil enters the combination 

 is a mystery. Certain species of the Clematis genus, often 

 segregated under the generic name Viorna, are generally called 

 leather-flowers from the thick and firm sepals. Clematis crispa 

 is sometimes known as blue-bell, blue jessamine, and curl- 

 flower clematis. Whether the last mentioned refers to the 

 sepals which curl back on opening, or whether the curls indi- 



