THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 121 



mentioned was not given by the haymaker, in fact, it more 

 ijroperly belongs tu its larger relative. Spiraea salicifolia. 

 "Whitecap" may have been applied to the i)lant in regions 

 where the plants have less color, but "poor man's soap" is 

 meaningless applied tn this ])lant, which lacks saponaceous 

 (jualities. Undoubtedly the "Jersey tea" {Ceanothus Ameri- 

 caniis) has been confused with it. 



The word "meadow sweet," upon no less an authority 

 than that of Dr. Prior, is said to have no connection with 

 meadows, but to be derived from the fact that the plant so 

 named was once used to mix with mead in the belief that it 

 gave to this beverage "the flavor of the Greek wines." The 

 plant is scentless, both as to flowers and foliage and its effect 

 upon the mead must have been nil, though probably not noticed 

 after a few sips of the liquid. It is likely most plant lovers 

 will overlook its ignoble use and think of it as one of the 

 sweets -of the meadow, as its common name suggests. "Mead- 

 wort" and "mead-wort" are ancient names for the plant. 

 Another familiar common name is "queen of the meadow" 

 though in this it has to divide the honors with related species 

 of Filipendida. It is diflicult to say whether "spice hardback" 

 refers to the use of the plant in flavoring or whether spice 

 is an attempt at pronouncing Spiraea. In Europe the meadow 

 sweet is sometimes called "bride-wort" for the reason, it is 

 said, that the trusses of flowers suggest the plumes anciently 

 worn by brides. 



Resembling the species of Spiraea so much as to be 

 frequently classed with them is the "nine bark," Physocarpiis 

 opiilifolius, or as some of the books have it, Opitlaster opuli- 

 f alius. Its bark has the habit of separating from the stem in 

 numerous long, thin strips, from which circumstance its only 

 common name is derived. The species of Filipendida are 

 sufiFicientlv like Spiraeas to share the common names of 



