2 TRADESCANTIA VIRGINICA. SPIDERWORT. 



to be poisonous, and the same name, and also Phalangites, was 



given to an herb which would cure the spider's sting. Those 



who have made spiders a subject of special study, notably the 



Rev. Dr. McCook, believe that there is more dramatic poetry 



than honest prose in poisonous spider stories, and that the 



majority of spiders are entirely innocuous, while the few which 



may be venomous are but slightly so. They have, of course, no 



stings, but articulated jaws, by which, if at all, they misbehave 



themselves. However, we are but dealing with the past. The 



ancients believed there were those who were stung, and that 



their Phalangites was the remedy. We are told that " the roots 



being tun'd up with new ale and drunk for a month together, it 



expels poison, yea tho' it be universally spread through the whole 



body." This must, however, have reference to some other plant 



to which the same name was applied, apparently a sort of lily 



allied to Antliericnm, with which, in the then condition of 



knowledge, the Tradcscantia Virghiica was wrongly associated. 



But it fully accounts for the English name " Spiderwort," wort 



being the old Saxon name for " plant." Our true Tradescantias 



are not known to possess any medicinal virtues. 



The French common name of the plant is EpJmnerine de 



Virginic, taken, as we may readily see, from the early Latin 



name given it by the English authors. In many parts of our 



country it has received the name of "Starflowcr," and even (in 



Minnesota for instance) " Star of Bethlehem " ; but as these names 



are not only inappropriate, but are also applied to so many other 



flowers, it is best that they should be dropped for " Spiderwort." 



The French EpJiemcrine is a very good name, for the flowers 



remain open but a single day, although there are others ready 



to take their places in long succession. The poetic sentiments 



associated with flowers are often far-fetched, but as emblematic 



of "transient happiness" the "Spiderwort" is appropriate. Says 



Byron, — 



"There comes 



Forever something between us and what 



We deem our happiness," 



