8 
ADDER’s GRASS. Early Purple Orchis, Orchis 
mascula. 
ADDER’S MEAT. In addition to being com- 
monly applied to the red berries mentioned 
under ADDER’s Foop, this is a very general 
name for 
(1) The Greater S!itchwort, Stellaria Holostea ; 
Dr. Downes informs me that in Cornwall children 
think they are sure to be bitten by an adder if 
they gather the Stitchwort. 
(2) Also for the Wild Arum, Arwm maculatum ; 
(3) Mr. Wevell, of Stogursey, tells me in 
that district the name is applied to the Wild 
Parsley. (Probably Anthriscus sylvestris or 
Caucalis Anthriscus.) 
ADDER’s Moutus. (1) Several correspondents 
give this as a local name for the Wild Blue (or 
Stinking) Iris, Iris fetidissima. 
(2) A correspondent at Chard gives this as 
a local name for the Early Purple Orchis, Orchis 
mascula. 
ADDER’S TONGUE. (1) The general Eaglish 
name for the fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, so called 
*“* Because out of every leaf it sendeth forth a 
kind of pestal, like unto an adder’s tongue; it 
cureth [on the doctrine of signatures] the biting 
of serpents.”’ Coles, Adam in Eden, p. 558. 
The scientific name Ophioglossum is a compound 
of two Greek words meaning “ Serpent’s tongve.” 
(2) In West Somerset the same is frequently 
applied to the Wild Arum or Cuckoo-pint, Arum 
maculatum. I also have this name fiom a cuorres- 
pondent at Uplyme 
(3) In Devon and parts of Dorset the Early 
Purple Orchis, Orchis mascula. 
(4) The common Hart’s Tongue fern, Phyllitis 
Scolopendrium. 
(5) In South-West Wilts the Twayblade, 
Listera ovata. 
(6) ‘The Rev. Hilderic Friend says in Devon- 
shire the name is given to the Arrowhead, Sagit- 
taria sagittifolia, and that the old people say that 
a cupful of tea every day made of nine leaves of 
this plant to a pint of water boiled together is 
a good strengthening medicine if taken in spring 
and autumn. 
ADDERWoRT. The Snakeweed or Bistort, 
Polygonum Bistorta, from its writhed roots. 
AEROPLANES. The winged fruit of the 
Sycamore, Acer Pseudo-platanus. I have had 
this name sent me by school boys from a great 
many different parts of Somerset, and I regard it 
as a rather remarkable illustration of the ready 
way in which they apply up-to-date and appro- 
priate names to natural objects. 
AFTER GRAss. The grass which grows after 
the hay is gone. It is not a second crop to be 
mown, but to be fed.—F. T. ELworrtuHy. 
Commonly called EE-GRAss in East Somerset 
and Wilts. 
