7 
ABRICOCK. A very common Somerset form 
of Apricot, Armeniaca vulgaris. Gerard (1636) 
said ‘“ The fruit is named in England Abrecoke, 
Aprecock, and Aprecox.’’ .Miller in his Kalendar 
1733, calls it APRICOCK. 
ACORN TREE. A number of correspondents 
at Paulton give m2 this as the local name for the 
Oak, Quercus Robur. 
ADAM AND EvE. A fairly general name for 
(1) One of our commonest English orchises, the 
Early Purple, Orchis mascula; and 
(2) also for the Spotted Orchis, Orchis maculata. 
According to Craven the name is given to the 
two tubers of the plant, which to the fanciful 
were held, singly, to resemble the human figure, 
and, together, to suggest the first parents of our 
race. 
(3) The name is also frequently applied to 
the Wild Arum ov Cuckoo pint, Arum maculatum. 
(4) Mr. Edward Vivian, of Trowbridge, and 
a correspondent at Ilton inform me that in those 
districts the name is given to the Monkshood, 
Aconitum Napellus. 
(5) My Iltoa correspondeat says the name 
is also given to the Common Lungwort, Pul- 
monaria officinalis. 
ADAM AND EVE IN THE BOWER. A _ corres- 
pondent at Winsham gives me this as one of the 
local names for the Dead Nettle. 
ADAM’S FLANNEL. Great Mullein, Verbascum 
Thapsus. 
ADAM’S NEEDLE. (1) The popular name of the 
genus Yucca, paiticalarly Y. filamentosa, which 
is sometimes called ADAM’S NEEDLE AND THREAD 
on account of the leaves bearing threadlike 
fibres on their margins. 
(2) Shepherd’s Needle or Venus’ Comb, 
Scandix Pecten-Veneris. 
ADDER’S FLOwmRS. Several correspondents, 
mostly in the Chard and East Devon districts, 
give this as a local name for 
(1) The Kariy Purple Orchis, Orchis mascula. 
(2) Spotted Orchis, Orchis maculata. 
(3) Wild Hyacinth or Bluebell, Scilla non- 
scripta. 
(4) Red Campion, Lychnis dioica. 
ADDER’S Foop. A name given to the red 
berries of a number of plants, which aie poisonous 
or supposed to be so, parti:ularly to those of 
the Wild Arum, the Iris, Bryoiy, &c. The 
word Adder in this and most of the following 
names has sothiig to oo with snakes 7nd reptiles 
atall. It is neither more nog less then the Anglo- 
Saxon word aitor, which mens “‘ poison.”’ Attor- 
berries, meaning Poison-beiries (the very name 
is still ased in Sussex) was changed fist to Adder 
- Berries, then to Adder’s Food or Adder’s Meat, 
and finally in many cases to Snake’s Food. 
