78 
the inhabitants give it that name.’”’ Dr. Downes 
tells me that a similar legend is current at St. 
Erth, Cornwall, where Dan wort flourishes in 
abundance. It is said that the wounded Danes 
were carried in litters made of bundles of spears, 
and from these spears the Daneworts sprang. 
The probability of this derivation being the true 
one, however, is discounted by the fact that the 
plant is known as DANEWORT or DANESWEED 
(which see) in other parts of England. The 
whole plant turns the most brilliant reds and 
crimsons in autumn. 
(2) Mr. T. W. Cowan tells me that in some 
places this name is given to the Pasque-flower, 
Anemone Pulsatilla, and to 
(3) The Clustered Bell-flower, Campanula 
glomerata. 
DANESWEED OR DANEWORT. (1) Dwarf Elder, 
Sambucus Ebulus. Rev. H. N. Ellacombe, vicar 
of Bitton (1870), says:—It is not uncommon 
in our Bath flora, but is most abundant at 
Slaughterford, near Chippenham, a place where 
there was once a great victory gained over the 
Danes. The plant is called Danewort, and is 
an evil-smelling and noxious plant, and the 
legend tells us that it derived its evil qualities 
of all kinds from the Danes, on whose graves it 
grew so luxuriantiy. See DANE’s BLOOD. 
(2) Mr. T. W. Cowan tells me that in some 
counties the Field Eryngo, Hryngium campestre, 
is called DANES’-WEED. I believe this plant is 
very rare in Somerset, extinct in Devon, and not 
recorded as having been found in Dorset, Wilts, 
or Glos. 
DANGLE (OR DANGLING) BELL. Several corres- 
pondents at Paulton give me this as a local name 
for the Lily of the Valley, Convallaria majalis. 
DARLING OF APRIT. A number of young people 
at Aller give me this as a local name for the 
Primrose, Primula vulgaris. 
DASHEL. (1) A very common name in West 
Somerset and East Devon for the Thistle. There 
are several forms of pronunciition, differing 
slightly and about equally common, but Mr. 
Elworthy says ‘“‘in none is th ever sounded.’’ 
I have the name also from other parts of the 
county. 
(2) Mr. Harry Pouncy tells me that in Dorset 
this name is sometimes given to the Dandelion, 
Taraxacum officinale. It is also used in Devon. 
See DAZZLE-FLOWER. 
DatTcHEsS. Vetches (West Somerset). Over 
the greater part of my district Vetches are known 
as THATCHES, and in West Somerset the th becomes 
d; compare DASHEL (1). 
Davip’s Harp. Solomon’s Seal, Polygonatum 
multiflorum. 
