230 
Ramp. Broad-leaved Garlic, Allium ursinum 
(Winsham, and Leigh, Dorset). 
Rams’ CiAaws. (1) The Creeping Buttercup, 
Ranunculus repens,and more particularly thestalks. 
Mr. Elworthy says: ‘‘ The stalks of the common 
buttercup (Ranunculus acris) when overgrown. 
In some seasons, especially wet ones, the buttercup 
attains a rank growth, and the cattle refuse to 
eat it, so that the meadow, if not mown for hay, 
becomes covered with coarse stalks without 
leaves, but still bearing the yellow flowers on the 
top—these are called RAm’s CLAws. The name 
is analagous to BENT or BONNET applied to 
grasses.”’ Mr. Onions suggests the name is a 
corruption of Ranunculus. 
(2) Coltsfoot, Tussilago Farfara (Yarlington). 
(3) Chickweed, Siellaria. media (a school-boy 
at Babcary, who gives a large number of other 
names quite correctly). 
RAMSEY or RAMSIES. The Broad-leaved Garlic, 
Allium ursinum. See RAMSONS. 
RAm’s-FooT Root. The root of the Avens or 
Herb Bennet, Geum urbanum, which is said to be 
exactly like a hare’s foot, but very little like a 
ram’s (Devon, Rev. H. Friend). 
RAms’ GLASS. The Acrid Buttercup, Ran- 
unculus acris (Allerford). No doubt a corruption 
of RAms’ CLAWS, which see (1). 
Ramsons. The Broad-leaved Garlic, Allium 
ursinum. See RAMSEY and RANSOMS. 
“ Ramsons tast like garlizk: they grow much 
in Cranbourne-chase: A proverb, 
Eate leek2s in Lide, and ramsins in May, 
And all the yeare after physicians may play.” 
Aubrey’s Wilts M.S., p. 124. 
RANSOMS. A common corruption oi RAMSONS:- 
RANTIPOLE. The Wild Carrot, Daucus Carota 
(N.W. Wilts, English Plant Names). 
RAPHONTIC. Several correspondents in various 
parts of Somerset and Dorset send me this as a 
name for Rhubarb. I cannot trace the name, 
and assume it has been copied from some book. 
Dr. Watson tells me that the garden Rheubarbs 
are Rheum raphonticum and R. undulatum. 
RAPPERS. Flowers of the Foxglove, Digitalis 
purpurea (Wilts). See Poppers. 
RATHE PRIMROSE. Miss Audrey Vivian (Trow- 
bridge) tells me this term is commonly used in 
that neighbourhood for an early Primrose. 
RATHE-RIPE. (1) An early kind of apple: 
yellow codling with pinkish streaks. See RETHER- | 
RIPE. 
(2) An early kind of pea (Wilts). 
Rats AND Mice. Common Hound’s-tongue, 
Cynoglossum officinale (Tisbury). 
