NAMES OF PLANTS. 107 



Fillx-foc'mina, Fuclis. Jj., filix, a fern, Siud. fcemina, female ; 

 the Lady Fern. Formerly applied to Bracken (Pteris 

 aquilina). 

 Ru'ta-mura'ria, Dodonseus. L., ruta, rue, and muraria, 



pertaining to walls ; Wall Rue. 

 Trichom^anes. See Teichomanes, later. 



As'ter, Linneus. G., aster, a star; from the form of the 

 flowers. Dodon?eus suggests the name of Aster 

 marinus, but himself calls the plant Tripolium, after 

 Dioscorides. 

 Tripo^lium, Dioscorides. G. name for the plant. Dios- 

 corides said that this name was given because the 

 colour of the flowers changes three times in a day ; 

 but this is not the case. Gerard argues that, though 

 it is a fable that one flower changes three times in a 

 day, three colours may be found in different flowers 

 at once, according to their state of development. 



Asteag'alus, Dioscorides. G., astragalos, a cervical ver- 

 tebra, or neck-bone. The exact application of this 

 name is doubtful. It has been used for several plants, 

 but for some time for the Milk Vetch. 



Astkan'tia, Linneus. From G., astron, a star; on account 

 of the star-like umbels. 



Athyr'ium. " The name of the genus was derived by Roth 

 from the G., athyros, opened, or having an open 

 entrance, alluding to the repressed indusium." — 

 Moore. The Lady Fern, which is also called Asple- 

 nium. 



At'eiplex, Pliny. G., a, not, and tre2)hein, to nourish. 

 The reason for the name is not clear. 



At'ropa, Linneus. G., Atro])os, one of the Fates, whose 

 duty it was to cut the thread of life without any 

 regard to sex, age, or quality; in allusion to the 

 deadly qualities of the x^lant. 



