NAMES OF PLANTS. 127 



Cyparis'sias, Dioscorides. From G., cyjxirissos, the 

 cj'press; on account of its similar foliage. This 

 plant was called by Matthiolus, &c., Tithymalus 

 C37Darissias. 



E'siila, Dodonseus, who gives this ingenious conjecture as 

 the explanation of the word: — " The name Esula may 

 be derived from (G.) intyusa,'' — like the Pine-tree 

 ipitys) in foliage ; a name then usually given by 

 scientific men to the plant, — " for, lay aside the first 

 two S3ilables (!) and usa remains, of which the dimi- 

 nutive is usula ; change the first vowel, and you 

 have Esula." This looks at first rather a far-fetched 

 derivation; but Esula was the officinal name of the 

 plant, and the apothecaries before and about this 

 time performed such remarkable feats in the way 

 of corrupting names that it is quite possible that 

 Dodonseus is right. 



Heliosco'ina, Dioscorides. G., lielio, sun, and scop, 

 watcher ; because the flowers face the sun. 



Latli'yris, Dioscorides. G. name for the plant. 



Para'Uas, Dioscorides. G.,2:)aralias, gi'owing on the coast. 



PepTis, Dioscorides (see later). So called on account of 

 the foliage somewhat resembling that of Purslane. 



Pep'lus, Dioscorides. G., peplos ; name for a kind of 

 Spurge. 



We may remark the unusual number of substantive 

 names for Spurges, which shows the estimation in 

 which they were held. Gerard describes twenty-one 

 kinds. 

 EuPHEA'siA, Fuchs. G. for gladness. The plant was for- 

 merly called Euphrosyne, meaning also gladness. 

 The plant was so called on account of its reputation 

 for clearing the eyes. Fuchs complains that the 

 name is corrupted by "ignorant druggists" from 



