146 NAMES OF PLANTS. 



Myriophyl'lum, Dioscorides. G., myrio, myriad, and 

 l^hyllon, leaf; because of its many leaves. 



Myr'rhis, Dioscorides. From G., myrrha, myrrh; on 

 accomit of the scent of the leaves. 



Nai'as, Linneus. Named after the naiads, or water nymphs. 



Nakcis'sus, Theophrastus. The name of a beautiful youth 

 of heathen mytholog}^, who was said to be changed 

 into a plant. This is usually set down as the origin 

 of the name. Pliny says that it has received its 

 name from " narce " (torpor) on account of its effects, 

 and not from the youth Narcissus, mentioned in 

 fable ; and this derivation is supported by Theis. 

 Prior writes : — " an instance, among many more, of a 

 legend written to a name ; for as an old poet, Pam- 

 philus, remarks, Prosperine was gathering Narcissi 

 long before that youth was born." 

 Pseiif do-narcis' sus, Dodonseus. G., pseudo, false, and 

 narcissus (see above). 



Nar'dus, Theophrastus. G. name; a plant, from the 

 flowers of which a sweet- smelling oil was prepared. 

 There is no apparent reason why the name should 

 have been applied to this genus. 



Narthe'cium. From G., narthex, a rod ; probably from 

 the elongate, straight raceme of flowers. The name 

 Narthex was given by the Greeks to quite a different 

 plant, a species of Ferula, the genus from which we 

 obtain Assafoetida. 



Nastuh'tium, Pliny. L., nas, nose, and tortus, twisted; 

 from the smarting sensation which its pungency 

 causes to the nostrils. 



Neoti'nea. " The name of this genus was originally Tinea, 

 to which the younger Keichenbach prefixed Neo, to 

 distinguish it from Tinea, a well-known genus of 



