153 NAMES OF PLANTS. 



Pheagmi'tes, Trinius. G. name, meaning material for an 

 enclosure; these reeds being used for thatching, 

 garden fences, &c. Arundo Phragmites was the 

 name given by Linneus and numerous other autho- 

 rities to the common Reed. 



Phyllod'oce. L., name of a sea nj^mph in ancient 

 mythology. 



Physospermum. From G., physa, a bladder, and sperma, a 

 seed ; from the loose covering to the seed. 



Phyteu'ma, Dioscorides. G., ^'pliyteama (the same as 

 phyton), the plant; given par excellence to some 

 medicinal plant by the ancients, but which probably 

 bore little or no resemblance to the present." — 

 Hooker and Arnott. 



Pi'cRis, Dioscorides. G., picros, bitter; as are many of 

 this genus. 



Pilula'eia. L., pilula, a little pill ; which its fructification 

 resembles. 



Pimpinel'la, Fuchs. Altered from L., bipennula, or twice 

 pinnate ; in allusion to the divisions of the leaves. 

 Saxifraga. From the resemblance of the lower leaves to 

 some species of Saxifraga, which see. 



Pinguic'ula, Gesner. From L., pinguis, fat; on account 

 of the texture of the leaves ; hence the EngUsh name 

 Butterwort, and the French Grassette. 



Pi'nus, Pliny. L. name for the plant. 



Planta'go, Pliny. L. name applied to some plants of this 

 genus, and also to the Water Plantain (Alisma). Its 

 origin is unknown. 

 Coron'opus, Dioscorides. From G., coron, crow, and 

 pons, foot ; crow's foot. Smith says : — " There has 

 been much controversy respecting the Coronopus of 

 ancient authors, some taking it for Cochlearia Coro- 

 nopus, of Linneus, others for his Plantago Coronopus, 

 others for Myosurus, or for Achillea Ptarmica, while 



