15() NAMES OF PLANTS. 



PoTE'r.iUM, Linneus. G., literall}^ a drinking cup, but in 

 this case alluding to a beverage. According to Pliny 

 it was taken in wine, and also as a decoction mixed 

 with honey for different complaints. It is a name of 

 Dioscorides, but was applied by him to quite a 

 different j)lant from the Salad Burnet. Poterium, in 

 its present application, must be taken as a fresh 

 invention. Theis remarks that "the English use it 

 in the preparation of a refreshing beverage which 

 they drink in hot weather. It is called cool-tankard.*' 

 Sancjulsor'ha. See genus later. 



Prim^ula, or Pei'mula, Matthiolus. From L. primus, first; 

 on account of its being one of the earliest spring 

 flowers. 



Peunel'la, Brunfels. Named from the German hraune, 

 the quinsy, which it was supposed to cure : hence 

 also called Brunella by some old authorities as 

 Dodonseus, Pdvinus, and more recently by Tourne- 

 "- fort and Bentham, while Fuchs, Bauhin and others 

 used the softer sounding Prunella. 



Pku'nus, Plin}^ L. for Plum Tree. The G. name was 

 proune. 

 Cer'asus, Pliny. L. for the Cherry Tree, which was 

 brought by Lucullus from Cerasus, in Pontus, to 

 Italy. 

 Paulas, Theophrastus. Prunus Padus is the name given 

 by Linneus to the Bird Cherry. Padus was the 

 name of the river Po, and Pliny tells us: — "Metro- 

 dorus, of Scepsos, informs us that this river has 

 obtained its name of Padus from the fact that about 

 its source there are great numbers of Pine Trees, 

 which in the Gallic language are called 'padi.'" 

 I know of no other connection between Padus and 

 a tree. 



