160 NAMES OF PLANTS. 



Ital3\" — Smith, Eng. Fl. DodoD?eus gives Gros- 

 sularia as a recent name, and saj's the plant was 

 more usually called Uva crispa. 



Roeme'eia. Named in honour of J. J. Eoemer, professor of 

 Botany at Zurich, who died there in 1819. 



Eo'sA, Pliny. L. name for the liose. It appears to be 

 derived from rliodd, which in different forms is traced 

 both in the Greek and Keltic, and signifies red, or 

 rose-coloured. 



Ru'bia, Pliny. From L. ruber, red; from the colouring 

 properties of the genus. Rubia tinctorum supplies 

 the Madder-root of commerce, from which is obtained 

 the beautiful fast colour called " Turkey red," and 

 several other colours, according to the chemicals it is 

 brought into contact with. The colouring matter 

 (alizarin) may be separated, in the form of brilliantly 

 tinted needle-shaped crystals. 



Ru'bus, Plin3\ L. name for a Bramble-bush. 



Ru'mex, Pliny. The origin of the name is doubtful ; it is 

 used by Pliny. 

 Aceto'sa and Acetosel'la. See Oxalis. 

 Ilydrolap'athum, Gerard. G., laimthon, Sorrel, or Dock ; 

 Hydro-lapathum, Water- dock. 



Rup'pia, Linneus. Named in honour of Heinrich Bernhard 

 Ruppius, a German physician, and author of ' Flora 

 Jenensis,' who died in 1719. 



Rus'cus, Virgil. L. for Butcher's Broom. Gerard says it 

 was called Bruscus in the shops. 



Sagi'na, Linneus. L., meaning meat that fattens. A name 

 given by Linneus, but it does not seem very appro- 

 priate to these small plants, though it has been 

 stated that sheep are very fond of them, and that this 

 food fattens them greatl3\ This seems doubtful. 



