NAMES OF PLANTS. 163 



the wood of tliis tree, it will give all the louder sound 

 if cut in a spot where the shrub has been out of 

 hearing of the crowing of the cock." Elder stems 

 look particularly unsuitable to strain strings from, 

 still it is pretty generally affirmed that the wood of 

 the Elder was used to make the sambuca, and it 

 seems probable, from what Pliny says, that it was 

 used for some musical instrument or instruments. 

 Perhaps colloquially the word samhiica had a more 

 extended meaning than the stringed instrument of 

 the classics. 

 EVulus, Virgil. L. name for the dwarf Elder, or Banewort. 



Sam'olus, Pliny. " The Druids have given the name of 

 * samolus ' to a certain plant which grows in humid 

 localities. This they say must be gathered fasting, 

 with the left hand, as a preservative against the 

 maladies to which swine and cattle are subject." — 

 (Pliny). It is uncertain to what plant the name was 

 originally given. 



Sanguisor'ba, Fuchs. From L. sanguis, blood, and sorheo, 

 I take in, or absorb. "Burnet is a singular good 

 herbe for wounds, and commended of a number : it 

 stancheth bleeding, and therefore it was named 

 Sanguisorba, as well inwardly taken as outwardly 

 applied." — Gerard. 



Sanic'ula, Brunfels. From L. sano, I heal ; because it was 

 used as a remedy for woundisT 



Sapona^kia, Gesner. From L. sa^po^ soap. " Of the great 

 scouring qualitie that the leaues haue; for they 

 yeelde out of themselues a certaine iuice when they 

 are brused, which scowreth almost as well as sope." — 

 Gerard. 



Sarotham'nus. From G. saroo, I sweep, and thamnos, a 

 shrub ; because it is used to make besoms. 



