NAMES OF PLANTS. 169 



Smyr'nium, Dioscorides. From G. Smyrna, the same as 

 myrrha, myrrh ; from the scent of its juice. 

 Olusa'trum, Gerard. From L. olus, a pot-herb, and 

 atrum, black. Alexanders was formerly much used 

 as a x^ot-herb, and received its L. name from the 

 sombre colour of its foliage ; in French it is called 

 Persil noir, i. e. Black Parsley. 



Sola'num, Pliny. According to some altered from L. 

 solamen, comfort, relief or solace ; from the sedative 

 qualities of some of the species. This is doubtful. 

 Dulcama'ra, Dodonaeus ; and also formerly Amara-dulcis. 

 L. dulcis, sweet, amara, bitter. Bitter-sweet as we 

 call it ; because its first taste is bitter, but afterwards 

 the sensation changes to that of sweetness. 



Solida'go, Brunfels. From L. solidare, to make whole or 

 'sound ; it is a name that has been given to different 

 plants, as Comfrey, Self-heal, and others, besides 

 Golden-rod. 

 Virgau'rea, Matthiolus. From L. virga, a stem, branch, 

 or rod, and aurea, golden ; from the yellow racemes 

 of flowers. 



Sonch'us, Theophrastus. G.sonchos. "According to Theo- 

 phrastus the name of this genus of plants comes from 

 G. sods, safe, and echein, to have ; from its yielding a 

 salubrious juice, but to which species this applies is 

 not clear." — E. B. 



Sparganium, Dioscorides. G. sparganon, a little band; 

 from its narrow and long leaves. 



Sparti'na. From G. spartion, of Dioscorides; Broom. 

 Pliny mentions the name in connection with a kind 

 of Broom, which he tells us was used for making 

 withes; and in another part of his work he also 

 alludes, under the same name, to what we now call 

 Esparto, of which large quantities are at present 



