336 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



The Bog Asphodel is also called Bastard Asphodel, 

 Lancashire Asphodel, Yellow Grass, Knavery, 

 Maiden-hair, Moor-grass, Rosa-solis. 



As to the last name Ellis writes : ** This moor- 

 grass in the Parish of Wing, they call Rosa-solis, as 

 it is distinguished by shepherds from other grasses, 

 who know it by its three-square leaf, rapier-like, for 

 its blade, like that, is thickish, and shaped somewhat 

 in the flag kind, bearing a yellowish flower, like that 

 of a Daff-a-down-dilly, and seldom runs above a 

 handful high, in a spungy soft substance." 



Lobel says the plant was formerly called Maiden- 

 hair because girls used it to dye their hair yellow, a 

 fashion prevalent in the Middle Ages. 



Narthecium Ossifragum. — The illustration (Fig. 

 93) exhibits well the habit of the plant , the rhizome form- 

 ing a synipoditintf the grass-like leaves, and the terminal 

 raceme of flowers. 



Herb Paris {Paris quadrifolia). 



There is no connection between the mythical Paris 

 and this plant, the word being derived from par, 

 equal, on account of the regularity of the leaves and 

 flowers, but this is not always so. The second Latin 

 name refers to the number of leaves, four as a rule, 

 but there may be five or more. 



Found in most parts of the British Isles Herb Paris 

 is rather local. It does not grow in Ireland. 



Woods almost entirely, or shady places, are the 



