22G Some Local Plant Names. 



latifolia, another species, has the name of Cockskames also, and 

 is, in addition, Deil's Foot, Deadman's Fingers, Cain and Abel, 

 Adam and Eve, and Foolstones. One would hardly think it 

 possible that any other terms were left for the Spotted Orchis, 

 O. maculata; but ingenuity has ordered it otherwise, as, although 

 it again is Foolstones, it is also called Hand Orchis, Adder-grass, 

 Henskames, and Deadman's Hand. 



I suppose we all know the Vinca, or Periwinkle, as simply 

 the latter. Periwinkle ; but an old name for it was Pervinkle, 

 and it has also been called Sorcerer's Violet, and has, in addition, 

 with a slight variation, the name of the Ground Ivy, Nepeta 

 Glechoma, and has claimed that of "Ivy of the Ground." 



The Groundsel is nowhere in our district known by any 

 other name than this; but I am informed that in some parts it 

 is Grundy Swallow and Simon Sention. The former appears to 

 be derived from the Anglo-Saxon Grundswelge, which meant 

 " earth-swallower. " The latter part of that of Simon Sention 

 would appear to come from or to be allied to the French Senegon, 

 which is near the Latin Senecio. 



The Fumitory is pretty well known to ever)one, and the 

 name of Earth-smoke may not be forgotten by some, as it is 

 really conveyed in that of Fumitory. The French is Fume terre, 

 and expresses the smoke-like appearance of the plant when in 

 bloom. A curious name, which is probably suggested by the 

 appearance of the flowers taken singly, is that of Waxdolls. An 

 obvious corruption either of Fumitory or of the French Fume 

 terre is Fumeterrie. 



The Water Dock is generally known simply as that in our 

 part of the country; but we find elsewhere that it is Cushycows, 

 and also Water Patience. It is called in some parts of France 

 Patience d'eau. The Cyanus, Cyanus Centaurea, is known to 

 some of us as the Bluebottle, but it was better recognised as the 

 Blawart. It is also Ragged Ladies, from the appearance of the 

 flowers; Ragged Sailors; Hurtsickle, from the manner in which 

 it blunted the sickle in cutting the corn; Blue Cornflower, and 

 Blewblaw. The Blaeberry of our district, Vaccinium myrtillus, 

 is the Hurtberry, Whortleberry, Huckleberry, Whurt (an evident 

 abbreviation of Whortleberry, Bilberry, Myrtleberry, Wimberry, 

 and Blackworts), surely a sufficient variety, attesting the wide- 

 spread character of this little shrub. It is curious that we must 



