196 Local Plant Names. 



it. But this is merely a speculation, unsupported by anything I 

 have seen mentioned, save the superstition referred to. Elian- 

 tree is another name for the Elder in some parts of England. It 

 seems almost unnecessary to cite the Aik as the name of the Oak, 

 as it is widely known, and is probably the old name, as is con- 

 firmed by the nut being called the acorn. 



The little plant we call Robin-run-the-Hedge, and which is 

 so familiar to us in this locality, where it is very common clam- 

 bering up hedges and bushes, has a rival claimant for its name in 

 several parts of England, where this term is applied to the Bind- 

 weed. This latter name, again, is applied with us to several 

 plants, such as to one of the Polygonums or Knotweeds, and also 

 to the Convolvulus of the hedgerows. 



Sea Pink is the familiar name of the Armeria maritima, 

 which is so plentiful on our coasts, but which in many places has 

 only the name of Thrift. Our own one of Sea Pink is used in 

 Devon, as well as those of Pink and French Pink, but it has 

 other local names in different parts of the kingdom. In Somerset 

 it is Cushions, pronounced, as Friend says, Cushins or Coosh- 

 ings; in Sussex it is Swift, said to be a corruption of Thrift, and 

 in another part of England it is called the Sea Gilliflower. 



This name of Gilliflower leads us to consider what flowers 

 are called by that name in this locality. So far as I can discover 

 the title has largely become obsolete, but it has been generally 

 applied to the Rocket, Hesperis, and but little to the other 

 plants, such as the Wallflower, Stock, and others which shared 

 in other places the term Gilliflower. The Carnation was a Gilli- 

 flower as well, but I have never heard it so called with us. 



Snow-in-summer is applied, here as elsewhere, to more than 

 one plant. We occasionally hear it given to the Arabis, or Rock 

 Cress, .so plentiful in gardens in spring, this name being used in 

 Sussex as well. Others given to the Arabis are Alyssum, Anise, 

 Sweet Alice, Snow-on-the-mountain, and Milk-and-water. A 

 name at one time supplied to this Arabis was Douglas Seer or 

 Sieur. I have not heard this for many years. It appeared to have 

 been founded on a legend attached to the flower similar to that 

 associated with the Myosotis, or Forget-me-not, which related the 

 death of a knight in securing a floating spray of the plant for his 

 sweetheart. I may add that Snow-in-summer is more frequently 

 the popular name for the Cerastium, which comes more nearly in 



