SCOTCH NAMES OF NATIVE WILD FLOWERS. 97 



the present day, for different reasons of course: in the one case, 

 because it is the colour of sulphur flames — their proper element ; 

 and in the other, because it is the hue of the heavens — an external 

 indication of the angelic nature within. 



Carmele, carmylie, or carameil, is the tuberous-rooted bitter- 

 vetchling {Lathyrus macrorrhizus), from the Gaelic cairmeal. 

 Heather-pease is another name of it telling of its locality. 



But of all the plants of the field the one which has been most 

 abused and libelled by nicknames is the ragwort (Senecio Jacobad). 

 First, it is ragweed, the same as the English name; second, bun- 

 wede, from bun or bon, begging — bunwede, then, means beggar's- 

 weed; third, stinking- weed — an unjust libel. But the worst insult 

 is yet to come. Fourth, wee bo. Bo is the "bo man" of the 

 nursery, conjured up by foolish nurses to frighten naughty 

 children, and means the devil. Wee bo is little devil. Such vile 

 name mud-throwing is enough to discourage any plant and arrest 

 its development. 



Names from Animals. 



The connection between plants and animals is a very close one; 

 and this fact has been recognised and extended by imagination in 

 the common plant names of all languages. Our own old language 

 is not behind the others in this respect, for we find many of our 

 plants named from their fancied or real resemblance to animals; 

 and from the fancied or real influence for " bein " or bane, for 

 weal or " wae," of plant and animal upon each other. 



Boar's-ears is the Auricula, called in English bear's ears. Boar 

 and bear are slightly modified forms of the same word, and 

 anciently they were interchangeable. 



Brawlins, or brylies, are bear-berries {Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi). 

 Braw is bear with the "r" transposed. 



Bull segg is the reed-mace ( Typha lati/olid), on account of its 

 size. 



Bunnerts is the cow-parsnip {Heracleum Sphondylium), from 

 Morn, a bear. Biornwort is the name still used in Scandinavia. 



Balderry is the Scotch generic name for the orchid {Orchis). 

 Bawd or bald is from the Gaelic boide, a hare; and der or derry is 

 bane or injury. Balderry means harebane. Instead of injuring the 

 hare as it must have done in days of old, the hare has completely 



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