LISTERA. ORCHIS. 193 



4. L. CORDATA. On moors, not rare. B. Buncle wood, Rev. A. 

 Baird. In the Press plantations, and in Blackbnrn-rigg wood : on 

 the Dodd hill, and scattered over the Lammermuirs. In Harelawside 

 wood, A. A. Carr. In a wood near Smailholm ; and near Lightfield 

 at Mellerstain, Dr. F. Douglas. — N. On Hedge-hope, &c. 



5. L. NIDUS-AVIS. Rare. B. At Netherbyres, and in Dunglass 

 dean. Rev. A. Baird. — N. In the dean at Twizell-house, P. J. Selby. 



6. Orchis mascula. Cocfe'i^ifeamfjS. Very abundant on our 

 sea-banks ; on slopes in woods and deans ; and in meadows and on 

 heaths, flowering in April and May with the Primrose. A variety 

 with pure white flowers occasionally occurs among its coloured mates : 

 such we have received from a meadow near Horndean. The root has 

 a strong herbaceous smell, and a slightly acrid taste. The under 

 side of the leaves is silvered with numerous little vesicular glands 

 placed in the interstices of the raised striae that run in parallel lines 

 along that surface. From the colour and shape of the tuber, the" 

 plant is called J^fatJ^man'si tijiimb ; and children tell one another, 

 with mysterious awe, that the root was once the thumb of some 

 unburied murderer. They will also dissuade a comrade against 

 pulling the herb by showing that the leaves are spotted like a 

 toad's belly; and hence tainted with the reptile's venom. It is called 

 ^aron';^?33cartJ in some parts of the parish of Cockburnspath. The 

 common name is derived from the likeness of the flowers to the comb 

 of the Cock ; and the colour and form of the spikes lead to the con- 

 jecture that the plant is the Long-Purples of Shakespere. 



7. O. MAcuLATA. S'tititr^graiSs! : ^mS: ??cn'£i-'feamf:S : IBeatJ^ 

 man'jisijautJ. In boggy ground, on moors especially, common. June, 

 July. 



8. O. LATitOLiA. Corfe'si'feanifS'. Common in boggy ground, 

 and not easily to be distinguished from the preceding. The root, 

 from its shape, is sometimes called the |13cir£i4oot and sometimes 

 JBcatJ-mcn'g^fingcriS ; but it is more generally known as Btlam anU 

 (!£btf — the tuber which sinks being Adam, and that which swims 

 being Eve. Cain antJ Slbtl is another name for these tubers, Cain 

 being the heavy one. They are, or rather sometimes were, used as 

 love-charms. • If a woman wished to secure the afi^ection of any young 

 man on whom her heart was set, she put, unseen, one of the tubers 

 into the pocket of his dress, and thus he became so enchanted that 

 he must follow the intriguer wherever she went ! This is the very 

 property that Shakespere ascribes to his Love-in-idleness. 



9. O. coNOPSEA = Gymnadenia conopsea. Grassy banks in deans, 

 and on heaths, not uncommon, " scenting the atmosphere with its fra- 

 grance." D. Sea-banks at Hudshead. Longridge dean. — B. Castle- 

 hills. In the plantation above Newwaterhaugh. Banks of Coldingham 

 loch ; and of the mill-pond of Northfield. Banks of the Tweed at 

 the Holmes and at Birgham, F. Douglas. Edington moor, &c. July. 



10. O. viRiDis = Habenaria viridis. Rare. B. On the banks of 

 Coldingham loch, sparingly, P. J. Selby. Upland pastures to the north 



VOL. I. O 



