114i ENGLISH BOTANY. 



common. Var. 7 on rocky ledges on mountains, where also a and 

 3 occur. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Autumn. 



A very variable plant. Stem generally 1 to 2 feet liigh, slightly 

 flexuous at the top, terminated by a long narrow panicle. Leaves 

 very variable in breadth, and in the margin being entire or serrate ; 

 lower leaves attenuated at the base ; middle and upper ones atte- 

 nuated at each end, and very acute. Anthodes varying much in 

 the number of the flowers, and consequently in their diameter. 

 Pericline |^ to J inch long, with greenish-yellow phyllaries, scarious 

 at the margins, generally pubescent on the back. Plorets all bright- 

 yellow, those of the ray strapshaped-elliptical, spreading. Pappus 

 white, much longer than the brown achenes, which are slightly 

 pubescent. Plant green, glabrous or pubescent, the upper part of 

 the stem and rachis, branches of the panicle and pedicels pubescent 



with curled hairs. r^ n 1 1 j 



{Jommon Golden-rod. 



French, Ve7-ge d'Or Commune. Germau, Gemeine Goldruihe. 



This plant is also called Wound-wort, from its reputation as a vulnerary. We may 

 Lere remark that the terminal wort, so frequently occurring in the English compound 

 uames of plants, is derived from the Saxon, being a general name for a herb in that 

 language. Tiiis form of termination has been largely adopted by Dr. Lindley, whose 

 earnest labours in the field of botanical research and nomeuclatui'e are suddenly ended 

 as this page goes through the ])ress. He believed that the progress of Botany as a 

 science was greatly impeded in this country by the repulsive ai)pearance of the names 

 which it employs, and he endeavoured, in many instances, to substitute English names 

 for the Latin or Greek comj)ounds, by which the genera of plants are distinguished. 

 Writing on this subject in the introduction to his great work, " The Vegetable King- 

 dom," he says, " The attempt has been already made in the author's ' School Botany,' 

 where it will be found that by availing himself of well-known English names of the 

 English word ' wort,' a uniform English nomenclature has been secured for all the 

 common European natural orders of plants." 



This Golden-rod, or Wound-wort, is a favourite remedy with our old friend Gerarde. 

 He tells us that it obtained a high price as a foreign herb till discovered growing near 

 London, after which it was neglected, " which plainly setteth foorth our inconstancie 

 and sudden mutabilitie, esteeming no longer of any thing (how pretious soever it be) 

 than whilst it is strange and rare. This verifieth our English proverbe, ' Far fetcht 

 and deere bought is best for ladies,' or rather for fantasticall physitions. Thus much 

 have I spoken to bring these new fangled fellowes backe againe to esteeme better of this 

 admirable plaute." Dr. Withering quotes Dr. Molyneux, who says, " Pulvis foliorum 

 aut florum, vel iutegrse herbse exsiccatse, et in nares attractus sternutationes fortissimo 

 excitat." " But what," says the old Doctor, " will the modern beaux think of the 

 commentary of another physician, who says, ' I look upon common snuflSng to be the 

 meanest way of debauchery ; hurting the eyes and ears and shocking the senses, stuffing 

 the stomach and lungs, and most practised by the most unpolite of men." In modern 

 times, we are somewhat relieved from this " mean practice of snuff-taking ; " but what 

 shall we say of the increasing habit of smoking ? 



