24 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



curative properties. Many of us remember that in our child- 

 hood an idea seemed to prevail that whatever was bitter or 

 nauseous was good for children, so that infusions of bog bean, 

 ferns, myrtle, chamomile, barberry, Turkey-rhubarb root, and 

 the like, might at any time be safely administered ; while jams, 

 jellies, fruits, and other things pleasant to the palate had always 

 a certain amount of danger connected with them. I never 

 actually saw Appleringie, however, used as a medicine; its 

 pleasant smell must have saved it, in the mistaken belief that 

 its taste was pleasant too. 



The derivation of the Scotch name, Appleringie, frequently 

 turns up as a puzzle. Nobody needs to be told that it has 

 nothing to do with ajDples. Any attempts to settle the deriva- 

 tion on the basis of " ring " and the Scotch diminutive " ringie " 

 need not be taken seriously. The fact is, to enunciate at once 

 the theory which I mean to submit, Appleringie signifies the 

 immortal plant — that is, the plant which saves from death — 

 although the name is not only used but has actually been evolved 

 without attaching any such meaning to it. It has descended 

 " by ordinary generation " from the two Greek words already 

 quoted, or, which is the same thing, afSporovov, the Greek 

 name for the plant. It is easy to see that Abrotonum is simply 

 the Latin form of the same word, and it was applied in both 

 cases from a genuine belief in its virtues. But in order to 

 understand exactly how the Scottish name arose, we must con- 

 sider for a little how the plant reached us itself, and what 

 modifications of its name it assumed on its way hither. 



Our plant is not a native of this country, but it is cultivated 

 in every cottage garden. In Scotland it has only a few poor 

 relations growing wild — -wormwood, absinth, and the sea-side 

 artemisia — all of which are being exhibited to-night. The last 

 has a considerable resemblance to the Appleringie, both in 

 appearance and smell, but its leaves have a hoary whiteness all 

 over and its branches are straggling instead of upright. 



France and the South of Europe generally claim the Apple- 

 ringie as a native. In an old edition of the " Hortus Kewensis," 

 which I have before me, the plant is said to have been introduced 

 into Britain about the year 1548, and Loudon also gives the 

 same date. It was, therefore, unknown in this country before 



