78 THE FRUITS OF THE COUNTRY-SIDE 



but they are of a very pulpy nature, and when at all 

 compressed together lose somewhat of their typical rotundity. 

 They are from one- to three-celled, and contain but few 

 seeds. One old herbalist, we see, describes the fruit as 

 " like to little bunches of grapes, red when they be ripe." 

 These berries have a succulent and somewhat tempting 

 look, but on trial they are found to be very acrid 

 and bitter. In rustic pharmacy they have been used as 

 an emetic. 



The scientific name of the honeysuckle is Lonicera 

 periclymenum. The generic name was bestowed in honour 

 of one Adam Lonicer,^ a German botanist, who died in 

 1586; while the specific title is from the Greek word to 

 entwine, in obvious allusion to the growth of the plant. 

 Another popular name for the honeysuckle is the woodbine, 

 in earlier days spelt wood-bind." This name is now not 

 often used, but it has always had a special attraction for 

 the poets. It was by early writers applied to various 

 climbers — to the clematis, for example — but for some three 

 centuries has been assigned to the honeysuckle alone. 

 Poetical as it may sound, we see that it is really prosaic 

 enough, and merely calls attention to the somewhat 

 inconvenient habit of the plant of utilising to their 

 detriment its neighbours. Shakespeare, it will be remem- 



' Such a method of handing down to posterity the name of a distinguished 

 man is much employed in botanical nomenclature. The Lobelia, for example, 

 is so called in honour of Lobel, while the Linnxa recalls the great Linnaeus, 

 Tillcea the Italian writer Tilli, and the Villarsia Dominique Villars. 



^ By aventure his way he gan to hold 

 To maken him a gerlond of the greves 

 Were it to woodbind, or of hauthorn leves. 



Chaucer, The Knighles Tale. 



