In Botanical Report. 29 
infant Hercules, immortal, put him to the breast of Juno while 
she was asleep, and that the milk which was spilt, as the child 
withdrew from her, formed the Milky Way in the heavens, and 
gave rise to the white lily upon earth, which, consequently, 
went by the name of Juno’s Rose. This myth found its way 
naturally into the old herbals, and came in that way to be 
known generally in connection with the plant. The monks 
seem to have turned this myth to account, in the interest of 
their church, and to get rid of the old myth, which was Pagan, 
they substituted a new one, and hence arose the myth, that the 
veins of the leaves of this thistle were rendered white by the 
milk of the Virgin Mary, which fell upon it while she was 
nursing the infant Jesus. The plant in this way acquired the 
names of the Milk Thistle, the Holy Thistle, and Our Lady’s 
Thistle. The transfer, to the Roman Catholic mythology, of 
a Pagan myth in connection with aflower is not uncommon ; 
there are many similar instances. 
744. Chicory (C. intybus).—This plant is found in many of 
our hedge banks, and edges of fields. It is best known as being 
extensively used to adulterate coffee ; it has also some medical 
properties. The name is an English form of the Greek name, 
‘« kichora,” which was derived from ancient Egypt. 
875. Deadly Nightshade (A. belladonna).—This species, one 
of the family Solanacee, has been found in two places within 
four miles of Croydon, and at Coulsdon. In the Flora of 
Surrey it is also stated to occur near Chipstead, and along the 
entire range of the chalk hills. The medical and poisonous 
properties of the berries of this plant are well known, and a 
preparation made from them is also largely used as a cosmetic. 
There are but three other British members of the family, viz., 
the two Nightshades, which are both, to some extent, poisonous, 
and the Common Henbane, which is very poisonous. All these 
are to be found in the immediate neighbourhood of Croydon ; 
the Henbane being cultivated at Mitcham for medical purposes. 
It is a very remarkable thing that a family which contains 
Many poisonous plants as the Solanacez does, should also 
contain two such harmless and wholesome vegetables as the 
Potato and Tomato. The Tobacco, Petunia, Stramonium, 
Mandrake, Winter Cherry, and Cayenne Pepper, are also 
members of this family. 
942. Common vervain (V. officinalis).—This plant is to be 
thet with on many of our sunny banks and dry chalky pastures, 
and common-place and uninteresting as it is in appearance, 
there are few plants which have such a remarkable history. 
By the Druids it was venerated almost as much as the Mistletoe, 
and it was dedicated by them to the service of the altar and 
the decoration of their priesthood. In its honour one of their 
