In Botanical Report. <P 
infancy of the human race, when our very remote ancestors. 
dwelt, as a pastoral people, probably in Central Asia, and 
lived, rich and poor, in wattled huts, made of wicker work, 
which would naturally be named from the material of which 
they were composed. Theold word which signified the withes. 
with which the huts were made still survives, as we have seen, 
in a large number of languages, and retains its old meaning ; 
but most remarkably the word is still used, also, to signify a 
house or hall, which is only a developed form and a modern 
representative of the huts of our ancestors. It is seen in the 
German word, ‘‘saal,” a house, and in the French, “salle,” a 
hall or room, from which comes our English word, “saloon,” 
and the Greek, ‘“‘aule,” a court, hall, or dwelling, and the 
Latin, ‘‘aula,” a court, hall, palace, or castle, may possibly 
have the same origin. 
The family Orchidacez, which, from the singular shape and 
great beauty of the flowers of many of the species, is perhaps, 
the most generally interesting of all the natural orders, is 
very well represented in our district. Our chalk soil suits them 
well, and they are consequently abundant. Within four miles 
of Croydon are found 13 species, viz., the man orchis, pyramidal 
orchis, green-winged meadow orchis, early purple orchis, spotted 
orchis, fragrant orchis, lesser butterfly orchis, bee orchis, fly 
orchis, tway blade, bird’s nest orchis, broad-leaved helleborine, 
and white helleborine, whilst in the district are five more species, 
viz., the dwarf dark-winged orchis, greater butterfly orchis, 
musk orchis, ladies’ tresses, and the narrow-leaved helleborine. 
1318. Herb Paris (P. quadrifolia).—This plant, the “ herba 
paris” (that is herb of a pair, or betrothed couple) of the old 
herbals, is not common in Surrey. It seems to be rather plen- 
tiful near Reigate, Merstham and Gatton, but it is found only 
in one place, in one wood near Croydon. Its four leaves, set on 
the stalk like a true lover’s knot, were held to be emblematical 
of an engagement, hence the name of the plant. 
If time permitted, it would be easy enough to extend these 
few remarks and to call your attention to many matters of 
interest connected with other species which are included in the 
list. It may be confidently said that there is nothing about a 
plant which is not interesting. The structure of the various 
parts of plants, the functions which these parts perform, and 
their endless modifications to suit the requirements of each 
particular species, are all matters of deep interest; whilst on 
the other hand, the ideas and superstitions connected with 
plants, and even the names which they bear, when properly 
investigated, throw a good deal of light, not only upon our 
national history, and the manners and customs and family life 
of our more immediate ancestors, but even upon the early 
history of the human race. 
