HARD WORDS. 59 
Ranunculus parviflorus, Small-flowered Crowfoot. The general 
character of the plant is referred to in such names as Ranunculus 
hirsutus, the Hairy Crowfoot; Geranium molle, the Dove’s-foot 
Cranesbill, remarkable for its softness. Some specific names 
show the likeness of the species which bear them to other plants ; 
thus, Villarsia nympheoides, means the Nymphea-(or Water Lily) 
like Villarsia; Helmintha echioides, the Echium (or Bugloss) like 
Ox tongue; from the resemblance of its prickly leaves to those 
of Echium vulgare. 
Yet another class refers to certain peculiarities in the species 
themselves. Thus, our Coralwort, which is so curiously propagated 
by means of little buds, or bulbs, which grow in the axils of 
leaves, is aptly called Dentaria bulbifera, the Bulb-bearing Coral- 
wort. The Bee-orchis is Ophrys apifera, the Fly, O. muscifera, 
in each case the name being taken from the likeness of the 
flowers to the insects referred to. 
Thus, then, we have endeavoured to show that some, at least, 
the ‘“‘hard words” of botany have a meaning. In some cases, 
the names are misapplied—Pedicularis sylvatica for example, is 
by no means a woodland plant—but these are exceptions to the 
rule. Perhaps this short paper may induce one or two, at least, 
of our readers to investigate the matter further; in which case 
its object will have been attained. f “pe C SS ly 
Additions to the Wycombe Flora, 1868. 
NOTHER year has passed in the annals of our Society: and 
it again falls to our lot to consider what we have done 
during that period—how far we have increased our knowledge 
of the Natural History of our district, a knowledge which it is 
our privilege, as well as our duty, to endeavour yearly to render 
more complete. AsI have twice had the pleasure of laying 
before the readers of the magazine a brief statement of the 
progress we have made in the investigation of the Flora of our 
neighbourhood in former years, I will now enumerate the 
additions made to it during the past season. 
