Transactions. 61 
Harebell.—This tlower (Cymb. IV., 2) is considered our own 
craw-tae. 
“* Sweet the craw-tae’s early bell 
Decks Gleniffer’s dewy dell.” 
Tannahill. 
In Shakespeare it is associated with another spring flower. 
‘* Thou shalt not lack 
The flower that’s like thy face, pale primrose, nor 
The azured harebell, like thy veins.” 
Hemlock.—In “ Macbeth” we have— 
“© Root of hemlock digg’d i’ the dark” - 
among the horrid ingredients of the witches’ cauldron. Its 
scientific name Coniwm means a cone or top, whose whirling 
motion resembles the giddiness its poisonous juice produces. 
Holy Thistle.—This is the Carduus Benedictus found growing 
on the banks of the Euchan, Sanquhar, perhaps its only inland 
station in our county. 
‘*Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus and lay it to your 
heart ; it is the only thing fora qualm.” 
Much Ado, &c., IIT., 4. 
Ivy.—It was a custom to hang a bush of Ivy at a vintner’s 
‘door. Hence the illusion to it in “As you like it.” 
“Tf it be true that good wine needs no bush, ’tis true that a good play 
needs no epilogue.” 
Polygonum Aviculare, or “ Knotgrass.” 
‘*Get you gone, you dwarf, 
You minimus of hindering knotgrass made, you bead, you acorn.” 
Midsummer, &c., IIT., 2. 
Lady Smocks. 
‘© And lady smocks, all silver white.” 
This seems to mean our Cardamine pratense. Gerald says— 
‘* Tt flowers in April and May.” 
Long Purples.—These are generally considered to be the early 
purple orchis. In Tynron they are called “ bull-dairies.” 
Shakespeare also calls them “ Dead men’s fingers,” from the pale 
colour and hand-like shape of the tubers. 
**Qur cold maids do dead men’s fingers call them.” 
One would have guessed these to have been fox-gloves, known 
in Scotland as “ Dead men’s bells.” But that would not suit 
Ophelia’s garland, containing a yellow ranunculus, for the 
