62 Transactions. 
ranunculus family is early, whereas the tox-glove is rather a 
July flower. 
Marigold.—There was a curious notion that this flower opened 
or shut with the sun. 
‘‘The marigold that goes to bed with the sun and with him rises weeping.” 
Winter’s Tale, IV., 3. 
‘« When winking Mary-buds begin 
To ope their golden eyes, 
With everything that pretty bin 
My maiden sweet arise.” 
Cym., IT., 3—Description of morning. 
Plantain.—This plant was valued because of its supposed 
healing virtues for wounds. 
Rom.—‘* Your plantain leaf is excellent for that.” 
Benvolio—‘‘ For what, I pray thee ?” 
Rom.— For your broken skin.” 
In Scotland a leaf of the plantain, called the waebwrn. leaf, or 
waybread leaf, used to be wrapped round a toe with a corn to 
mollify the pain thereof. 
Rosemary, or as it is called Sweet Mary in Dumfriesshire, is 
an old-fashioned garden perennial. It is a Labiate, but comes 
from the Mediterranean basin. In Shakespeare’s time it seems 
to have been a symbol for memory. 
‘« There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.” 
Hamlet. 
In “ Winter’s Tale ”— 
‘* For you there’s rosemary and rue, these keep ; 
Seeming and savour all the winter long. 
Grace and remembrance be to you both, 
And welcome to our sheep-shearing.” 
Rush.—Rushes were strewn upon floors previous to the intro- 
duction of carpets. In “ Cymbeline ”— 
- “Tarquin thus 
Did softly press the rushes.” 
In “ Henry IV.”— 
‘‘ She bids you in the wanton rushes lay you down and rest your gentle 
head upon her lap.” 
Vide also “‘ Romeo and Juliet,’ I., 4. The “rush candle” is 
mentioned in the “ Taming of the Shrew.” 
There is a funny illusion to the Hawthorn in “ A Midsummer 
Night’s Dream ”— 
“This man, with lanthorne, dog, and bush of thorn represented 
Moonshine.” 
