^gg pPant "bore, ISQQer^f, and Tsijric/*, 



cures inflammation of the ej^es. Jupiter's Staff is the Mullein 

 {Verbascum Thapsus). Jupiter's Distaff is the Yellow Clary {Salvia 

 glutinosa). Gerarde thus describes it: '' jfovis Colus representeth in 

 the highest top of the stalk a distaffe, wrapped about with yellow 



Flax, whereof it took its name." The Couch of Jupiter and Juno 



was formed of the blossoms of Lotus, Lily, Hyacinth, Crocus, and 

 Asphodel. 



KAIL. — Writing of the Cabbage or Colewort, Gerarde tells 

 us " the apothecaries and the common herbalists do call it Caulis, 

 of the goodnesse of the stalke," The old English name Cole and 

 the Scotch Kail are both derived from this Latin word Caulis, a 



stalk. In Scotland, it is a custom on Hallowe'en for the young 



people, after being duly bhndfolded, to go forth into the Kail-yard, 

 or garden, and pull the first stalk they meet with. Returning to 

 the fireside, they determine, according as the stalk is big or little, 

 straight or crooked, what the future wife or husband will be. The 

 quantity of earth adhering to the root is emblematic of the dowry 

 to be expecSted, and the temper is indicated by the sweet or bitter 

 taste of the iiwtoc or pith. Lastly, the stalks are placed in order 

 over the door, and the Christian names of persons afterwards 

 entering the house signify in the same order those of the wives and 

 husbands in fuUiyis. 



KATAKA. — The Kataka (Strychnos potatorum) is an East 

 Indian plant, the seeds of which are sold in the bazaars for the 

 purpose of cleansing muddy water, &c. The vessel containing the 

 water, milk, &c., is first rubbed round the inside for a minute or 

 two with one of the seeds, after which, by allowing the liquid to 

 settle for a short time, however impure it may have been before, it 

 becomes clear. The confidence of the superstitious Hindus in this 

 property of the Kataka became so great, that in course of time 

 they ignorantly thought the mere name of Kataka would be 

 sufficient to cleanse water. It became, therefore, necessary to 

 state in one of their Codes that although the seeds of the Kataka 

 purify water, its name alone was insufficient for that purpose. 



KATHARINE'S FLOWER.— The Nigella Damascena has 

 been called Katharine's or St. Katherine's-flower, from the persis- 

 tent styles spreading like the spokes of a wheel, the symbol of St. 

 Katharine, who was martyred upon a wheel. As regards the seed 

 of this plant, Gerarde tells us that if dried, powdered, and wrapped 

 in a piece of fine lawn or sarcenet, it " cureth all murs, catarrhes, 

 rheumes, and the pose, drieth the braine, and restoreth the sence 

 of smelling unto those which have lost it, being often smelled unto 



from day to day, and made warme at the fire when it is used." 



This plant bears also the names of Fennel- flower, Bishop's- wort, 

 Old Man's Beard, and Kiss-me-twice-before-I-rise. 



KESARA. — The Kesara {Mimusops Elengi) is an Indian tree 

 sacred to Krishna. According to Jones, the flowers of the Kesara 



