Westville Swamps 127 



ways considered a lily, however, instead of a violet is 

 evident. 



Dr. Rembert Dodoens, as early as 1578, thus de- 

 scribed it: ''This low base herbe, hath, for the most 

 part but two leaves, speckled with great red spots, be- 

 twixt which springeth up a little tender stalke or stem 

 with one floure at the top hanging downeward, which 

 hath certaine small leaves growing together like an 

 arch or haute, and like the wild lily." (The Amarillis 

 of the Spaniards.) " The names of this herbe now are 

 called Denticulus ca^iis and Dens caninus, and others 

 call it Satyrion Erythronium, wherewithall notwith- 

 standing it has no similitude." ^ It was known to 

 Dioscorides as Lilium sylvestre, and Dodoens remarks 

 that *' It may well be called such," since the flower, 

 when ** it hangs downeward toward the grounde, is 

 much Hke the wild lihes, saving it is smaller." ^ 



Dioscorides (23-77 a.d.) knew this plant as Ephe- 

 meron noji lethale, which was also known in I^atin as 

 Lilium sylvestre. 



Dodoens therefore wrote that if Dog's-Tooth be 

 Ephemeron, as it seemed to be, the essence extracted 

 from its root by boiling water, according to Dioscorides, 

 was good for the teeth. But the name was more likely 

 suggested by the fact that the bulbous root is shaped like 

 a canine tooth. The appended ''violet" originated, 

 perhaps, with children, since this lily blooms in early 

 springtime with violets, bluets, marsh marigolds, and 

 arbutus. 



' Dodoens, History of Plants, 1578. ^ Ihi4. 



